The NBA season is here, but watching games legally has become significantly more complex. The league’s new media rights deals have scattered national broadcasts across three streaming services: Peacock, ESPN+, and Amazon Prime Video. Forget flipping channels—full coverage now requires a triple subscription.
The New Broadcast Landscape
This season marks the end of the NBA on TNT era, with games returning to NBC and expanding into the streaming world. The NBA has locked in an 11-year deal with Disney (ESPN/ABC), NBCUniversal (NBC/Peacock), and Amazon (Prime Video). While the total number of national broadcasts has increased to 247 (up from 172 last season), accessibility has plummeted.
Previously, a single live TV streaming service like Sling or YouTube TV sufficed for national games. Now, exclusive broadcasts on Peacock and Prime Video force fans to juggle multiple subscriptions. The era of convenience is over.
Where to Watch: A Breakdown
Here’s how the national broadcasts are divided:
- ESPN/ABC: 80 regular-season games
- Peacock: 100 regular-season games, including the All-Star Game
- Prime Video: 66 regular-season games
The weekly schedule is designed to spread the games across platforms:
- Monday: Peacock
- Tuesday: NBC and Peacock
- Wednesday: ESPN
- Friday: Amazon Prime
Midseason, once the NFL and college football seasons wane, expect games every night of the week. Amazon will add Thursday broadcasts, ESPN takes over Fridays, and Saturday afternoons and evenings will be split between Amazon and ESPN/ABC. Sunday nights will be on NBC and Peacock.
The Cost of Full Access
To watch every national NBA game, you’ll need all three streaming services: Peacock ($11/month), Prime Video ($9/month), and ESPN+ ($30/month). This brings the total to $50 per month. If you’re already an Amazon Prime subscriber, the cost drops to $41/month.
Local and Out-of-Market Games
If you care more about your local team, you’ll need a TV service that carries your regional sports network (RSN). Options include DirecTV and Fubo. Some teams also offer in-market streaming via NBA League Pass (Dallas Mavericks, Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, and Utah Jazz).
The Future of NBA Viewing
The fragmentation of NBA broadcasts reflects a broader trend in sports media: exclusive streaming deals. While the NBA aims to reach new audiences, the current setup frustrates many fans. The league’s move to streaming is inevitable, but the transition has been messy.
The bottom line: watching NBA games in 2024–25 is more expensive and complicated than ever before. Fans must adapt to a fragmented landscape or risk missing out on their favorite teams.
