Report reveals Ernie Johnson’s status at TNT amid NBA rights uncertainty

November 23, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Turner Sports sportscaster Ernie Johnson before The Match: Tiger vs Phil golf match at Shadow Creek Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Barkley may be facing an uncertain future at TNT right now, but there is much more clarity when it comes to his co-host Ernie Johnson.

Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal reported Thursday that the longtime TNT host Johnson is expected to remain with the network, regardless of if they lose the TV rights to the NBA. In that event, Johnson would likely stay with TNT as their lead studio host for the NCAA Tournament and also as an MLB play-by-play broadcaster, Friend adds.

The NBA’s current television rights deal expires after the 2024-25 season. Warner Bros. Discovery, which is TNT’s parent company, currently shares those rights with ESPN.

It probably isn’t a surprise that the Sports Emmy Award winner Johnson would remain at TNT regardless seeing as he has been with the network since 1989. But his co-host Barkley noted earlier this week that he has an opt-out in his contract with TNT which he can trigger if the network loses their NBA rights (potentially sparking a serious bidding war for Barkley’s services). With Johnson looking likely to stay at TNT either way, 2024-25 could end up being the final season for the famed “Inside the NBA” crew of Johnson, Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith.