While NBA fans agitate that Amazon doesn’t deserve the NBA media rights, the new partner plans to pursue the TNT Sports iconic casts at Inside the NBA. Reactions from fans to this news were mixed; thus, this is the big question. Will TNT Sports let Amazon re-engineer their fans’ favorite show and cast?
Firstly, TNT Sports plans to take appropriate measures as stipulated in their press release statement. In other words, Warner Bros. Discovery desires to renegotiate the terms and clinch its NBA media rights. Also, it would be tough for Amazon to acquire Inside the NBA show. Why?
Three Reasons NBA Declined TNT Sports
The initial reason from the NBA Statement posed that TNT Sports couldn’t match their offer with Amazon. However, there are other reasons the NBA front office moved forward with Amazon. The Athletics reported these reasons.
The NBA front office stated that moving forward, the league yearns to improve their fans’ experience as part of their future objective. Therefore, the League’s telecast would lean towards direct-to-customer services moving forward to provide seamless access to NBA games. Now, Amazon Prime Video matches this objective in their offer as they provide only streaming services. On the other hand, TNT Sport would provide both cable net and stream services.
Another factor that hindered TNT Sports and the NBA from coming to a mutual agreement is the reach rate. Across the globe, Amazon has a better amount of reach than TNT Sports in terms of how many fans can access the games. The final reason was that Amazon Prime Video was ready to pay in full within three years of telecast with the NBA. However, Warner Bros. Discovery opted for a three-year line of credit.
Amazon’s Outlook With Inside the NBA Crew
The iconic Inside the NBA show cast started with Ernie Johnson in 1990, after eight years, former NBA player Kenny Smith joined on set followed by Charles Barkley in 2000 and Shaquille O’Neal in 2011. Also, the chemistry and bond between the cast and NBA fans grew stronger over the years. The global head of sports for Prime Video, Jay Marine, is a huge fan of this entertaining show and he expressed his plans to bring this energy to Amazon Prime Video. “I would say, first and foremost, Inside the NBA, we view it as the gold standard studio program,” Marine told SBJ.
What will the Inside the NBA show look like on Prime Video? Well, that’s not the right question to ask. The better question is will TNT allow this? Also, will the cast be complete?
The answer to both questions is ‘no’. During the postseason games, the future of Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT on NBA loomed. Also, the show’s iconic cast Ernie Johnson, expressed his desire to remain with TNT long-term. Also, During the 2024 NBA Finals Charles Barkley, the former Sixers player, said that he won’t be a TV personality after his last year at TNT. Thus, this leaves O’Neal and Smith.
According to SBJ, WBD won’t let the show go anywhere. Also for the show casts, “Barkley, O’Neal, and Smith are under long-term contracts… All the contracts were unique with variables that could prohibit a switch to Amazon, NBC, or Disney.” Thus, as said earlier, it would be tough for Amazon to acquire with a pending lawsuit and binding contract with the cast.
Final Thoughts
Amazon may buy out the WBD show Inside the NBA. However, the show wouldn’t be the same as it was with Johnson and Chuck out of the picture. Also, if O’Neal bails out no more Shaqtin’ a Fool – one of the entertaining sub-shows from Inside the NBA show. Thus, this means Amazon would need to be more persuasive or hire a new set of cast.
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