NBA on television
| Company type | Broadcasting rights |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports broadcasting |
| Founded | 1953 |
Area served | United States, Canada (select games) |
Key people | ABC, NBC, ESPN, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, Turner Sports (former) |
| Products | NBA game broadcasts (regular season, playoffs, Finals) |
National Basketball Association (NBA) contests receive nationwide television coverage across various channels and regional sports networks throughout the United States. The 2025-26 season initiates new 11-year broadcast agreements involving ABC, NBC, ESPN, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video for national distribution. ESPN broadcasts Wednesday doubleheaders, Amazon Prime Video streams the majority of Friday matchups, Peacock handles Monday game telecasts, and NBC presents two region-specific Tuesday games. During the latter part of the season, ABC airs Saturday night and Sunday afternoon games, while Prime Video offers Thursday night contests along with select Saturday afternoon matchups. ESPN also features a selection of Friday games. Exceptions to this schedule include Tip-off Week, Christmas Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Additional games are scheduled late in the season, particularly those with playoff significance. Early playoff rounds are divided among ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video; conference finals rotate annually among these platforms. The entire NBA Finals is broadcast nationally on ABC, making it one of the rare weeknight events with nationwide coverage.
Locally unaired games are shown on regional sports networks and local stations within each team’s home market. Many national broadcasts are non-exclusive, permitting simultaneous local telecasts.
With only the Toronto Raptors representing Canada in the league, Canadian broadcasting rights differ: American national telecasts airing south of the border may be simulcast in Canada; however, Raptors games remain non-exclusive north of the border.
Since 2002, select NBA matchups have also been available with Spanish-language commentary.
History
As a premier professional sports league in North America, the National Basketball Association has maintained longstanding relationships with major U.S. broadcasters. The NBA’s initial national television exposure came through DuMont during its eighth season (1953–54), followed by NBC taking over from the subsequent season until 1962. Afterward, broadcasting rights were held by Sports Network Incorporated for two seasons.
In 1964, ABC secured NBA rights, initially featuring games within its Wide World of Sports anthology series. CBS assumed coverage in 1973; however, ratings declined in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to less popular teams and player controversies, leading CBS to delay playoff broadcasts until late-night hours. Viewership improved with the emergence of stars like Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Larry Bird, resulting in live broadcasts beginning with the 1982 NBA Finals.
The NBA entered cable television in 1979 through a $1.5 million contract with USA Network, which was extended until 1984. From 1982 to 1984, ESPN briefly aired games before Turner Sports took over both ESPN’s and USA Network’s coverage under a four-year agreement starting with the 1984-85 season. Beginning in 1988-89, Turner divided broadcasts between TBS and TNT, with TNT handling most regular season and playoff coverage while TBS aired a limited weekly slate.
NBC regained NBA broadcast rights from CBS in 1990 amid a surge in league popularity during the 1990s, achieving Nielsen ratings that surpassed previous periods.
After NBC’s contract ended following the 2002 campaign, the NBA signed a six-year, $2.4 billion agreement with Disney-owned ABC and ESPN. Though NBC proposed $1.3 billion, it was outbid. Turner retained rights for TNT; TBS discontinued regular game telecasts but served as an overflow channel during playoffs and simulcast select All-Star Games. The combined ABC/ESPN/TNT deal averaged $766 million annually. Ratings declined following Michael Jordan’s retirement but later recovered due to emerging rivalries and stars such as LeBron James. In 2007, the NBA extended its television contract for eight years at $7.4 billion ($930 million per year).
On October 6, 2014, the NBA announced a nine-year extension worth $24 billion with ABC, ESPN, and Turner starting from the 2016-17 season, lasting through 2024-25—ranking as the second-highest media rights deal worldwide after the NFL and comparable to Premier League agreements.
On July 24, 2024, new 11-year media contracts were revealed involving ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video, covering seasons from 2025–26 through 2035–36. This agreement concluded TNT Sports’ nearly 36-year run as a domestic broadcaster. Subsequently, Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA resolved legal disputes by awarding certain international live game rights to Warner Bros., while sublicensing flagship programming such as Inside the NBA to ESPN and ABC.
