Warner Bros. Discovery followed through on its threat to \u201ctake appropriate action\u201d against the NBA for rejecting its broadcasting rights offer. Variety<\/em> reported<\/a> on Friday that the media company sued the league in the New York State Supreme Court after the NBA turned down its bid to match Amazon\u2019s streaming package that kicks in starting in the 2025-26 season<\/a>.<\/p>\n The conflict stems from Warner\u2019s belief that its current contract gives it the right to match any offer that would replace Warner\u2019s TNT as a home for NBA games (and the iconic Inside the NBA<\/em>) in the upcoming deal. As for the league\u2019s stance, The Athletic<\/em> reported<\/a> that since the current agreements were signed when streaming was \u201con the horizon, but not part of the deals,\u201d the NBA disagrees with Warner\u2019s matching claim.<\/p>\n The lawsuit was expected as soon as the league announced its new broadcasting and streaming package, which also includes Disney (ABC and ESPN) and Comcast (NBC). The NBA reportedly told Warner it rejected its matching offer because it wanted to put all its games on its streaming service<\/a>, Max, in addition to TNT. Amazon also allegedly offered to pay its first three years in full, whereas Warner offered a three-year line of credit. Finally, the NBA reportedly believed Amazon\u2019s reach was simply greater.<\/p>\n \u201cWarner Bros. Discovery\u2019s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video\u2019s offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon,\u201d the NBA\u2019s statement on Wednesday read.<\/p>\n Unless Warner can force the NBA\u2019s hand, the new agreement will almost certainly mean the end of Inside the NBA<\/em>. The decades-old sports show, starring Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O\u2019Neal, has harnessed a rare blend of comedy, chemistry and (sometimes taking a backseat to the first two) sports analysis. The beloved program, which has won 19 Sports Emmy Awards, began in 1989 as a Johnson solo effort before fleshing out its tight-knit cast through the following years and (in the case of Shaq) decades.<\/p>\n Turner has partnered with the NBA since the 1984-85 season, which coincided with Barkley\u2019s (and Michael Jordan\u2019s) entrance into the league out of college.<\/p>\n Barkley lashed out at the NBA after hearing about the new rights package, accusing it of wanting to \u201cbreak up with us from the beginning\u201d in a statement<\/a> on X. Adding, \u201cI\u2019m not sure TNT ever had a chance,\u201d the Hall of Famer described it as \u201ca sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt just sucks,\u201d Barkley wrote before thanking Turner\u2019s fans for the last 24 years he\u2019s been on the show. Inside the NBA<\/em> will return next season, perhaps its last, along with the network\u2019s standard lineup of NBA games, before the new deal begins in the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n