TNT Sports And WBD Have Apparently Outgrown Each Other
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: A TNT branded microphone during the Premier League match between ... More Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
It's been a difficult year or so for TNT Sports, Warner Bros. Discovery's live sports rights arm in the U.S.
First, it lost its share of NBA rights to Amazon Prime Video as part of the league's new media deal. Then the award-winning Inside the NBA was moved to ESPN and ABC. And now, WBD's latest corporate shuffle, breaking apart the business into separate buckets for 'streaming and studios' and its 'global networks' legacy TV assets, leaves TNT Sports' future more muddled than ever.
Monday's announcement of the WBD split included thoughts that TNT Sports could be licensed out to HBO Max, licensed to another entity entirely or even spun off into another separate company. But in the meantime, TNT Sports is still a major player in televised live sports, and is even adding new premium inventory as it prepares for life without the NBA.
Even without the NBA, the group still splits the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament rights with Paramount – games that accounted for 86.9% of total est. national linear TV ad spend across TNT, TBS and truTV over the course of the event, according to data provided by iSpot.
TNT Sports also airs NASCAR races, MLB (regular season, playoff) games, NHL (regular season, playoff) games, French Open, All Elite Wrestling, Big East and Big 12 men's/women's basketball games, U.S. men's and women's soccer action, and more.
Additionally, the group has also been sublicensing high-profile games from ESPN/ABC. After airing two of last year's expanded College Football Playoff quarterfinal games from ESPN, it will do so again for 2025, and then potentially expand into the semifinal round after that.
There's also the possibility that TNT Sports is the mystery 'third partner' in MLB's rights negotiations that also include Amazon and NBCUniversal. Such a move would make TNT baseball's biggest TV partner, and shift the network's primary sports focus to summer – when ESPN's actually relatively light on content once its own MLB deal ends after this season.
Whether TNT Sports grabs a larger share of MLB rights or not, though, it will remain a major player in the competitive live sports market. In a TV environment that's increasingly reliant on sports, that makes the property a very valuable commodity.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 05: (L-R) Center fielder Dexter Fowler of the St. Louis Cardinals joins ... More TNT's Inside the NBA team, NBA analyst Shaquille O'Neal, host Ernie Johnson Jr., wearing an iGrow laser-based hair-growth helmet, and NBA analysts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley during a live telecast of "NBA on TNT" at CES 2017 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on January 5, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 8 and features 3,800 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 165,000 attendees. (Photo by)
On Monday, WBD CEO David Zaslav downplayed the importance of sports for HBO Max sign-ups in the U.S., and stated that sports will stay on HBO Max for the time being.
Part of that could come from the fact that sports are not included in the $9.99-per-month basic with ads plan. Another could be that WBD has never really been clear on its sports streaming strategy. And still another comes from the fact that while TNT Sports has had valuable content among its ranks (especially when it had the NBA), you can find all of it via other streaming or cable/satellite providers.
So without much streaming cohesion between the sports content, traditional Discovery shows, Warner Bros. IP and prestige HBO content, it's understandable to doubt how all of this works together – and how sports, in particular, fit into that puzzle without significant changes to how they're positioned within the larger vision.
Right now? Yes. Spinning TNT Sports off into another separate entity or selling it to another entertainment company has significant value that could help pay down some of WBD's lingering debts. But who's really in the market for something like TNT Sports?
Disney already has ESPN, and has been shedding and consolidating expensive rights. NBCUniversal got out of the cable sports game, but could use more year-round programming. Paramount seemingly has a full plate. Amazon, Apple and Netflix have the money to purchase TNT Sports, but no real need beyond beefing up their sports production chops. And maybe that's enough.
Fox is an interesting possibility to acquire TNT Sports, as Awful Announcing also points out. The move actually makes the most sense since it's another boost for Fox in its ongoing battle with ESPN for sports eyeballs, and TNT's sports properties have a lot of synergy with Fox's own existing rights deals (NASCAR, MLB, college basketball).
