The NBA and TNT's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, could be in settlement talks that would keep TNT in the fold of the new media rights package, per Michael McCarthy and A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports.
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As you likely know, the NBA reached a new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal with holdover ESPN/ABC, as well as newcomers NBC Sports and Amazon Prime. TNT was left in the dust — but filed a lawsuit to try to force its way back in.
If that was indeed the goal, the suit may be doing the trick, as relayed by McCarthy and Perez. And if TNT returns as a limited fourth partner, that would likely mean the return of the wildly popular "Inside The NBA" show featuring Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O'Neal and Ernie Johnson.
"I know [both sides] want to solve this," a source told McCarthy and Perez.
"It has to be soon. They don't want to let it drag on," added another.
Basically, both the NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery want to avoid a long and perhaps embarrassing trial full of hints, allegations and public demands.
This all started when TNT attempted to match the Amazon portion of the new media rights deal — and that was indeed TNT's right. But the NBA insisted that TNT's attempt to match was actually a counteroffer.
Amazon is paying a reported $1.8 billion per year for what would be considered the "C" package. Disney-owned ESPN/ABC is paying $2.6 billion a year for the "A" package, with NBC Sports at $2.45 billion a year for the "B" package.
All three will begin their official run as new NBA media rights partners as soon as this season ends. Will TNT be back with them next year? That remains the question.
The league and TNT have hearings looming hearings on Nov. 22 and Dec. 17, per the report.
This article was originally posted to Hoops Wire and syndicated with permission.
