This season, for the last time, the NBA and its postseason will be broadcast on TNT, hosted by the Inside the NBA crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley.
Next year, the contract expires, and the league will be under contract with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. Inside the NBA might move production to ESPN’s studios, and NBC and Amazon are boosting their basketball talents.
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Amazon has already signed Taylor Rooks, Blake Griffin, Steve Nash, and Dirk Nowitzki, and NBC has added a Hall-of-Fame talent of their own.
Mar 8, 2023; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks former player Carmelo Anthony sits courtside during the second half between the Villanova Wildcats and the Georgetown Hoyas at Madison Square Garden.Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
After his playing career, Carmelo Anthony has started some podcasting ventures, and will make his NBA return with NBC.
The TV giant announced that, starting in October, the former New York Knicks forward will be a studio analyst for their NBA coverage, which can be streamed on Peacock.
In addition to adding Anthony, NBC will bring back its world-famous theme song “Roundball Rock,” recorded by Joshn Tesh in 1990. NBA fans, even those who don’t like Anthony, can celebrate the return of their anthem.
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NBC hasn’t been able to broadcast the NBA since 2002, when its last contract expired, although the play-by-play of Dwayne Wade and Noah Eagle during the Olympic Basketball Tournament was received well. Anthony will not be serving as a color commentator like Wade, and it remains to be seen if NBC will try and popularize their studio show like Inside the NBA managed to do.
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