Charles Barkley does about-face on TV retirement with TNT commitment

Charles Barkley can grab a Snickers because he’s not going anywhere for awhile.

Barkley and TNT jointly announced Tuesday that the popular basketball analyst will remain with the network for the duration of his 10-year deal, which was signed in 2022.

Barkley previously said he’d retire after the 2024-25 season regardless of whether TNT, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), lost NBA television rights.

“I love my TNT Sports family,” Barkley said in a statement.

“My #1 priority has been and always will be our people and keeping everyone together for as long as possible. We have the most amazing people, and they are the best at what they do. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them both on the shows we currently have and new ones we develop together in the future. This is the only place for me.

“I have to say … I’ve been impressed by the leadership team who is fighting hard and have been aggressive in adding new properties to TNT Sports, which I am very excited about. I appreciate them and all of my colleagues for their continued support, and most importantly our fans. I’m going to give my all as we keep them entertained for years to come.”

The NBA chose to leave TNT after next season for new deals with NBC and Amazon, while renewing its rights agreement with ESPN.

The matter is now tied up in litigation, as WBD has sued the NBA in hopes of enforcing a “matching rights” provision signed in their last deal.

TNT has sought to match Amazon’s package.

The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports that Barkley’s 10-year deal with TNT is worth $210 million.

“Charles is one of the best and most beloved sportscasters in the history of television. I know I speak for all the members of the TNT Sports family when I say we are incredibly thrilled to share this mutual commitment to continue showcasing Charles’ one-of-a-kind talents and entertain fans well into the future,” TNT Sports chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser said in a statement.

“We continue to add to the breadth and depth of our sports portfolio — including new properties in the College Football Playoffs, Roland-Garros, NASCAR, BIG EAST college basketball, Mountain West football, among others – and it’s fantastic to have Charles for this journey as we develop new content ideas and shows for our fans.”

ESPN, Amazon and NBC were all expected to be interested in hiring Barkley if TNT officially loses its NBA package.

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