ESPN, TNT Sports, and the NBA today announced a historic partnership to bring the famous Inside the NBA studio show to ESPN platforms beginning with the 2025-26 season.

This is the first year of ESPN and the NBA’s 11-year rights deal, which was agreed in July.

TNT Sports’ Inside the NBA, produced separately from its Atlanta-based studios, will air on ESPN and ABC during high-profile events such as the NBA Finals, Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs, Christmas Day games, and more.

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro emphasized the significance of this relationship, describing Inside the NBA as “one of the best and most culturally impactful shows in sports” and expressing enthusiasm for incorporating its team’s unique chemistry into ESPN’s NBA coverage.

READ MORE: Returning To ESPN, Shannon Sharpe Capitalizes On The Viral Sex Video Gaffe

Luis Silberwasser, CEO and Chairman of TNT Sports, expressed delight in preserving the show’s heritage while expanding its reach through ESPN and ABC, ensuring fans enjoy its well-known mix of analysis and entertainment.

READ MORE: Disney Must Face A Lawsuit Over Potential Price Fixes For Live TV Sports From ESPN

In addition to this deal, TNT Sports will begin airing an exclusive package of Big 12 football and basketball games in 2025, boosting its sports coverage. Meanwhile, ESPN will continue to air NBA Countdown and NBA Today, anchored by Malika Andrews and featuring a panel of famous experts like Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins, and Shams Charania.

Inside the NBA, which debuted in 1989, has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards and will receive the Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020. The agreement aims to improve NBA coverage and fan engagement across several platforms.

Source