National Basketball Association (NBA) games are televised nationally in the United States, as well as on multiple local channels andregional sports networks.[1]
The2025–26 season marks the first year of 11-year agreements with broadcast channelsABC andNBC, pay television networkESPN, and streaming servicesPeacock andAmazon Prime Video to nationally televise games in the United States. Under these contracts, ESPN shows doubleheaders on Wednesday nights, and Amazon Prime Video streams games on Friday nights for most of the season. NBC airs a Tuesday night doubleheader to be shown across different NBC stations (under the brandingCoast 2 Coast Tuesday). The first is scheduled at 8 p.m.Eastern Time (on NBC stations using Eastern andCentral Time Zones) and a second game is scheduled at 8 p.m.Pacific Time (on stations usingMountain and Pacific Time Zones). In addition to streaming all games broadcast by NBC, Peacock also streams at least one game exclusively on the streamer. During the second half of the season, ABC shows a single game on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, whereas Prime Video streams Thursday night games and NBC airs Sunday night games (under the brandingSunday Night Basketball). Prime Video also streams selected Saturday afternoon games, while ESPN airs games on selected Friday nights. There are some exceptions to this schedule, including Tip-off Week,Christmas Day, andMartin Luther King Jr. Day. More games may be shown as the end of the regular season approaches, particularly games with playoff significance. Coverage of the first two rounds is split between ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video, while theconference finals alternates between these platforms every year. The entireNBA Finals is shown nationally on ABC. The NBA Finals is one of the few sporting events to be shown on anational broadcast network on a weeknight.
Games not televised by its national partners are instead broadcast by local broadcast stations and regional sports networks, televising their respective local team within their respective region. A number of nationally televised games are also non-exclusive, meaning that the national telecasts may also air in tandem with those of the game by local broadcasters. With theToronto Raptors being the only NBA team in Canada, television rights differ in that country. Games exclusively televised south of the border by an American national broadcast network may be simulcast by a Canadian network, but all contests involving the Raptors are non-exclusive north of the border.
In addition to the English-language television broadcasts, select NBA games also have Spanish-language broadcasts since 2002.[2][3]
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As one of the major sports leagues in North America, theNational Basketball Association has a long history of partnership withtelevision networks in theUnited States. The league signed a contract withDuMont in its8th season (1953–54), marking the first year the NBA had a national television broadcaster. Similar toNFL, the lack oftelevision stations led toNBC taking over the rights beginning thevery next season until April 7, 1962—NBC's first tenure with the NBA. After the deal expired,Sports Network Incorporated (later known as the Hughes Television Network) signed up for two-year coverage in the1962–63 and1963–64 season.
ABC then gained the NBA in1964, airing its first NBA game on January 3, 1965. Up until the1970–71 season, ABC often aired NBA games as segments of its popularABC's Wide World of Sports anthology series rather than standalone broadcasts.
CBS took over national rights from ABC in1973. The late 1970s and early 1980s was notoriously known as the "tape delay playoff era". Ratings sagged in the late 1970s with a series of fairly undistinguished championship teams from relatively small markets, widespread public perceptions of drug usage among players, and a relative lack of marquee players. Even a merger with theAmerican Basketball Association in 1976, bringing several standout players includingJulius Erving into the league, did not reverse the ratings slide. CBS, not wishing to preempt higher-rated regular programming for the relatively low-rated pro basketball, elected to show several playoff games each seasontape-delayed into late-night time slots. This situation started to improve with the arrival ofEarvin "Magic" Johnson andLarry Bird for the1979-80 season, but both the 1980 and 1981 NBA Finals (which were won by teams led by first Magic, and then Bird) had games air late at night on tape delay, most infamous with the 1980 Finals' Game 6, where Magic (tasked to play center after an injury toKareem Abdul-Jabbar) had 42 points in a title-clinching win that wasn't aired live outside of Philadelphia or Los Angeles. Beginning with the1982 NBA Finals, the schedule was shifted to avoid the Maytelevision sweeps period, and tape-delayed games were no longer an issue.
