ESPN’s advance schedule may offer some insight as to how the network will schedule TNT’s “Inside the NBA” this season.
The TNT-produced “Inside the NBA” is scheduled to air in a half-hour timeslot following the first ESPN doubleheader of the NBA season October 22, according to the network’s advance schedule. The show would run from 12:05-12:35 AM ET, leading into a Bristol-based “SportsCenter” at 12:35.
“Inside” typically ran for about 50 minutes in recent years, rarely dipping below the 40 minute mark. The 30 minute window may well be a placeholder rather than an expectation, but those placeholder windows last season were generally a full hour.
“Inside” is not currently listed as taking place the following night, when the network’s second doubleheader of the season is scheduled to lead into a Scott Van Pelt-hosted SportsCenter.
The TNT-produced “NBA Tip-Off” is scheduled to precede ESPN’s coverage on both nights.
The advance schedule is of course subject to change, but offers some clues as to how ESPN will manage “Inside” and the Van Pelt “SportsCenter,” which has become the network’s postgame show of record.
After the Opening Week of the season, TNT’s NBA studio show is not guaranteed to take place again until Christmas Day. Per the announcement of ESPN’s licensing agreement last year, the TNT studio is set to air during “the NBA Finals on ABC, Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs, all ABC games after January 1, Christmas Day, opening week, the final week of the season and other marquee live events.”