Regular season
| Season | Broadcast Network | Average 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 | |
| 2003–04 to 2008–09 (on ABC) | Approximately 2.3 average | ||
|
Approximately 4.5 average |
- |
- | |
|
1986-87 to 1988-89 (CBS) |
Roughly 5.2 average |
- |
- |
| Season | ABC | TNT | ESPN | NBA TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 (lockout shortened) | 5.42 million | 2.50 million | 1.86 million | 340,000 |
| 2012–13 | 4.70 million | 2.00 million | 1.77 million | 340,000 |
| 2015–16 | 3.93 million | 1.68 million | 1.65 million | 350,000 |
| 2007–08 | 3.18 million | 1.47 million | 1.47 million | --- |
NBA playoffs
Starting with the 2026 postseason, the new television agreements will allocate approximately 18 first- and second-round games annually to ABC/ESPN. NBC Sports will broadcast between 22 and 34 early-round matchups either on NBC or via streaming on Peacock. Amazon Prime Video is set to stream from 14 up to 26 games in the initial two rounds. Regarding the conference finals, ABC/ESPN will cover one series during the initial decade, while the other series will alternate between NBC and Prime Video; by 2036, NBC and Amazon will assume full coverage of the conference finals, replacing ABC/ESPN. ABC will maintain exclusive broadcasting rights for the NBA Finals, continuing its uninterrupted tenure since 2003. This arrangement grants exclusive national television rights for all playoff contests—including first-round and play-in tournament games—effectively eliminating local broadcasts during the playoffs.
| Year | Network | Matchup | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
NBA Finals
Since 2003, ABC has held exclusive rights to air the NBA Finals and is committed to continuing this exclusivity through at least 2036.
| Year | Matchup/Game | Rating/Share | Viewership (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
NBA on Christmas Day
NBA matchups held on Christmas Day regularly draw significant viewership during the regular season. Among the highest-rated contests since 2001 are:
- 2004: Miami Heat versus Los Angeles Lakers broadcast on ABC, achieving a 7.3 rating with an audience of 13.18 million.
- 2010: Miami Heat against Los Angeles Lakers on ABC, securing a 6.4 rating and 13.11 million viewers.
- 2015: Cleveland Cavaliers facing Golden State Warriors on ABC, earning a 5.7 rating and attracting 11.12 million viewers.
NBA All-Star Game
The NBA All-Star Game was broadcast on network television until 2002. Starting in 2003, cable coverage was taken over by TNT, which from 2015 through 2025 was simulcast alongside TBS. Beginning in 2026, NBC is set to resume broadcasting the event.
| Year | Network | Outcome | Rating/Share | Viewership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TNT, TBS, truTV, Max | Shaq's OGs 41, Chuck's Global Stars 25 | 2.2 | 4.72M |
| 2024 | TNT, TBS, truTV, Max | East 211, West 186 | 2.6 | 5.40M |
| 2023 | TNT, TBS | Team Giannis 184, Team LeBron 175 | 2.2 | 4.59M |
| 2022 | TNT, TBS | Team LeBron 163, Team Durant 160 | 3.1 | 6.28M |
| 2021 | TNT, TBS | Team LeBron 170, Team Durant 150 | 3.1 | 6.13M |
| 2020 | TNT, TBS | Team LeBron 157, Team Giannis 155 | 4.1 | 7.28M |
| 2019 | TNT, TBS | Team LeBron 178, Team Giannis 164 | 3.8 | 6.80M |
| 2018 | TNT, TBS | Team LeBron 148, Team Stephen 145 | 4.3 | 7.65M |
| 2017 | TNT, TBS | West 192, East 182 | 4.2/7 | 7.75M |
| 2016 | TNT, TBS | West 196, East 173 | 4.3/7 | 7.61M |
| 2015 | TNT, TBS | West 163, East 158 | 4.3/7 | 7.18M |
| 2014 | TNT | East 163, West 155 | 4.3/7 | 7.51M |
| 2013 | TNT | West 143, East138 | 4 .6 /8 | 8 .02 M |
| 2012 | TNT | West152 , East149 | 4 .4 /7 | 7 .07 M |
| 2011 | TNT | West148 , East143 | 5 .2 /9 | 9 .09 M |
| 2010 | TNT | East141 , West139 | 3 .8 /6 | 6 .85 M |
| 2009 | TNT | West146 , East119 | 4 .5 /7 | 6 .62 M |
