New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- NEW YORK - Ernie Johnson is giving up the nightly preparation and familiar studio desk of "Inside the NBA," not his place on television. The host who has spent 37 seasons guiding the show's conversations says the current campaign will be his last, while other broadcasting work will continue.

preparation he had always enjoyed had become more of a challenge than a joy.

That distinction puts a boundary around a departure that could otherwise be mistaken for retirement. Johnson plans to remain involved with March Madness and other projects for TNT and CBS, while a new production company will give him another way to tell sports stories away from the studio desk.

In his announcement carried by NBA.com, Johnson said he h...