Acquiring the backend of TNT's March Madness rights – the deal runs through 2032 – would be the real prize here, and a coup for Fox. That alone may be worth the effort and the dollars required.
There's also the streaming element here. Fox One is launching by the fall, and puts sports at the forefront of its overall offering. Looping TNT Sports into that would make it an even larger contender as one of the must-have streaming apps in the U.S.
None of this is to say that anything happens to TNT Sports in the immediate term. But now WBD is splitting up its businesses, time is officially ticking for the sports entity.
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New York Times
26 minutes ago
- New York Times
Rodrygo, Nico Williams, Anthony Gordon: Analysing Arsenal's wide attacker options
Arsenal's attack needs refreshing. Much of the focus regarding their summer transfer window has understandably been on the centre-forward position, but there is also a clear need to improve manager Mikel Arteta's options in wide areas if the club are to mount a serious challenge for silverware next season. Advertisement Bukayo Saka is Arsenal's star player out wide, but has been relied upon for years. This was highlighted by The Athletic as early as the 2020-21 season, when at 19, he was the club's third-most-used outfield player behind Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin. It was on his 250th Arsenal appearance in December that Saka suffered his first major setback, a three-month hamstring injury — a fate subsequently replicated by fellow forwards Kai Havertz and, to a lesser extent, Gabriel Martinelli. At the start of last season, they would have been Arteta's ideal starting trio up front. Looking ahead to when the games begin again in August, Saka's place in the team may be the only one of the three to be considered safe as Arsenal look to significantly enhance their options. The Athletic has reported their interest in Rodrygo and Nico Williams, as well as Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon. Here, we assess what each of those players could offer Arteta's side and how they compare to the attackers already at his disposal. Arsenal were also strong contenders for Leroy Sane, but on Wednesday, we reported the Germany forward is looking for a new challenge at Galatasaray in Turkey once his Bayern Munich contract expires at the end of this month. With over 250 Real Madrid appearances to his name, Rodrygo is the most high profile of these three prospective signings. Arteta and his coaching staff are fans of the player, who has three years left on his existing contract. The Brazil international is still yet to speak to new Madrid manager Xabi Alonso about his situation, but, per sources who wish to remain anonymous to protect relationships, he wants to feel important wherever he plays. Just six months older than Martinelli, the 24-year-old has scored 13 and assisted nine goals in all competitions so far in Madrid's season. In the Spanish league, he scored six and assisted five. He registered 10 La Liga goals in 2023-24, but his best league campaign for goal involvements was a year earlier, when he scored nine and assisted eight. Rodrygo has played across Madrid's front line in their current campaign, but is most comfortable playing on the left or more centrally rather than on the right. That preference for the left side can be seen in that it's where he tends to create the most, with the left half-space a particularly productive area. Of the three players we are looking at in this article, Rodrygo ranks highest in chances created with 2.40 per 90 minutes, followed by Gordon on 1.99 and then Williams on 1.80. The high quality of his team-mates is an important factor in that, but the variation in the types of opportunities he produces for others will be viewed as a bonus. Advertisement Rodrygo has managed to combine with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior with shorter passes in congested areas, like the left half-space, which, based on much of the 2024-25 season, would benefit Arsenal hugely. As they often face mid or low blocks in the Premier League, a player with more invention in tight spaces would help unlock tricky defences with more ease, as seen here: The Brazilian is also able to provide crosses from wider areas and create chances for himself by running with the ball, albeit less often than both Williams and Gordon. Now into his mid-twenties, Rodrygo has hit an age range Arteta has liked when recruiting key signings in the past. Havertz and Declan Rice were also 24 when they signed for Arsenal in 2023, while Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko were both 25 when they moved to the Emirates the previous summer. As a two-time Champions League winner, Rodrygo would represent a similar ceiling-raising shift for Arsenal as Jesus and Zinchenko were when they joined from then Premier League champions Manchester