| 2008 | TNT | East134 , West128 | 3 .8 /6 | 6 .33 M |
| 2007 | TNT | West153 , East132 | 4 .2 /7 | 6 .84 M |
| 2006 | TNT | East122 , West120 | 4 .3 /8 | 7 .07 M |
| 2005 | TNT | East125 , West115 | 4 .98 | 8 .08 M |
| 2004 | TNT | West136 , East132 | 5 .10 | 8 .19 M |
| 2003 | TNT | West155 , East145 | 6 .612 | 10 .83 M |
| 2002 | NBC | West135 , East120 | 8 .215 | 13 .10 M |
| 2001 | NBC | East111 , West110 | 5 .18 | 7 .76 M |
| colspan= "4" align= "center" |
Cancelled due to owners' Lockout (1998–99) | |||
|
NBC |
East135 , West114 |
10 .617 |
16 .93 M | |
|
NBC |
East132 , West120 |
11 .219 |
16 .90 M | |
|
NBC |
East129 , West118 |
11 .720 |
17 .46 M | |
|
NBC |
West139 , East112 |
10 .717 |
15 .78 M | |
|
NBC |
East127 , West118 |
09 .114 |
13 .67 M | |
|
NBC |
West135 , East132 |
14.322 |
22.91M | |
|
NBC |
West153 , East113 |
12 .826 |
18 .83 M | |
|
NBC |
East116 , West113 |
07 .821 |
10 .61 M | |
|
CBS |
East130 , West113 |
09 .513 |
13 .20 M |
Game with the highest viewership
On November 9, 2007, the NBA matchup featuring the Houston Rockets led by Yao Ming and the Milwaukee Bucks with Yi Jianlian attracted an audience exceeding 200 million across 19 Chinese television channels. This event stands as the NBA game with the largest recorded viewership worldwide.
Local and Canadian broadcasters
When NBA contests are not televised by national broadcasters, they are typically aired by local stations or regional sports networks. These regional outlets often relay national broadcasts except during playoff seasons. In Canada, broadcasts of U.S. national games involving the Raptors have been non-exclusive, permitting regional broadcasts to coexist with U.S. national telecasts, as was notably the case throughout the 2019 NBA Finals.
Beginning with the 2025–26 season, regional broadcasters in the United States will be restricted to airing only preseason and regular season games; all playoff coverage will be exclusively handled by the NBA’s national television partners.
The majority of NBA regional broadcasters belong to larger national media groups:
| Regional network | Team(s) |
|---|---|
| Altitude Sports | Denver Nuggets |
| Chicago Sports Network | Chicago Bulls |
| FanDuel Sports Network | Atlanta Hawks (10 games shifted to WPCH for 2023–24), Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks (10 games shifted to WMLW for 2023–24), Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs |
| Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network (Gray Television) |
New Orleans Pelicans |
| KJZZ-TV (Smith Entertainment Group) |
Utah Jazz |
| KFAA/WFAA (Tegna Inc.) |
Dallas Mavericks |
| KTVK/KPHE (Gray Television) |
Phoenix Suns |
| Monumental Sports Network | Washington Wizards |
| MSG | New York Knicks |
| NBC Sports Regional Networks | Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings |
| Rip City Television Network | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Space City Home Network | Houston Rockets |
| Spectrum Sports | LA Lakers |
| Sportsnet and TSN (shared rights) |
Toronto Raptors |
| YES Network | Brooklyn Nets |
See also
- NBA TV
- NBA TV Canada
- NBA TV Philippines
- NBA League Pass
- List of current National Basketball Association broadcasters
- Major League Baseball on television
- Major League Soccer on television
- National Football League on television
- National Hockey League on television
Further reading
External links
- NBA on television
- TNT Sports (United States)
- ESPN
- ABC Sports
- CBS Sports
- Basketball on NBC
- USA Network Sports
- Telemundo Deportes
- ABS-CBN
- Radio Philippines Network
- TV5 (Philippine TV network)
- Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
- Solar Entertainment Corporation
- The Sports Network
- Sportsnet
- CTV Sports
- Sky Sports
- BBC Sport
- ESPN Latin America
- 10 Sport
- Canal+