Charles Barkley has slammed the NBA for rejecting a broadcast deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to continue airing games and instead partnering with Amazon, claiming the professional basketball league is putting money over fans.
The NBA announced an 11-year deal this week to have its games broadcast by Amazon Prime Video, Disney and NBC. Warner Bros. owns the cable network TNT, which has aired NBA games for nearly 40 years and also broadcasts the Emmy Award-winning show “Inside the NBA,” hosted by Barkley, Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith.
“Obviously the NBA wanted to break with us from the start,” Barkley said in a social media post on Friday. “I don't know if TNT had a chance. They paid the same amount. The league knows Amazon and these tech companies are the only ones willing to pay when the rights double in the future. The NBA didn't want to upset them.”
“It's sad to see owners and commissioners putting money above fans,” he added. “It's really disgusting.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images, Turner Sports
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Barkley's remarks.
Warner Bros. files lawsuit
Warner Bros. Discovery isn't going to take the rejection lying down. The media giant filed a lawsuit against the NBA in New York state court in Manhattan on Friday. It is seeking an injunction delaying the league's new contract from taking effect in the 2025-26 season, as well as a judgment that Warner Bros. Discovery matched Amazon Prime Video's offer.
The company also argues that its existing contract with the NBA gives it the right to entertain competing offers to broadcast games, according to the lawsuit.
“We have taken legal action to enforce our rights after the NBA wrongfully rejected our proposal, which matched a third-party offer,” TNT Sports said in a statement. “Not only is this our contractual right, but we strongly believe it is in the best interest of fans who want to continue watching industry-leading NBA content with the choice and flexibility offered through widely-used WBD video-first distribution platforms, including TNT and Max.”
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement that Warner Bros. Discovery's claims were “without merit” and that “our lawyers will respond.”
The fate of “Inside the NBA” is unclear due to the NBA's new broadcasting deal. The new deal means games will be shown on both broadcast television and streaming services, including Amazon Prime as well as Peacock and ESPN's independent streaming service, which is scheduled to launch in 2025. The deal is worth a total of $76 billion, according to the Associated Press.
Barkley, in an interview with The Athletic on Friday, said he would either continue on his 10-year, $210 million contract with TNT Sports or consider offers from Amazon, ESPN and NBC.
—The Associated Press contributed to this report