City. Arsenal have a longstanding interest in Williams. His most recent contract extension at La Liga's Athletic Club came in December 2023 and runs until June 2027. Barcelona failed in a pursuit of the Spain international winger last summer, while Aston Villa showed interest back in January 2023. Williams has since played a vital role in Spain's European Championship triumph last July, scoring against England in the final, and helped his Bilbao-based boyhood club reach this year's Europa League semi-finals. He scored 11 goals and assisted seven in all competitions in 2024-25, with five of each coming in La Liga. His most fruitful top-flight season was a year earlier, when he scored five and assisted 11. Where a player who turns 23 on July 12 stands out compared to other wingers is in his willingness to dribble. While Rodrygo attempts a similar amount of take-ons to Saka per 90, only Jamie Gittens of Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Jeremy Doku of Manchester City had more than Williams in their domestic leagues last season. Despite having a lower success rate than those players, his style would bring a different dynamic to the way Arsenal attack on the wings. Primarily playing off the left, he would provide an interesting contrast to both Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, who each attempt at least half as many take-ons as he does. The sheer volume of dribbles in comparison to Rodrygo can be seen in how often Williams carries the ball five metres or more before either creating a chance or shooting, as evidenced by his 2023-24 numbers: As is the case with his dribble success rate, there is clear room for improvement in converting those chances and shots into goals. Nonetheless, Williams causes major issues for opposition defences, and here are two examples of how he does that when running with the ball. The first is from a second leg win over Roma in the Europa League round of 16 in March, when Athletic came back from a 2-1 first leg defeat in Italy to advance. Initially, Williams pops a smart pass into midfield to keep play moving before receiving the ball again inside the box. The defender is expecting him to go around the outside, but he shifts the ball inside with his left foot, touches it past another opponent and dinks a finish over the goalkeeper. That was his second goal of the game. For the first, he arrived at the back post to apply a finishing touch, which is a theme of his wing play and which has helped him score important goals for both club and country — the Euro 2024 final included. For a more blatant example of Williams' dribbling prowess, however, below is one of his goals in a 7-1 win over Real Valladolid in February. Advertisement Here, he receives the ball on the touchline and immediately drives at his full-back. He takes a touch inside and bursts in between four defenders (two at a time), leaving one on the floor. Instead of swiping at the ball as soon as he is past them, he takes another touch around the final defender before reversing his finish past Arsenal loanee Karl Hein. While these examples show him cutting inside, many of the chances Williams created last season came from cutbacks after driving to the byline. One reason why the Roma defender mentioned earlier may have expected him to take the ball on the outside is because that is how most of his dribbles in 2024-25 panned out. Even so, the ability to go both ways at pace is something Arsenal could use. Trossard has a nice change of direction in close quarters but lacks pace, whereas Martinelli is quick but can sometimes be caught before finding a pass. Williams has been reluctant to entertain the notion of leaving Athletic over the years, but The Athletic reported last summer that his release clause is in the region of €55million ($59m; £47m). Compared to Rodrygo, he would represent a different type of signing. He is also slightly younger than the Brazilian and previous Arsenal summer transfers. That would suggest an element of adaptation, but he would also represent a clear gear shift in their wide attacking style. Nico Williams with an absolute beauty 🤩 He has been brilliant this tournament so far 🌟#Euro2024 | #ESPGEO — ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 30, 2024 Gordon has repeatedly punished Arsenal since signing for Newcastle United two and a half years ago. The winger scored a controversial winner in a 1-0 victory at St James' Park in November 2023, assisted an Alexander Isak winner in a match that ended with the same scoreline in October last year and scored in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi-finals meeting in January. Overall, the 2024-25 season was not his strongest. Gordon contributed nine goals and six assists in all competitions, with six goals and five assists in the league. Compare that to his 2023-24 campaign, where he scored 11 and assisted 10 in the Premier League alone — and that in a side who