‘NBA made a huge mistake’ – Fans fear cancellation of beloved $1.8 billion TV show as they try to figure out who will scoop up Charles Barkley and Shaq
This is not how it was supposed to end.
Worst case, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal deserved a final showdown.
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Or at least Kenny "The Jet" Smith could have raced Ernie Johnson to the big board.
Instead, the NBA is going with the money -- someone else's money, actually -- and it increasingly appears that the beloved "Inside the NBA" program is on the verge of cancellation.
"Adam Silver cares about money and not the fans smh," one fan tweeted.
"NBA made a huge mistake," a second fan posted. "Why would they take this from us?"
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"The end of a generational run," a third fan wrote.
"Amazon or NBC needs to sign them to a fat contract, we need to keep the show running," a fourth fan said.
It's been a complicated and dramatic process as the NBA attempts to secure its future media rights, all while NBA stars are hoping to win a gold medal with Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.
As it stands, Amazon, NBC and ESPN/ABC will hold future exclusive rights, while Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT) will be frozen out.
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The NBA signed an 11-year media deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime on Wednesday.
Warner Bros. Discovery had offered $1.8 billion annually to continue its longtime relationship with the league.
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"Inside the NBA" started in 1989 and has become the most popular pre/postgame TV show among United States sports fans, with Barkley and O'Neal highlighting spirited analysis that ranges from harsh critiques to laugh-out-loud humor.
"One of the best shows on television, even without the basketball," one fan tweeted. "Ernie was fantastic and the interaction and knowledge disseminated by Shaq, Jet and Charles was wonderful."
The new media deal will hand the league about $76 billion over 11 years.
"This will NOT help viewership," a fan posted. "I can tell you they lost me. I’m sure I’m not the only one."
Barkley's future remains unclear.
He's hinted at TV retirement but could start his own program.
Many fans believe that Johnson will remain at TNT, even if the 2024-25 season is the last for the channel's beloved flagship program.
“The digital opportunities with Amazon align perfectly with the global interest in the NBA,†Silver said in a statement. “Prime Video’s massive subscriber base will dramatically expand our ability to reach our fans in new and innovative ways.â€
TNT saw a very different view.
“We have matched the Amazon offer, as we have a contractual right to do, and do not believe the NBA can reject it,†TNT said in a statement. “In doing so, they are rejecting the many fans who continue to show their unwavering support for our best-in-class coverage. ... We will take appropriate action.â€
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