According to recent reports, TNT Sports and the National Basketball Association have mutually decided to end their 17-year-long NBA TV partnership. Despite making various attempts to find ways to keep the long collaboration between the two going, they eventually decided to part ways.
With TNT Sports relinquishing all control of the program back to the NBA itself, it was reportedly announced after the decision that another professional sports league’s networks are in talks to fill the gap left by TNT Sports.
NBA TV and TNT Sports: The End of a 17-Year Partnership
According to recent reports from Front Office Sports, TNT Sports and the National Basketball Association have decided to end their 17-year-long NBA TV partnership mutually, despite making various attempts to find ways to keep the long collaboration between the two going.
TNT and the NBA have “mutually decided to part ways” from their 17-year NBA TV partnership, according to an internal memo obtained by FOS.
A source told FOS that MLB Network has had “preliminary discussions” about possibly taking over NBATV production.@MMcCarthyREV has more ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 27, 2025
“We made several proposals to continue to provide services and operate the NBA TV network and related digital assets. However, we could not agree on a path forward that recognized the value of our quality content,” explained TNT Sports CEO Luis Silberwasser.
While this does mark the end of a 17-year-long partnership between TNT Sports and NBA TV, TNT Sports will continue to work on the product and generate content for the sport with their Bleacher Report and House of Highlights properties.
BREAKING: TNT Sports and NBA TV/NBA.com are ending their relationship after 17 years.
The breakup becomes effective Oct. 1, according to an internal memo from TNT boss Luis Silberwasser obtained by @FOS.https://t.co/d9u9pSEykf
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) June 27, 2025
“We will work closely with the NBA on a transition plan for the league to assume the responsibility of programming and operating NBA TV and NBA.com, which will be effective October 1,” Silberwasser explained to TNT Sports employees.
Who Will Take Over NBA TV Production?
While the TNT Sports CEO stated that all production of NBA TV will return to being internally produced by the league, there have been reports that another professional sports league’s broadcaster is in the running to take over from TNT Sports.
“A source told Front Office Sports that MLB Network has had ‘preliminary discussions’ about the possibility of taking over NBA TV production, similarly to how it has with NHL Network. An MLB Network spokesperson declined to comment,” explained Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
However, an NBA source stated that it was “categorically” false that the league has had discussions with MLB Network, and that the NBA will take over production of NBA TV in-house beginning October 1, for the first time in over 17 years. This indicates a strong move by the NBA to manage its network directly.
Despite this being a significant shift for TNT Sports, with the NBA having been one of its main sources of content over the last 17 years, the conclusion of negotiations will finally put an end to this chapter of the NBA’s media partnerships. This allows both parties to look to the future with new strategies and priorities.
