ESPN’s integration of TNT’s Inside the NBA into its programming has begun, according to Tim Corrigan, ESPN’s senior vice president of sports production, with the legendary studio show continuing to be produced by TNT Sports.
Corrigan noted in speaking with The Sports Business Journal that the collaboration has involved extensive coordination across production, sales, marketing, and integration teams. “We’ve had meetings that are production to production, sales to sales, marketing to marketing, integration groups, formatting groups. We met with the executives on several occasions, we met with the talent face-to-face in Atlanta, and it’s been terrific,” he said.
Despite moving under the network umbrella, the plan is for Inside the NBA to remain filmed from its longtime Atlanta studio with the original cast, music, graphics producer, director, and support staff.
“They’ll have an hour pregame show on ESPN, followed by an hour postgame show for Inside whenever they’re on ESPN — and obviously they do the wraps around the games,” Corrigan explained. “When they’re on ABC on Saturday nights, it’ll be a half-hour pregame show into the game, and postgame, it’ll be at least a half hour on ABC, then they’ll go to the [ESPN] app for the rest of it — however long it takes.”
Throughout the season, Inside the NBA will appear as part of marquee events such as the NBA on Christmas Day, NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC, and NBA Sunday Showcase. Pregame shows on ESPN will air one hour before tipoff, while ABC broadcasts will feature a 30-minute pregame window. Postgame coverage will continue on the ESPN App following ABC games.
ESPN’s schedule includes multiple Inside the NBA editions during key dates such as December 25 for Christmas Day coverage, January 24 and January 31 for NBA Saturday Primetime, and February 22 for NBA Sunday Showcase. The show will also be featured during regular ESPN doubleheaders and marquee weekend matchups throughout the year.
Inside the NBA will be airing on Disney platforms (ESPN/ABC) throughout the season under a sublicensing agreement with ESPN through which TNT Sports will continue to produce the show.
With pregame, postgame, and extended digital content, ESPN and TNT are positioning Inside the NBA to be both a continuity of the classic show and a fresh addition to ESPN’s NBA coverage.
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