Charles Barkley denounces NBA’s decision to reject a broadcast deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to continue broadcasting games in favor of a collaboration with Amazon, claiming that the basketball league prefers cash to fans.
The NBA announced this week that it has signed 11-year deals to stream games on Amazon Prime Video, Disney and NBC. Warner Bros. owns the TNT cable channel, which has broadcast NBA games for about four decades, as well as “Inside the NBA,” an Emmy Award-winning show hosted by Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.
“Obviously, the NBA has sought to break with us from the beginning,” Barkley wrote in a social media post Friday. “I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance. TNT was equivalent to silver. The league knows that Amazon and those tech corporations are the only ones willing to pay for the rights when they double down in the future. The NBA didn’t need to them off. “
“It’s an unhappy day when owners and managers charge for fans,” he added. “It just sucks. “
The NBA did not respond to a request for comment on Barkley’s statement.
Warner Bros. Discovery is not satisfied with rejection. The media giant filed a lawsuit against the NBA in New York state court in Manhattan on Friday. It seeks an order delaying the league’s new deal for the 2025-2026 season, as well as a ruling that Warner Bros. Discovery matched Amazon Prime Video’s offer.
The company also claims that its existing agreement with the NBA gives it the right to adapt any competing service to stream games, according to the complaint.
“Given the NBA’s unjustified rejection of our third-party equivalent offer, we have filed a lawsuit to enforce our rights,” TNT Sports said in a statement. “We firmly believe that this is not only our contractual right, but also the most productive interests of enthusiasts who need to continue viewing our industry-leading NBA content with the selection and flexibility we provide. through our widely distributed WBD video distribution platforms adding TNT and Max. “
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement that Warner Bros. Discovery were “unfounded” and that “our attorneys would respond to them. “
The NBA’s new broadcast deal leaves the fate of “Inside the NBA” unclear. The new deals mean the games will be televised on a mix of television and streaming services, adding Amazon Prime as well as Peacock and ESPN’s upcoming standalone streaming service, set to launch in 2025. The deals total to $76 billion, according to the Associated Press.
In an interview with The Athletic, Barkley said Friday that he would continue his 10-year, $210 million contract with TNT Sports or offers from Amazon, ESPN or NBC.
—The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Quotes were delayed by at least 15 minutes.
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