Charles Barkley Reverses Retirement Decision, Commits Long-Term to TNT Sports
Charles Barkley has decided to stay with TNT Sports, cancelling his previous plans to retire next year. This announcement was made jointly by TNT Sports and the NBA Hall of Famer as Warner Bros. Discovery, the network’s parent company, strives to retain its NBA broadcast rights.
Despite signing a 10-year contract with TNT Sports in 2022, Barkley had announced in June that he intended to leave television after next year, amid uncertainty regarding the league’s future at the network. At the time, Barkley expressed his gratitude to his NBA family and fans, signalling what he thought would be his farewell.
However, Barkley has now reconsidered his decision. In a recent statement, he confirmed his commitment to fulfilling his contract with TNT Sports. “This is the only place for me,” Barkley stated. He praised the network’s leadership for their aggressive efforts in acquiring new sports properties and thanked his colleagues and fans for their support. Barkley assured that he would continue to give his all to entertain viewers for years to come.
Luis Silberwasser, chairman and CEO of TNT Sports, hailed Barkley as one of the most beloved sportscasters in television history. Silberwasser expressed excitement over Barkley’s continued presence and highlighted the network’s expansion into various sports, including college football, tennis, NASCAR, and college basketball. He emphasized the mutual commitment to developing new content and shows featuring Barkley’s unique talents.
An insider revealed that TNT Sports plans to collaborate with Barkley on developing new show concepts.
Barkley’s decision to remain with TNT Sports comes shortly after Warner Bros. Discovery sued the NBA for rejecting its offer to match Amazon’s $1.8 billion per year bid to stream NBA games. Barkley’s commitment might indicate WBD’s confidence in winning the lawsuit or serve as a strategic move against media competitors like NBCUniversal, Disney, and Amazon.
As WBD navigates its legal battle over NBA broadcast rights, it continues to bolster its live sports portfolio. Recently, the company secured a 10-year agreement to become the U.S. home for the French Open tennis tournament starting in 2025 and signed a five-year deal with Disney’s ESPN to air College Football Playoff games.
Barkley’s continued presence on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal, ensures that fans will enjoy his insights and personality for the foreseeable future.