TNT Sports and Charles Barkley have reached an exclusive long-term agreement, keeping the iconic broadcaster with the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned sports division. Barkley, who signed a 10-year deal with TNT Sports in 2022, is set to enter his 25th year with the company. He has been a staple on "Inside the NBA" since joining TNT in 2000.
While TNT didn't specify the length of Barkley's new deal, they did assure fans that he will be appearing for "many years to come." However, the future of Barkley's programming remains uncertain, particularly as TNT faces the potential loss of its NBA rights starting in the 2025-2026 season. The NBA has signed deals with NBC, Disney, and Amazon, and WBD is currently suing the NBA after it matched Amazon's offer, which WBD rejected. WBD argues that this violated provisions in their current contract with the league.
Despite the NBA uncertainty, Barkley could still play a significant role in other sports coverage. TBS holds the rights to Final Four college basketball games on alternating years through 2032, providing a potential platform for Barkley's expertise. TruTV is also slated to carry the Savannah Bananas' "Banana Ball World Tour," though it's unclear if Barkley will be involved in that coverage.
If TNT ultimately doesn't acquire the NBA rights, Barkley could be utilized in various roles. The network could potentially continue producing "Inside the NBA" or a similar show without the game rights, subject to standard restrictions for non-rights-holding broadcasters. There's also the possibility of expanding Barkley's duties to other sports or creating a broader sports broadcast, perhaps with a focus on basketball. Additionally, Barkley could be explored for non-sports roles, though his success in those areas has been limited. He previously co-hosted a limited series on CNN with Gayle King, which concluded without any future commitments.
“I love my TNT Sports family. My #1 priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible. We have the most amazing people, and they are the best at what they do,” said Barkley in a statement. "I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them both on the shows we currently have and new ones we develop together in the future. This is the only place for me. I have to say … I’ve been impressed by the leadership team who is fighting hard and have been aggressive in adding new properties to TNT Sports, which I am very excited about. I appreciate them and all of my colleagues for their continued support, and most importantly our fans. I’m going to give my all as we keep them entertained for years to come.”
“Charles is one of the best and most beloved sportscasters in the history of television,” said Luis Silberwasser, chairman and CEO, TNT Sports. "I know I speak for all the members of the TNT Sports family when I say we are incredibly thrilled to share this mutual commitment to continue showcasing Charles’ one-of-a-kind talents and entertain fans well into the future. We continue to add to the breadth and depth of our sports portfolio — including new properties in the College Football Playoffs, Roland-Garros, NASCAR, BIG EAST college basketball, Mountain West football, among others – and it’s fantastic to have Charles for this journey as we develop new content ideas and shows for our fans.”