The NBA Television Deal: A New Era of Broadcasting

The NBA’s landscape is shifting with a groundbreaking new television deal, promising a transformative era for the league, its teams, and fans. This comprehensive agreement, valued at approximately $76 billion over 11 years (2025-26 through 2035-36), distributes national broadcasting rights among three major players: Disney (ABC and ESPN), Comcast (NBC and Peacock), and Amazon. This marks a significant departure from the previous arrangement and introduces a new level of complexity to how fans will access NBA games.

The agreement ensures nationally televised games every day of the week, spread across various platforms. Mondays will feature doubleheaders on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. Tuesdays will see two games broadcast on NBC regional affiliates. ESPN will continue its traditional Wednesday doubleheaders. Thursdays will belong to Amazon, airing prime-time games starting in January after the conclusion of “Thursday Night Football.” Fridays will offer a mix of Amazon prime-time doubleheaders and occasional ESPN broadcasts. Saturdays will maintain ABC’s prime-time showcase games, with occasional afternoon games on Amazon. Finally, Sundays will feature NBC prime-time games following “Sunday Night Football” in January. NBCUniversal will air up to 100 games, Disney will broadcast 80, and Amazon will stream 66.

This distribution of games represents a strategic effort to maximize reach and accessibility for fans. While the inclusion of streaming giants like Amazon and Peacock expands viewership potential, it also introduces potential challenges for fans accustomed to traditional cable packages.

The deal wasn’t without controversy. Warner Bros. Discovery, a long-time NBA broadcast partner, was denied the opportunity to match Amazon’s offer for a portion of the package, sparking potential legal action. The NBA cited Amazon’s broader reach via Prime Video as a key factor in the decision. Warner Bros. Discovery countered, asserting a misinterpretation of their contractual rights. The situation remains unresolved and could lead to a lawsuit, a settlement, or Warner Bros. Discovery’s complete withdrawal from NBA broadcasting.

Beyond the regular season, the agreement restructures playoff coverage. ABC will retain the NBA Finals, as it has since 2003, and will broadcast a conference final in most seasons. NBC and Amazon will each air a conference final in six of the 11 years. The first two rounds will see games distributed across Disney, NBCUniversal (including Peacock), and Amazon. Key events like opening night and All-Star Weekend will shift from TNT to NBC. The Emirates NBA Cup will be broadcast on Amazon.

The new deal also introduces a unique approach to Tuesday night broadcasts. NBC will air regional doubleheaders, one for the Eastern and Central time zones and another for the Mountain and Pacific time zones. The later games could potentially start as late as 11 p.m. ET, a surprising move considering the league’s recent efforts to schedule earlier start times.

Significant questions remain regarding the future of League Pass and NBA TV. The strategic partnership with Amazon may limit distribution on other platforms, impacting how fans access League Pass. The fate of NBA TV, and its popular show “Inside the NBA,” remains uncertain, particularly with Charles Barkley’s announced retirement plans and the potential contractual complexities of moving the show to another network.

While the new agreement promises increased revenue for the league and potentially impacts the salary cap, a “cap smoothing” mechanism in the collective bargaining agreement will mitigate dramatic fluctuations. The deal’s impact on regional sports networks remains unclear, particularly with the ongoing financial challenges faced by Diamond Sports. Amazon’s investment in Diamond, however, suggests a strengthening relationship between the two entities.

For fans, the new deal presents a mixed bag. While the increased number of nationally televised games on broadcast television is a positive, accessing all games will require multiple subscriptions to streaming services and potentially higher costs. This fragmentation of broadcasting rights could lead to a more complex and expensive viewing experience.

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Finally, the completion of the television deal paves the way for serious discussions about NBA expansion. With this major financial component secured, the league is now positioned to address the question of expansion in the near future. The widespread belief is that expansion is inevitable, and this deal brings the league one step closer to making it a reality.