The NBA entered thecable territory in 1979 whenUSA Network signed a three-year $1.5 million deal and extended for two years until the1983–84 season,ESPN also had a brief affair with the NBA from1982 to1984.Turner Sports then replaced ESPN and USA Network as national cable partners under a four-year deal beginning with the1984-85 season, in whichTBS shared the NBA television package along with CBS. In the summer of 1987, Turner signed a new joint broadcast contract between TBS andTNT to split broadcast NBA games starting from the1988-89 season. TNT held rights to broadcast theNBA draft, most NBA regular season andplayoff games, whileTBS only aired single games ordoubleheaders once a week.
In1990, NBC took over the broadcast rights from CBS.[4] During NBC's partnership with the NBA in the 1990s, the league rose to unprecedented popularity, withratings surpassing the days of Johnson and Bird in the mid-1980s.
Upon expiration of the contracts in2002, the NBA signed a six-year, $2.4 billion ($400 million/year) deal withDisney-ownedABCandESPN. ABC took over the package from NBC, and ESPN took over part of the cable rights from TBS. NBC had made a four-year $1.3 billion ($330 million/year) offer in the spring of 2002 to renew its rights, but the NBA passed and opted for ABC/ESPN's higher bid. Turner was able to keep a package for TNT. And while TBS would initially discontinue game coverage altogether, it would serve as TNT's overflow feed during the playoffs while alsosimulcasting games like the2015,2016, and2017 NBA All-Star Game. The combined total of ABC, ESPN, and TNT's 2002 agreements became $4.6 billion ($766 million/year).[5] Partially due to the retirement ofMichael Jordan after the2002–03 season, the league suffered aratings decline. The NBA extended its national television package on June 27, 2007, worth eight-year $7.4 billion ($930 million/year) through the2015–16 season,[5] during which the league had its new resurgence leading by a renewedCeltics–Lakers rivalry andLeBron James. On October 6, 2014, NBA announced a nine-year $24 billion ($2.7 billion/year) extension with ABC, ESPN, and Turner beginning with the2016–17 season and running through the2024–25 season[6] - the second most expensive media rights in the world afterNFL and on a par withPremier League in annual rights fee from2016–17 to 2018–19 season.[7]
On July 24, 2024, the NBA announced new 11-year agreements with ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, andAmazon Prime Video that will last from the 2025–26 to 2035–36 seasons.[8][9][10][11] The new agreements ended a near 36-year domestic broadcast run withTNT Sports; parent companyWarner Bros. Discovery and the NBA would later agree to a legal settlement, which included live game rights for select international territories and sublicensing its pregame, halftime, and postgame showInside the NBA to ESPN and ABC.[12][13][14]
| Season | Network | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | ABC | 1.4 |
| 2023–24 | ABC | 1.4 |
| 2022–23 | ABC | 1.4 |
| 2021–22 | ABC | 1.6 |
| 2020–21 | ABC | 1.5 |
| 2019–20 | ABC | 1.8 |
| 2018–19 | ABC | 2.2 |
| 2017–18 | ABC | 2.2 |
| 2016–17 | ABC | 1.9 |
| 2015–16 | ABC | 2.3 |
| 2014–15 | ABC | 2.2 |
| 2013–14 | ABC | 2.3 |
| 2012–13 | ABC | 2.9 |
| 2011–12 (Lockout Shortened) | ABC | 3.3 |
| 2010–11 | ABC | 3.0 |
| 2009–10 | ABC | 2.3 |
| 2008–09 | ABC | 2.3 |
| 2007–08 | ABC | 2.2 |
| 2006–07 | ABC | 2.0 |
| 2005–06 | ABC | 2.2 |
| 2004–05 | ABC | 2.3 |
| 2003–04 | ABC | 2.4 |
| 2002–03 | ABC | 2.6 |
| 2001–02 | NBC | 2.9 |
| 2000–01 | NBC | 3.0 |
| 1999–2000 | NBC | 3.3 |
| 1998–99 (lockout shortened) | NBC | 4.3 |
| 1997–98 | NBC | 4.8 |
| 1996–97 | NBC | 4.7 |
| 1995–96 | NBC | 5.0 |
| 1994–95 | NBC | 5.1 |
| 1993–94 | NBC | 4.6 |
| 1992–93 | NBC | 5.0 |
| 1991–92 | NBC | 4.8 |
| 1990–91 | NBC | 4.7 |
| 1989–90 | CBS | 5.2 |
| Season | ABC | TNT | ESPN | NBA TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | 3.82M | 1.74M | 1.63M | 0.31M |
