Charles Barkley is strongly criticizing the NBA’s decision to reject a broadcast deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to continue airing games in favor of a partnership with Amazon, saying the professional basketball league puts money ahead of fans.
The NBA announced this week that it has signed 11-year deals to broadcast games on Amazon Prime Video, Disney and NBC. Warner Bros. owns the TNT cable network, which has broadcast NBA games for nearly four decades, as well as “Inside the NBA,” an Emmy-winning show hosted by Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.
“It’s clear the NBA wanted to break up with us from the beginning,” Barkley wrote in a social media post Friday. “I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance. TNT matched the money. The league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double in the future. The NBA didn’t want to upset them.”
“It’s a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over fans,” he added. “It really sucks.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Turner Sports
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Barkley’s statement.
The NBA’s new broadcast deal, which begins with the 2025-26 season, leaves the fate of “Inside the NBA” in doubt. The new deals call for games to be televised on a mix of TV networks and streaming services, including Amazon Prime as well as Peacock and ESPN’s upcoming standalone streaming service, which is slated to launch in 2025.
According to the Associated Press, these agreements represent a total value of $76 billion.
