With the glorious partnership between TNT and the NBA drawing its last breaths, it seems TNT has already moved on and found new partnerships for the foreseeable future. This surprise comes as the fans are still reeling from the trauma that TNT induced when the news broke out that Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie will no longer grace our television screens come the 2025-26 NBA season. As per TNT’s contingency plans, they’re all set to air Mountain West College Football games from August 29.

According to Front Office Sports, Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT’s parent company is expanding its horizon through this multi-year agreement to air 14 MW football games each season through TruTV, via its basic cable channel and on Max (formerly HBO Max) OTT platform.

Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez gave an official statement once the deal was set in stone, saying, “TNT Sports provides the Mountain West with a third national television partner to showcase the outstanding student-athletes across the league. TNT Sports has always been a leader in sports broadcasting, and adding one of the top conferences in the FBS to its lineup will certainly be a benefit to MW and college football fans across the country.”

The first game TruTV will broadcast will be played between Sacramento State and San Jose State at 10 p.m. ET., continuing their run through November 2. Post the first game on August 29, TNT is set to broadcast 4 Saturday MW doubleheader games on September 7, 14, and 21, and October 12. Later, they are planning to broadcast single games on October 5, 19, and 26, and November 2.

TNT hasn’t broadcast any college football games since 2006, but considering the appeal college football has across the nation, through this move, they are planning to expand and prove their mettle in the sports broadcasting industry.

Warner Bros. Discovery is confident that this move is only going to strengthen its sports offerings, drive more subscriptions, and keep it at the forefront as the ultimate sports viewing destination in the market. And it’s a win-win for both WBD and MW since Mountain West will now get a major outreach in the upcoming season.

And this is not just it. TNT is also expanding its horizon to Roland Garros tennis Grand Slam, French Open, Big East College Basketball, and even NASCAR. So, it seems TNT is all jam-packed with everything sorted out as NBA legends and analysts Shaq, Charles Barkley, and other members of their beloved crew bid adieu next season. The network is adding value and volume with these moves, foregoing their claims on the NBA media rights.

One possible avenue for Shaquille O’Neal and Inside the NBA’s survival has been shut

“Inside the NBA on TNT” has been gracing our TV screens since 1989, and is highly popular among generations for its insights on the sport along with the entertainment they display. There’s never a dull moment, all thanks to the crew’s natural charm.

But with these latest negotiations and deals, fans will have to consume NBA content in a new way. As the NBA joins forces with NBC for a ‘package “B” deal’, fans will now get to watch “Basketball Nights in America” on Sundays after the next season. The new show will get two Primetime slots every week, with full-fledged coverage of the Conference Semis and the Finals.

While ABC/ESPN are ready for a ‘package “A” deal’ with the NBA, including full-fledged coverage of the regular-season games and playoff games. They might also get exclusive rights to the Finals as well if all goes well.

With the slots full, it meant the end of TNT’s stake in the league. However, there was still a glimmer of hope in the news that a potential fourth package could be created.

But that’s probably not happening anymore. According to Puck’s John Ourand, the prospective additional package “is about as dead as it can be”. He still gives it a one percent chance. However, due to the complexities that could arise with the creation of a fourth package, Silver and the NBA will likely decide against it.

The only way left for TNT to continue its legacy with the NBA is through their right to match. The sums remain in the billions. But, judging from Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent strategy, they don’t seem keen on splashing cash on its most valuable asset anymore. The era of Inside the NBA seems to be heading for doom after next season.