| 2016–17 | 3.27M | 1.54M | 1.57M | 0.31M |
| 2015–16 | 3.93M | 1.68M | 1.65M | 0.35M |
| 2014–15 | 3.59M | 1.67M | 1.50M | 0.29M |
| 2013–14 | 3.58M | 1.90M | 1.68M | 0.32M |
| 2012–13 | 4.70M | 2.00M | 1.77M | 0.34M |
| 2011–12 (lockout shortened) | 5.42M | 2.50M | 1.86M | 0.34M |
| 2010–11 | 5.11M | 2.40M | 1.99M | 0.25M |
| 2009–10 | 3.69M | 1.72M | 1.56M | --- |
| 2008–09 | 3.68M | 1.71M | 1.68M | --- |
| 2007–08 | 3.18M | 1.47M | 1.47M | --- |
Under the upcoming TV contracts starting with the 2026 playoffs, ABC/ESPN would broadcast about 18 games in the first two rounds each year.NBC Sports would have between 22 and 34 first and second-round games, either televised onNBC or streamed onPeacock. AndAmazon Prime Video would stream between 14 and 26 first and second-round games. For the conference finals, ABC/ESPN would have one series in the first 10 years of the deal, while the other series would be rotated between NBC and Prime Video; in 2036 (the final year of the deal), NBC and Amazon would have the conference finals instead of ABC/ESPN. ABC will continue to exclusively broadcast the NBA Finals, which, dating back to2003, would extend the network's consecutive streak of airing the series to over 30 years.[8][16][17] This deal will also see the entirety of the playoffs (including the first round and the play in tournament) exclusive to the NBA's national TV partners, meaning no local broadcaster is allowed to produce its own broadcast of playoff games and co-exist with the national broadcaster.[18]
| Year | Network | Game | Rating | Viewership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | TNT | Oklahoma City Thunder vs Golden State Warriors WCF Game 7 | 8.9 | 16.00M |
| 2012 | ESPN | Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat ECF Game 7 | 7.7 | 13.35M |
| 2013 | TNT | Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat ECF Game 7 | 7.1 | 11.57M |
| 2011 | TNT | Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls ECF Game 1 | 6.2 | 11.11M |
| 2012 | ESPN | Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics ECF Game 6 | 6.8 | 11.07M |
| 2012 | ESPN | Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics ECF Game 4 | 6.8 | 11.07M |
| 2011 | TNT | Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat ECF Game 3 | 6.4 | 10.89M |
| 2016 | TNT | Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder WCF Game 6 | 6.2 | 10.81M |
| 2011 | TNT | Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls ECF Game 5 | 6.4 | 10.41M |
| 2012 | ESPN | Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat ECF Game 5 | 6.3 | 10.25M |
ABC has exclusively aired theNBA Finals since 2003, and will continue to do so through 2036.[8]
| Year | Game | Rating/Share | Viewership |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors Game 7 | 15.8/29 | 31.02M |
| 2010 | Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers Game 7 | 15.6/27 | 28.20M |
| 2013 | San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat Game 7 | 15.3/26 | 26.32M |
| 2017 | Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors Game 5 | 13.5/25 | 24.47M |
| 2011 | Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat Game 6 | 13.3/23 | 23.88M |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game 6 | 13.4/24 | 23.25M |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Lakers vs Detroit Pistons Game 5 | 13.8/23 | 21.84M |
| 2015 | Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors Game 5 | 11.8/21 | 20.86M |
| 2016 | Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game 6 | 11.8/22 | 20.70M |
| 2013 | San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat Game 6 | 12.3/21 | 20.64M |
Games on Christmas Day have drawn some of the biggest regular season audiences. Since 2001, the most watched Christmas games were:
2004Miami Heat vsLos Angeles Lakers onABC averaged a 7.3 rating and 13.18 million viewers.
