Shams Charania, one of the NBA’s top insiders, has drawn significant interest from Amazon and NBC amid NBA media rights battle.
Both media giants are looking to bolster their sports coverage ahead of the NBA’s new $77 billion media-rights deal set to begin in 2025.
According to a report from Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, the interest in Charania comes in the wake of ESPN’s notable loss of insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Sources indicate that Charania is keeping his options open and engaging in early-stage talks with multiple potential suitors.
NBCUniversal is considering Charania for a role similar to how it uses Mike Florio for football coverage on Football Night in America.
Amazon Prime Video, which has successfully blended experienced talent with rookies for its NFL Thursday Night Football broadcasts, also views Charania as a prime fit.
Charania’s reputation as a go-to source for breaking NBA news makes him a highly sought-after talent in the evolving sports media landscape.
Amazon’s interest stems from the platform’s success in attracting younger audiences, with its NFL broadcasts drawing viewers seven years younger on average compared to traditional networks.
NBC, set to air NBA games for the first time in over 20 years, sees Charania as an asset to their return to basketball broadcasting.
ESPN, despite losing Wojnarowski to retirement, remains a dominant force in NBA media coverage, with a roster that includes Brian Windhorst, Ramona Shelburne, and Marc J. Spears.
There’s speculation that ESPN could adopt a more collaborative, committee-based approach to breaking NBA news in Wojnarowski’s absence.
Meanwhile, Charania remains under contract with The Athletic, a platform he joined in 2018 after leaving Yahoo, and where he’s been instrumental in the company’s NBA coverage.
The New York Times’ acquisition of The Athletic in 2022 has given Charania even more influence, and it’s possible he could maintain his role there while adding on-camera work for NBC or Amazon.
McCarthy’s report also points out that The Athletic is unlikely to let Charania go without a fight, given his importance to their NBA content.
In addition to his work at The Athletic, Charania has a contract with FanDuel, a deal that, according to sources, is also up for renewal this year.
The timing of Charania’s potential move coincides with the end of TNT insider Chris Haynes’s contract, setting the stage for a major shakeup in NBA media talent.
Industry insiders are also watching rising star Jake Fischer, who is leaving Yahoo for new opportunities, possibly with The Ringer or The Athletic.
