Honestly, flipping to TNT usually means you’re looking for one of three things: a massive blockbuster movie you’ve already seen five times, a gritty procedural marathon, or some high-stakes live sports. If you're wondering what is playing on TNT right now, you’ve probably noticed the channel has leaned hard into its "Drama, Period" roots while carving out a massive space for the new Unrivaled basketball league.
Today is Friday, January 16, 2026. The schedule is a chaotic, beautiful mix of FBI marathons, sci-fi epics, and the rise of women’s professional 3-on-3 basketball.
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The Daytime Grind: Why is FBI always on?
If you turned on the TV this morning, you likely saw Special Agent Maggie Bell or OA Zidan. TNT has turned the FBI franchise into its daytime backbone. It's basically the new Law & Order for the cable generation.
From 6:00 AM through the early afternoon, the network is running a back-to-back gauntlet of Dick Wolf’s finest. Specifically, this morning featured the "All That Glitters" and "Hacktivist" episodes from Season 4. These aren't just background noise; they consistently pull some of the highest "passive" ratings on cable. People love a resolved mystery before lunch. Kinda makes sense.
The Afternoon Blockbuster: Dune and The Suicide Squad
By 1:00 PM ET, the vibe shifted from crime-solving to world-saving. TNT aired Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (2021). It’s a bold choice for a Friday afternoon, considering the movie is nearly three hours long and looks better on an IMAX screen, but it serves as the perfect lead-in for the evening's heavier hitters.
Following the sands of Arrakis, the 4:15 PM slot moved into the DC Universe with James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. It’s a weirdly perfect transition—moving from the somber, high-stakes drama of Paul Atreides to the neon-soaked, R-rated (well, TV-14 edited) chaos of Harley Quinn and Bloodsport.
Primetime Friday: Unrivaled Basketball Takes Over
This is where the 2026 schedule looks a lot different than it did a couple of years ago. Friday nights on TNT are now synonymous with Unrivaled Basketball.
If you’re checking the schedule right now, here’s the live breakdown for this evening:
- 7:00 PM ET: Unrivaled Pregame. This is where the analysts break down the 3-on-3 matchups.
- 7:30 PM ET: Laces Basketball Club vs. Phantom Basketball Club.
- 8:45 PM ET: Rose Basketball Club vs. Vinyl Basketball Club.
For those who haven't caught up, Unrivaled is the professional women’s 3-on-3 league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. It’s fast. It’s high-scoring. It basically fills that massive basketball void during the mid-winter slump. Playing these games in primetime on a Friday shows just how much Warner Bros. Discovery is betting on women’s sports as a "sticky" alternative to another movie repeat.
Late Night: Denzel and Blue Beetle
After the postgame analysis wraps up around 10:00 PM, TNT returns to its "Big Ticket Movie" roots.
If you stay up late tonight, you’re getting a double feature of high-octane action. At 10:30 PM, the schedule lists Blue Beetle (2023), followed by a late-late-night showing of Denzel Washington’s Déjà Vu.
Is Déjà Vu a masterpiece? Maybe not. But Denzel playing an ATF agent using experimental time-folding technology to save Paula Patton? That is quintessential Friday night cable.
Quick Glance: TNT Friday Schedule (Jan 16, 2026)
| Time (ET) | Program | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | FBI: Gone Baby Gone | Crime Drama |
| 1:00 PM | Dune (2021) | Sci-Fi/Epic |
| 4:15 PM | The Suicide Squad | Superhero/Action |
| 7:00 PM | Unrivaled Pregame | Sports |
| 7:30 PM | Laces vs. Phantom | Live Basketball |
| 8:45 PM | Rose vs. Vinyl | Live Basketball |
| 10:00 PM | Unrivaled Postgame | Sports Analysis |
| 10:30 PM | Blue Beetle | Superhero/Action |
Why the Schedule Matters
You might wonder why TNT still bothers with these massive movie blocks when Max (their streaming sibling) exists. It’s about the "lean-back" experience. Most people searching for what is playing on TNT right now aren't looking for a specific title; they're looking for something reliable to have on while they cook dinner or scroll through their phones.
The inclusion of the Unrivaled league is the real disruptor here. Live sports are the only thing keeping the "cord" attached for many households. By sandwiching live 3-on-3 basketball between DC superheroes and FBI reruns, TNT is trying to bridge the gap between traditional cable viewers and younger sports fans.
Tips for Watching TNT Without Cable
If you’re seeing something on the schedule you actually want to watch but you ditched your satellite dish years ago, you've got options:
- Hulu + Live TV / YouTube TV: These are the most stable ways to get the live feed.
- Sling TV: Usually the cheapest "legal" way to get TNT, though the interface can be a bit clunky.
- Max (B/R Sports Add-on): For the Unrivaled games and NBA matchups, the B/R Sports tier on Max often carries the live simulcast.
To make the most of your viewing tonight, check your local listings if you're on the West Coast, as many of these "live" sports events are broadcast simultaneously, meaning the pregame might start as early as 4:00 PM PT for you. If you’re a fan of the FBI marathons, those usually restart every Tuesday and Thursday morning like clockwork.
For the best experience during the Unrivaled games, keep an eye on the "Star Cam" feeds if you're watching via the TNT app—it gives a much tighter perspective on the 3-on-3 action than the standard broadcast.