All articles tagged with #nba rights
Warner Bros. Discovery missed Wall Street expectations in Q2, with revenue down 11% to $8.7 billion as the Supergirl release underperformed and the lack of NBA rights weighed on advertising and linear networks, though streaming revenue rose 10% to $3.1 billion and EBITDA climbed 75% to $512 million; the Paramount merger remains entangled in antitrust litigation with a trial set for March 2027.
Kenny Smith may be at risk of losing his position on TNT's "Inside the NBA" as the network's NBA rights are in jeopardy, potentially leading to the show's cancellation. With NBC and Amazon interested in acquiring NBA packages, other crew members like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal are likely to be pursued by networks, while Smith may not be as highly sought after.
Charles Barkley has hinted at potentially moving the "Inside the NBA" show to his own production company if TNT loses its NBA broadcasting rights to NBC Sports. Barkley criticized Warner Bros. Discovery's handling of the situation and expressed concerns about the future of the show and its cast, including Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal. The uncertainty comes amid WBD's recent investment in college football, which Barkley sees as a sign they may be giving up on retaining NBA rights.
Charles Barkley expressed frustration over Warner Bros. Discovery's handling of NBA rights and suggested he might reboot "Inside the NBA" through his own production company if TNT Sports loses the rights. Barkley has discussed this idea with co-hosts Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. He criticized WBD for prioritizing college football over retaining NBA rights, which has affected morale among his colleagues. The future of NBA broadcasting rights remains uncertain, with ESPN, Amazon, and NBC Sports as potential contenders.