Turner Broadcasting President David Levy said the new contract extensions for the TNT "Inside The NBA" studio show are for eight to 10 years each and are designed in part to line up with Turner's NBA rights that were extended last fall through the '24-25 season. Charles Barkley, in his 16th year with the show, had previously suggested at numerous points he was looking to end his tenure sooner rather than later. But Levy and other Turner execs aggressively courted him with an extension offer, fueled in part by a recent dinner at Barkley's home.
Levy said retaining the chemistry of "Inside The NBA" talent Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson was paramount. "We didn't want to break up the magic. It's evolved far beyond a studio show. I've got other network executives, who I won't name, tell me they regularly tape their show. That's a rare thing. They tackle serious issues and people want to hear what they have to say. And it's still a great basketball show." Levy also said Barkley has an open door to address non-sports issues on sister property CNN, but there is no specific obligation in terms of a show or time slot on that network.
Meanwhile, Levy declined to say whether Turner will make an offer for Bill Simmons following his impending departure from ESPN. "I don't want to really discuss somebody at another network. But Bill Simmons is going to land something big. He's got a large following and a loyal fan base. He will have lots of opportunities. I'm not worried about Bill Simmons."
