In a significant shift for basketball fans and the sports media landscape, TNT Sports will no longer operate NBA TV, the league-owned network it has managed since 2008. The decision, outlined in a memo from TNT Sports CEO Luis Silberwasser to employees on Friday, marks the end of a long-standing partnership between the NBA and TNT Sports, effective October 1, 2025. The memo, obtained by Variety, details the mutual decision to part ways after failed negotiations to extend TNT Sports’ role in operating NBA TV and related digital assets, including NBA.com.
Silberwasser’s memo reveals that TNT Sports made “several proposals” to continue managing NBA TV, emphasizing their expertise, quality content, and operational excellence. However, no agreement could be reached that satisfied both parties. “We were unable to agree on a path forward that recognized the value of our expertise,” Silberwasser wrote, noting that TNT Sports will collaborate with the NBA on a transition plan for the league to assume full control of NBA TV and NBA.com operations starting in October.
The split is not entirely unexpected. TNT Sports’ operation of NBA TV was closely tied to its NBA on TNT coverage, which allowed for synergies in talent and production. However, with TNT Sports losing NBA broadcast rights, the rationale for continuing to manage NBA TV weakened. The network has also faced challenges in a cord-cutting era, with its reach dwindling to approximately 33 million homes in May 2025—slightly more than half its peak. The broader shift toward streaming services has raised questions about the viability of league-specific cable networks like NBA TV, especially as exclusive game broadcasts on the channel have diminished in recent years.
Despite the end of this partnership, TNT Sports will maintain a digital and content relationship with the NBA through platforms like Bleacher Report and House of Highlights, as part of an agreement finalized in late 2024. This deal also allows TNT Sports to license and create NBA-related content for its properties and broadcast live games in select international markets. Silberwasser acknowledged the impact of the decision on employees, particularly those dedicated to NBA TV productions, and promised transparent discussions and a thoughtful transition process in the coming weeks.
For the NBA, the decision to take back control of NBA TV aligns with its recent efforts to bolster in-house content production. The league could opt to operate the network independently, as it did when NBA TV launched in 1999, or explore partnerships with its new and existing media partners—ESPN, NBC, and Amazon. While Amazon is unlikely to enter the cable network business, ESPN, with its robust sports media infrastructure, could be a candidate for a content-sharing or production deal. NBC, having shuttered NBCSN, may also be hesitant to dive back into cable networks, but creative arrangements could still emerge.
The move signals a strategic refocusing for TNT Sports, which continues to hold rights to baseball, college sports, NASCAR, and other properties. Recent praise for their coverage of the French Open and FIFA Club World Cup suggests a shift toward maximizing existing assets. For the NBA, the October 1 transition date looms as a critical juncture to redefine NBA TV’s role in an evolving media landscape. Whether the league opts for in-house management or a new partnership, the future of NBA TV remains a key storyline to watch as the 2025-26 season approaches.
As the NBA navigates this transition, questions also swirl about the broader sports media ecosystem. Will NBA TV adapt to a streaming-first world, or will it remain a cable staple? The answers will shape how fans engage with the league’s dedicated network in the years ahead.
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