Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is set to settle its lawsuit with the NBA and announce a deal with Disney to exclusively license the popular TNT show Inside the NBA starting next season. Inside the NBA which is expected to be one of the best docuseries has all the hype and will be premiered in 2025.
WBD filed the lawsuit in July after the NBA signed new broadcast deals with Disney, Amazon, and NBC, collectively worth $76 billion. WBD, the parent company of CNN, claimed it had a contractual right to match any offers from other broadcasters but said its bid was rejected.
What settlement means?
As part of the expected settlement, WBD will no longer air NBA games on TNT after the 2024-25 season. However, the NBA will grant WBD access to its content for the next decade, allowing the company to produce a range of programming, including talk shows, variety shows, and docuseries.
Additionally, WBD will gain broadcasting rights for NBA games in northern Europe and Latin America for the next 11 years. WBD's digital platforms, Bleacher Report and House of Highlights, will also have global rights to NBA content.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the details of the deal. WBD declined to comment, and the NBA could not be reached for immediate comment.
Inside the NBA future
Alongside the settlement, WBD is also expected to confirm a multi-year licensing agreement with Disney. Under this deal, Inside the NBA will air exclusively on ESPN and ABC starting next season. The show will continue to be produced by TNT Sports, and current hosts — Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal — will remain in place, according to the source. WBD also plans to develop a sports spin-off of Inside the NBA.
Streaming services and Sports
With streaming platforms like Netflix continuing to capture a growing share of audiences, live sports remain one of the few categories of programming resistant to the decline in traditional TV viewership.
As part of the agreement with Disney, TNT Sports will also gain the rights to broadcast Big 12 college football and men’s basketball games, which WBD can air on TNT and its Max streaming service. Earlier this year, WBD signed a five-year deal with ESPN to air College Football Playoff games this season, along with two additional quarterfinal matchups starting in 2026, expanding its live sports portfolio.