struggled to cope with the demands of balancing Premier League and Champions League football. Hailing from Merseyside, the former Everton man was unsettled when a potential move to Liverpool collapsed last summer, but in October signed a new contract until 2029. Even so, his and Harvey Barnes' futures at Newcastle are uncertain, and even with Champions League qualification for next season, potential sales could help Newcastle from the perspective of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Like Rodrygo and Williams, Gordon brings his own set of skills to the table that set him apart as a left-winger. He likes to create from the left half-space and inside the box, but his threat comes more from runs in behind. Like Williams, Gordon represents a stylistic shift to the type of off-ball runs that Arsenal currently deploy. While they already have players who make a fair amount of overlapping runs and runs to receive crosses, in 2024-25, Arteta's side did not have as many running in behind or ahead of the ball. While Rodrygo's short passing and quick feet could disrupt mid or low blocks, runs in behind from Gordon could see Arsenal break before teams settle into a defensive shape. That would make Arsenal more direct than they have been in recent years, but having more than one way of playing would surely be beneficial in a title race. Rodrygo, Williams and Gordon all have distinctive qualities that could be of use to Arsenal, but landing on which style suits them best may not be an obvious choice. Could the decision they take regarding a new striker impact the type of winger needed to best complement that player? Possibly. Either way, high-quality wide options do seem to be emerging as the summer transfer market gathers pace. (Top photos: Getty Images)
New York Times
31 minutes ago
- New York Times
Newcastle's summer transfer strategy: Are fans right to worry about the lack of activity?
After three successive transfer windows without strengthening their first XI, Newcastle United will be active in the market this summer, but nothing has happened yet. High-profile targets already appear to be heading elsewhere, prompting the usual array of fury, froth and frustration on social media. Advertisement When the 2025 close-season's Club World Cup-enforced first mini-window shut on Tuesday, Newcastle had done little more than announce their retained list, with no senior arrivals. The window reopens on Tuesday, June 16, and runs until the night of September 1. With Paul Mitchell, the sporting director, standing down effective June 30, and Darren Eales, the chief executive, already serving his notice, are Newcastle in a state of limbo? Or are they merely biding their time? Our Newcastle writers Chris Waugh and George Caulkin examine the pressing issues at the club. Caulkin: This is multi-layered. Most obviously, head coach Eddie Howe needs some help. Last season's achievements by him and his players represent a miracle, given the discomfort of a year ago, when the squad was weakened. Howe's first XI needs refreshing — greater competition. For too long, motivation has come from within. Those players now need pushing via an injection of quality. Returning to the Champions League next season also gives them another front to fight on. Two years ago, when they last played in that competition, a skinny squad was stretched to translucency by injury. Newcastle require more depth. GO DEEPER Newcastle are back in the Champions League. It changes everything After the PSR (the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules) debacle of last summer, Newcastle are in a far stronger position, particularly after recouping fees for Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly in January. So they have money available, but there are caveats. They are not the biggest wage-payers and will not be taken advantage of when it comes to the so-called 'Saudi tax' — a reference to the deep pockets of their majority owners, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Waugh: Fundamentally, Newcastle want to significantly bolster Howe's squad while maintaining financial prudence. The owners are determined to avoid going multiple windows without investing again; they want to leave PSR headroom to recruit again in next year's winter window and beyond. Advertisement Newcastle are adamant they will not overpay for players, though, believing present asking prices are inflated. However, sizeable expenditure is anticipated; the boardroom-level desire to support Howe within sustainable limitations is absolute. There is a recognition that the squad's average age, especially at centre-half and goalkeeper, requires lowering. The majority of players being targeted are between 21 and 24; they have been recognised for their elite potential, given Newcastle cannot afford to bring in multiple established stars. Those under consideration are players who can improve the first XI and, so, the squad. Quality will take precedence over quantity. A complicating factor is UEFA's homegrown quota. Only Sean Longstaff qualifies as a 'club-trained' senior player and, while Newcastle believe they should have the depth to manage regardless, this detail has been a consideration. With John Ruddy, the reserve goalkeeper, in negotiations over an extension, now free-agents Fraser Forster and Tim Krul are unlikely to be recruited, even if their names were mentioned internally, given their homegrown credentials. Waugh: The priorities are obvious. A right-sided centre-back and right-winger (or at least another attacking player of some sort) are wanted, alongside a goalkeeper. A versatile forward is desired, and a midfielder may arrive. Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo was their top right-winger target, but his preference to join Manchester United has led to a re-evaluation. Previous offers were made for Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga, Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth is admired at Newcastle and Brighton & Hove Albion's Joao Pedro is a long-term target. The club must determine whether they have the capacity to sign an adaptable attacker, a right-winger, or both. Advertisement At centre-half, Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is still highly regarded and James Trafford of Burnley is the priority goalkeeper target. Further details can be found in the latest DealSheet. Caulkin: That idea of priority is fluid. There have been initial negotiations with Burnley over Trafford, the optics of which are not ideal, given his arrival would leave Newcastle with six goalkeepers if nobody departs before then. Yet it isn't a case of saying it should be a right-winger who comes in first. Newcastle are responding to where the market takes them and acting accordingly. Two summers ago, they already had established full-backs, but went out and signed Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, who are both fundamental to their team now. It is not all about immediacy. Clubs who are not in need of money can hold firm. Priorities change according to circumstances. Caulkin: On the face of it, sub-optimally. 'Speed is key for us and I've reiterated that many times internally, because we have to be dynamic,' Howe said last month. 'We have to be ready to complete things very quickly because good players don't hang around for long.' Since then, Mbeumo has seemingly become unobtainable. Ipswich striker Liam Delap opted for Chelsea. Defender Dean Huijsen left Bournemouth for Real Madrid. With Manchester City already spending big and Liverpool pushing to sign Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez to go with early signing Jeremie Frimpong, it doesn't feel like Newcastle are moving with the dynamism Howe referenced. Yet good players are going to attract rival suitors, and when it comes to salaries, Newcastle cannot compete with a flailing Manchester United, let alone City, Liverpool or Chelsea. Other targets may simply not be available yet. One long-established mantra at Newcastle under PIF's ownership is 'process-driven' decision-making. The problem is that getting transfers over the line often requires being fleet of foot; how and whether this can work, given the flux at director level within the club, is not yet clear. Advertisement Waugh: It is only June 12. As dismissive as that sounds, it is important. Most players are either on holiday, have just finished international duty or are off to take part in the Club World Cup, while club executives are also on their breaks. The majority of the deals concluded so far have involved release clauses (Huijsen, Delap and Matheus Cunha's move from Wolves to Manchester United) or have been driven by sides wanting players signed in time for the Club World Cup. Liverpool are perhaps an exception. Putting last year's PSR-dominated window aside, Newcastle's first senior signing of the corresponding 2022-23 one was Nick Pope on June 23 (excluding Matt Targett's loan becoming permanent) and the following summer, it was Sandro Tonali on July 3. Mitchell's exit is inopportune and Howe would ideally have liked a signing by now, but it is premature to be dismayed. Waugh: Sort of, in the sense some fans are (to an extent, understandably) growing concerned about the lack of incoming. Internally, the mood is not as extreme. There has been frustration, but speed costs money and Newcastle are confident fees will become more realistic as the summer progresses. There is a recognition that it is worth waiting for the targets they want, rather than rushing to acquire someone who is not the ideal fit. Most targets whose names are in the public domain are at English clubs, leading some fans to suggest Newcastle are prioritising Premier League experience over cost. Yet the message from some insiders is that the market in continental Europe is also distorted and will not necessarily