Warner Bros. Discovery has officially settled its lawsuit with the NBA, securing a major 11-year partnership with the league. This new agreement gives Warner Bros. Discovery the rights to produce NBA content in the U.S., as well as parts of Europe and Latin America. However, a significant change is coming: while Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT network will no longer broadcast NBA games after this season, the popular show “Inside the NBA” will still continue.

Starting next season, “Inside the NBA” will be shown on ESPN and ABC as part of the settlement. Even though the show is moving to these networks, TNT Sports will still be producing it from their Atlanta studio, except for special road trips. The fan-favorite crew—Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal—will stay on board. Barkley even extended his contract with Warner Bros. Discovery in August, despite the company losing direct access to NBA games.

The dispute that led to this settlement started in August when Warner Bros. Discovery sued the NBA in New York state court. The company had made a matching offer for one of the NBA’s media rights packages but was turned down. This new media rights deal, which spans 11 years, will kick off during the 2025-26 season.

Even though “Inside the NBA” is moving to ESPN and ABC, the show’s unique chemistry and format will remain intact. ESPN’s chairman, Jimmy Pitaro, expressed his excitement, calling “Inside the NBA” one of the most culturally impactful sports shows ever. He added that adding this show to ESPN’s lineup would offer NBA fans an even better experience.

Moving forward, “Inside the NBA” will provide coverage of key events like the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals, and playoff games. It will also be part of major regular-season broadcasts like opening week, Christmas Day games, and other big matchups.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised the continuation of “Inside the NBA,” calling it a huge win for basketball fans. He also highlighted the long-standing partnership between TNT Sports and the NBA, which began back in 1989 when Ernie Johnson became host. Over time, the show has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards and grown to feature its iconic lineup of Barkley, Smith, and O’Neal.

Besides “Inside the NBA,” ESPN will continue producing its own NBA shows like “NBA Countdown” and “NBA Today.” As part of the settlement, Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, and House of Highlights also secured a global license for NBA content without paying any rights fees for 11 years.

Warner Bros. Discovery will also maintain a relationship with the league’s digital operations, including managing NBA.com for five more seasons. TNT Sports and the NBA have worked together on digital platforms since 2009.

Although TNT Sports won’t be airing NBA games in the U.S. starting next season, it will still broadcast games in select countries across Latin America (excluding Brazil and Mexico), as well as Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

TNT Sports is also expanding its sports coverage beyond basketball. Next season, it will start showing 13 Big 12 football games and 15 men’s basketball games under a sublicense agreement with ESPN. Additionally, TNT will air two College Football Playoff games starting this season.

TNT has been broadcasting NBA games since 1988 when the network first launched, but this chapter will close after this season. However, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav emphasized that these new agreements create value for all their sports properties like TNT Sports, Bleacher Report, and House of Highlights. He expressed excitement about partnering with both the NBA and Disney/ESPN and securing long-term rights that benefit Warner Bros. Discovery’s sports business moving forward.

Despite these changes, fans can rest assured that “Inside the NBA” will continue to deliver its signature blend of insightful commentary and entertainment for years to come.