NBA’s $76 billion TV deal opens new era of broadcasting – Basketball Insiders

NBA coverage gets a new look

It’s not just basketball games that kick off the 2025-26 NBA season. The league launches a massive 11-year, $76 billion television deal that will reshape where and how fans watch games. NBC returns to NBA coverage for first time in more than two decades, bringing back its iconic image “Sphere Rock” topic and introduced Michael Jordan as a “Special Contributor.”

Amazon Prime joins the lineup, while ESPN retains its long-standing coverage, now including legends Inside the NBA All hands on deck. NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood highlighted the partnership:

“We’re happy to promote the NBA’s full schedule and let people know about the great NBA products they can find on Amazon and ESPN, two other partners,” Flood said.

Michael Jordan to join NBC cast as “special contributor”

Where and when to watch

The national schedule has a new rhythm. According to the alliance, the general pattern is:

• on Monday: Peacock

• Tuesday: NBC and Peacock

• Wednesday: ESPN

• Friday: High quality video

• Thursday (mid-season start): More Prime Video Games

• Saturday: ABC, ESPN and Prime Video

• Sunday: ABC, ESPN and NBC/Peacock

Opening night – Houston vs. Oklahoma City, followed by Golden State vs. the Los Angeles Lakers – will air on NBC and Peacock, marking the network’s first NBA regular-season broadcast since 2002.

Innovation meets convenience

The league is introducing several innovations, including backup camera setups with analysts near team benches. The NBA app will now display scores in real time with virtually no lag, including live clock graphics.

To streamline the viewing experience, the NBA has launched Tap to Watch, a digital feature that guides fans to watch live games across networks and platforms, from local broadcasts to national games on ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the challenges of navigating modern viewing styles:

“We’ve all had that experience where you’re going to Google to find the game you want to watch because the world has changed,” Silver said.

The future of NBA broadcasts

ESPN and ABC retain the rights to host the NBA Finals, while NBC and Prime Video have an almost equal number of regular-season games. Prime Video will also exclusively stream every NBA Cup knockout and play-in game.

With Jordan’s return, NBC’s resurgence and a digital-first approach, the NBA’s new broadcast era combines nostalgia with innovation.