Charles Barkley Criticizes NBA’s Decision to Partner with Amazon
Former NBA star Charles Barkley recently spoke out against the NBA’s decision to reject a broadcast deal with Warner Bros. Discovery in favor of partnering with Amazon. Barkley accused the professional basketball league of prioritizing money over its fans, expressing disappointment in the direction the NBA has chosen to take.
The NBA’s New Broadcast Deal and the Future of “Inside the NBA”
The NBA recently announced an 11-year deal to broadcast games on Amazon Prime Video, Disney, and NBC, starting from the 2025-26 season. Warner Bros., which owns cable channel TNT, has been a longtime broadcaster of NBA games and the popular show “Inside the NBA.” This new deal leaves the fate of “Inside the NBA” uncertain, as the games will now be available on broadcast television and various streaming services such as Amazon Prime, Peacock, and ESPN’s upcoming standalone streaming service.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of “Inside the NBA,” the NBA’s new broadcast agreements are reported to be worth a total of $76 billion, marking a significant financial milestone for the league.
Barkley’s Perspective on the NBA’s Decision
In a social media post, Barkley expressed his disappointment with the NBA’s choice to partner with Amazon, believing that the league had always intended to move away from traditional broadcasters like TNT. He criticized the NBA for prioritizing financial gains over the interests of the fans, stating that it was a “sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over fans.”
While the NBA did not immediately respond to Barkley’s comments, his perspective sheds light on the complexities of the evolving media landscape and the ongoing debate between traditional broadcasters and digital platforms.