prove much cheaper. Newcastle insist they are ready to act — and, crucially, can do so even before June 30. Those at the top are confident the club will end the summer in a far stronger position than they started it. Advertisement Caulkin: Managers always want more. They always want business done early. Howe talks about being motivated by a fear of failure, so he will be fretting. The first team continue to drive everything at Newcastle; if they are considered an elite outfit, it's because of what the head coach has done, not because of their infrastructure or commercial income. So far, the help he needs has not materialised. The situations with Eales and Mitchell — two roles which should shape Newcastle's future – do not encourage stability. The Athletic has spoken to other senior figures who have talked about their uncertainty in terms of the bigger picture. Ultimately, that uncertainty will not dissipate until new appointments are in place and their vision established. The message is that Eales' successor is close to being determined — David Hopkinson, a former executive at Real Madrid, is a leading candidate — and the search for Mitchell's replacement is underway. In the short term, Newcastle have to demonstrate that the status quo remains operational and then that a new leadership model can get things done while building relationships. That first signing, whenever it comes, will calm nerves. Caulkin: The club maintain it is 'business as usual'. Mitchell will continue to direct Newcastle's transfer policy — with Howe retaining the final say — until June 30, when Eales is expected to pick up the slack. A year in charge without making a game-changing signing would not be the glossiest entry on Mitchell's CV, but this is not driving his agenda. Newcastle's plan for this entire window is his plan, at least in part. Last summer demonstrated that having a new sporting director in place guarantees nothing. Will whoever comes in next have the same ideas about strategy and recruitment? Advertisement Waugh: Steve Nickson, head of recruitment, and Andy Howe, assistant head of recruitment, took on prominent roles in the post-Dan Ashworth interim and will be empowered again. The latter has been an influential voice since the takeover, following Eddie, his uncle, to the club from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth. Targets have been selected by the head coach. He would ideally like one or two additions before pre-season begins on July 7, and definitely before the squad leave for a training camp in Austria — by which time the true direction of their window will have become clearer.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Charles Barkley Takes Shot At Knicks After Firing Tom Thibodeau
Charles Barkley Takes Shot At Knicks After Firing Tom Thibodeau originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After defeating the defending champion Boston Celtics in six games, Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks saw their season come to an end in the Eastern Conference finals, falling to the Indiana Pacers. Advertisement Thibodeau joined the Knicks in 2020 and has made it to the NBA playoffs in four of his five seasons there. However, despite the recent success, New York elected to part ways with Thibodeau following its elimination. The Knicks have looked into interviewing four current NBA head coaches, including the Dallas Mavericks' Jason Kidd, the Minnesota Timberwolves' Chris Finch, the Houston Rockets' Ime Udoka and the Atlanta Hawks' Quin Snyder. However, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Hawks became the fourth team to deny the Knicks an interview, leaving New York empty-handed to begin its coaching search. Outside of these four potential candidates, New York hasn't revealed much of a plan going forward without Thibodeau. And NBA legend Charles Barkley does not approve. NBA analyst Charles Barkley criticized the New York Jairaj-Imagn Images On Wednesday, Barkley joined ESPN for its pregame coverage of Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Phoenix Suns forward was not pleased with New York's coaching decision, calling them out live on air. Advertisement "The Knicks gotta be the stupidest damn people in the world," Barkley said. "Like, you don't fire a good coach like that and don't have a plan. I mean, Thibs did a hell of a job. Obviously, something's going on there, but you don't have a plan, and now, the three coaches turn you down. You gotta have a plan, man. And they don't have a plan. Now... I mean, I don't know what the hell they are going to do." Although Thibodeau hasn't won an NBA championship as a head coach, he has still put together an impressive coaching resume. He won two NBA Coach of the Year awards and even led the Knicks to their first conference finals in 25 years. Related: Warriors Turn Heads With Steph Curry Post on Monday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
