There has been a lot of uncertainty about the future of Charles Barkley’s career in broadcasting this past year. With TNT losing its NBA rights, it was almost certain that the Inside the NBA crew would no longer stay together. Things were so muddled and secretive that even Chuck heard “it through the media” in November that Turner Sports had managed to strike a deal with ESPN to keep the band together.
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The deal, which was finalized in November 2024, took some solid effort from TNT and the NBA to enter into a partnership with ESPN and ABC. Under it, Inside the NBA will start its new chapter from the 2025-26 season, and TNT will be allowed to run the show from their Atlanta-based Studio J, except during the times the show goes on the road.
Honoring his long-standing allegiance to TNT, Chuck has pledged to stick to the network and the show despite having several other offers on the table, including one from Amazon. Barkley reiterated that it is nearly impossible to lure him into any other broadcasting deal. His “heart is, and always will be, at Turner Sports,” he stated, before thanking the corporations for trying to sign him.
“I’m informing NBC that I will not accept their offer. I’m gonna cancel my future meetings with Amazon,” added Barkley on the latest episode of The Steam Room with Ernie Johnson.
Chuck also revealed some details of his meetings with ESPN and said he is waiting on the final word.
“I’m hoping that this thing comes together and I can stay with TNT and ESPN. But as I’ve said, it’s all gonna be dictated on my workload,” said Barkley.
The Hall of Famer is not prepared to work more at 61. As long as Chuck is allowed to strike a desirable balance between work and personal life, he will be willing to join ESPN and continue being part of the Inside the NBA crew.
When the negotiations for the future of the 21-time Emmy-winning show were going on full tilt last year, Chuck was unaware of it.
Barkley was hurt after being blindsided by TNT
Chuck treats the TNT like his family. He has been loyal to them ever since he joined the network and has always maintained that he will not work in the media business if TNT is not involved. The network went through a long battle for the NBA rights as other major players got involved in the market.
However, when ESPN jumped in with a licensing deal, they were able to save the show. Barkley’s issue with the whole situation was that no one at TNT made the effort to let him know that a deal had been finalized with ESPN. During his conversation on The Bettor Angle Show, Barkley expressed his disappointment.
“We have to hear it through the media. And even this thing with ABC/ESPN, I heard about it on the internet. Scott Van Pelt, Brian Windhorst, Elle Duncan, Bob Myers, all friends of mine who I really like a lot. They texted me welcoming me to the ESPN family. I’m like, what happened? TNT didn’t even have the courtesy,” said Barkley.
Although he felt blindsided at the time, Barkley will still take up the deal in a heartbeat if the networks resolve his workload issue.