2010Miami Heat vsLos Angeles Lakers onABC averaged a 6.4 rating and 13.11 million viewers.
2015Cleveland Cavaliers vsGolden State Warriors onABC averaged a 5.7 rating and 11.12 million viewers.
| Year | Network | Games | Rating | Viewership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 5.25M | |
| 2023 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 2.85M | |
| 2022 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 4.27M | |
| 2021 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 1.7 | 4.08M |
| 2020 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 2.0 | 4.47M |
| 2019 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 5.34M | |
| 2018 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 3.0 | 5.83M |
| 2017 | ABC,ESPN,TNT | 5 | 2.6 | 5.10M |
| 2016 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 2.3 | 4.56M |
| 2015 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 3.0 | 5.55M |
| 2014 | ABC,ESPN,TNT | 5 | 2.8 | 5.22M |
| 2013 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 2.5 | 4.46M |
| 2012 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 3.1 | 5.50M |
| 2011 (lockout shortened) | TNT,ABC,ESPN | 5 | 4.0 | 6.50M |
| 2010 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 3.2 | 6.00M |
| 2009 | ABC,ESPN | 5 | 2.4 | 4.17M |
| 2008 | ABC,ESPN,TNT | 5 | 2.5 | 4.43M |
| 2007 | ABC,ESPN | 3 | 2.6 | 4.29M |
| 2006 | ABC | 1 | 3.5 | 5.47M |
| 2005 | ABC | 2 | 4.4 | 7.12M |
| 2004 | ABC,ESPN | 2 | 5.2 | 8.92M |
| 2003 | ABC,ESPN | 3 | 3.0 | 4.96M |
| 2002 | ABC,ESPN | 3 | 2.8 | 4.52M |
| 2001 | NBC | 2 | 3.2 | 4.99M |
TheNBA All-Star Game oringally aired on broadcast networks until 2002.TNT then began airing the All-Star Game on cable in2003, which was simulcast onTBS from2015 to2025.NBC then takes over airing the game in 2026.[8]
On November 9, 2007, when theHouston Rockets withYao Ming faced off against theMilwaukee Bucks withYi Jianlian, over 200 million people in China watched on 19 different networks, making it the most-viewed game in NBA history.[19]
NBA games not televised by its national partners are instead broadcast by local broadcast stations andregional sports networks. The two networks may also simulcast the national televised feed of these games, excluding postseason contests. But all of these U.S. national feeds have been treated as non-exclusive in Canada if they involve the Raptors, inducing the2019 NBA Finals, allowing the Raptors regional telecast to air in tandem with the U.S. national broadcast.[20][21]
Starting with the 2025–26 season, U.S. regional broadcasters are only allowed to televise preseason and regular season games, as all playoff games become exclusive to the NBA's national TV partners.[18]
Most NBA regional broadcasters are members of national chains:
| Regional network | Team(s) |
|---|---|
| Altitude Sports | Denver |
| Chicago Sports Network | Chicago |
| FanDuel Sports Network | Atlanta (10 games flexed to WPCH as of 2023–24 season), Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, LA Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee (10 games flexed to WMLW as of 2023–24 season), Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Orlando, San Antonio |
| Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network (Gray Television) | New Orleans |
| KJZZ-TV (Smith Entertainment Group) | Utah |
| KFAA/WFAA (Tegna Inc.) | Dallas |
| KTVK/KPHE (Gray Television) | Phoenix |
| Monumental Sports Network | Washington |
| MSG | New York |
| NBC Sports Regional Networks | Boston, Golden State, Philadelphia, Sacramento |
| Rip City Television Network | Portland |
| Space City Home Network | Houston |
| Spectrum Sports | LA Lakers |
| Sportsnet andTSN (shared rights) | Toronto |
| YES Network | Brooklyn |
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