Warner Bros. Discovery’s path to the internet is being obstructed by Charles Barkley.
After years of co-hosting the famous TNT program “Inside the NBA,” the basketball veteran announced his retirement from announcing responsibilities late Friday night, adding a new twist to Warner’s continuing attempts to retain media rights to the NBA.
After Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Barkley made his decision public during his live remarks on NBA TV. “I will not be appearing on television again after next year, regardless of what happens.”
Nо mаtter hоw the NBа divides up the new rights pаckаge it hаs negоtiаted with NBCUniversаl, Disney, аnd аmаzоn, Bаrkley hаs аlreаdy stаted thаt he will nоt leаve fоr аnоther netwоrk. аt the end оf the 2024–2025 seаsоn, Wаrner Brоs. Discоvery will nо lоnger be legаlly аble tо аir NBа gаmes. аlthоugh it is cоnsidered highly imprоbаble, Wаrner is аttempting tо chisel оut а tiny fоurth bundle оf gаmes. Thоse in the knоw аlsо sаy thаt Wаrner is cоnsidering whether оr nоt it hаs the legаl right tо аttempt tо mаtch the оffers mаde by оther pаrties pаrticipаting in the bidding prоcess.
“In recent months, our network has been the center of a great deal of activity,:” Barkley made the comment in reference to the heated debate over whether or not Warner Bros. Discovery, which is in the midst of massive debt, can retain any NBA rights. I spoke with every network out there, but TNT is the only one I’m going to work with. What matters is that I have already decided that next year will be my final year on television, regardless of what happens.
Since Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson were all cast members of “Inside the NBA,” and they all signed new multi-year deals to remain with the program in 2022, the decision probably startled many. A more extensive agreement was reached between the parent business and Shaquille O’Neal in 2020, making him the fourth member of the show’s studio team.
Executive Luis Silberwasser, who has been in charge of Warner Bros.’s sports operations, stated, “Our partnership with the NBA is very important to us and this long-term agreement with the ‘Inside the NBA’ team is recognition of their significance to that relationship.” in a statement released when the new talent deal was announced.
Barkley became famous after joining “Inside the NBA” in 2000 for his frank and occasionally contentious opinions. Barkley isn’t hesitant to criticize a player’s play or shortcomings. Over the past several weeks, he has been quite critical of Warner Bros. Discovery’s approach to the rights negotiation, accusing executives of being oblivious to the impact that the cancellation of NBA broadcasts will have on his show’s production crew.
