NBA Finals ad spend reaches $286 million
The seven-game NBA Finals might have pulled in smaller numbers for ABC and ESPN Plus this year, but it was still financially lucrative for parent company Disney.
National Basketball Association (NBA)
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league that consists of 30 teams in North America — 29 in the United States and one in Canada.
Domestic telecast rights to NBA games are held by the Walt Disney Company’s ESPN, Warner Bros Discovery’s TNT Sports and several regional sports broadcasters through the 2024-25 season.
Starting with the 2025-26 season, nationally-televised NBA games are tentatively scheduled to move from TNT Sports to Comcast’s NBC Sports and Amazon’s Prime Video.
NBA Finals Game 7 grabs 16.353 million viewers
Game 7 of the NBA Finals drew an average audience of 16.353 million viewers on Sunday.
Peacock to offer in-game stats, interactive features for NBA on NBC
Some of the new features include a “Bingo”-like fantasy sports game and real-time highlights, among others.
NBA viewership dips 2 percent in final year on TNT Sports
aThe average game attracted a national TV audience of 1.53 million viewers, a figure that accounts for games aired on ESPN, ABC and TNT.
NBA viewership increases on ABC during 2024-2025 season
ABC said its telecast of National Basketball Association (NBA) games have drawn more viewership this season compared to last year.
Parks: Most fans keep sports streaming subscriptions active during off-season
As more sports moves to streaming, fans are growing comfortable — and satisfied — with the available options to watch their favorite teams.
WBD CEO: We’re better off without live NBA games
After suing to enforce a prior contract, David Zaslav says the company will do just fine without pro basketball.
Amazon reports ad revenue growth during Q4
NFL games on Prime Video grow viewership, but still lag behind peer broadcast networks.
TNT Sports, NBA 2K to produce alternate telecasts of games
WBD is partnering with NBA 2K and Genius Sports to produce alternate telecasts of a 2024 Emirates Cup NBA game, the companies announced on Tuesday.
Shareholder sues WBD over lapsed NBA television deal
A shareholder says WBD executives weren’t fully forthcoming on the risk of losing NBA television rights to Comcast and Amazon.
NBA, WBD reach settlement in TV rights lawsuit
The settlement will allow the NBA to move forward with its telecast agreement with Amazon, while giving WBD international distribution rights to some games.
Court unseals NBA television contracts with Amazon, NBC
The contracts offer a glimpse into which games will air on Comcast’s NBC and Amazon’s Prime Video if the telecast agreement holds up.
TEGNA partners with peer broadcasters to expand access to Dallas Mavericks games
Stations owned by Nexstar Media Group, Gray Media and Sinclair will offer Mavericks games across Texas.
Sinclair to distribute Portland Trail Blazers games on broadcast TV
The professional basketball team is also making its games available on a subscription streaming service, launching soon.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski announces retirement
Wojnarowski is leaving the media industry to become the GM of the men’s basketball team at his alma mater.
Netflix drops trailer for basketball docuseries “Starting 5”
The program will shine a spotlight on some of the biggest starts in the National Basketball Association.
Gray Media to air New Orleans Pelicans games on free broadcast TV
Gray Television will distribute New Orleans Pelicans games through a new regional sports broadcast network that will air on nearly a dozen TV stations.
Dallas Mavericks games moving to TEGNA-owned broadcast stations
Dallas Mavericks games will air on more than a half-dozen TEGNA-owned television stations in Texas this upcoming season.
NBA seeks dismissal of WBD’s lawsuit over telecast rights
The professional basketball league says WBD’s offer was not substantially the same as one made by Amazon for games on Prime Video.
WBD sues NBA for rejecting TV rights offer
WBD has made good on its threat to take “appropriate action” against the NBA by suing the league over its new TV deal.
WBD hints at lawsuit after TNT appears to lose NBA games to Amazon
Officials at Warner Bros Discovery say they disagree with a decision by the NBA to reject a counter-bid for basketball games that appear destined for Amazon’s Prime Video.
NBC stations, affiliates to benefit from NBA TV deal with Comcast
NBC stations and affiliates will have access to double-header NBA games on Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as national games offered by NBC on Sundays.
NBA announces 11-year TV deal with NBC, Prime Video, ESPN
The NBA has affirmed its 11-year broadcast deal with Comcast’s NBC Sports, Amazon’s Prime Video and Disney’s ESPN, starting with the 2025-26 season.
Comcast expected to announce NBA deal for NBC “soon,” exec says
A Comcast executive says an announcement is imminent concerning a package of NBA games that will air on NBC over the long-term.
WBD matches offer to keep NBA games on TNT Sports
Warner Bros Discovery says it has matched at least one of the offers made by a rival broadcaster for long-term television rights of NBA games on TNT Sports.
NBA Board approves telecast deal with ESPN, Prime Video, NBC
Warner Bros Discovery has five days to match an offer to keep pro basketball on TNT Sports.
NBA identified as victim of alleged criminal hacking scheme
The NBA has been identified as an apparent victim of a criminal hacking scheme, one that is connected to the theft and distribution of raw Fox News video files.
Game 5 of NBA Finals draws 12.2 million to ABC
More than 12.2 million American households tuned in to watch the Boston Celtics defeat the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA Championship.
NBA close to $76 billion deal with national TV broadcasters
Negotiations with Comcast’s NBC, Amazon’s Prime Video and Disney’s ESPN are progressing.
NBC prepares $2.5 billion bid for national NBA television rights
A takeover of some national NBA broadcast rights by NBC could make WBD’s streaming joint venture with ESPN and Fox less-attractive to basketball fans.
NBA partners with Roku to launch free streaming TV channel
The channel will be available through a new portal called NBA Zone, which is rolling out to Roku devices this week.
Five Cleveland Cavaliers games to air on free broadcast TV
Gray Television says it will begin airing Cleveland Cavaliers games on its local CW affiliate in the city, starting in March.
ABC, ESPN see viewership increase with NBA games in 2023
More people are watching NBA games on ABC and ESPN this year than last year, with Nielsen showing a 16 percent year-over increase in viewership.
YouTube TV to improve service before pursuing more sports deals, CEO says
Company wants to build on its partnership with the NFL, which includes NFL Sunday Ticket, CEO Neal Mohan affirmed.
WBD confirms live sports tier coming to Max streaming service
WBD will stream live sports from TBS, TNT and TruTV on its Max service, initially for free.
WBD wants to launch sports brand on Max by playoffs
Executives are hoping to launch a live sports tier on its flagship streaming service Max in time for the Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs, according to a report.
Disney holds talks with pro-sports leagues about ESPN investment
Disney executives have held discussions with the NBA, NFL and others about taking a minority stake in ESPN, according to a new report.
NBA Draft on ABC, ESPN sets viewership record
The 2023 NBA Draft telecast on ABC and ESPN grabbed nearly 5 million combined viewers, not including streaming.
Utah Jazz games moving to free broadcast TV
The Utah Jazz will begin offering regular season games on Sinclair-owned KJZZ later this year; a streaming service is also being developed.
2023 NBA Finals to be widely available on streaming services
There are plenty of cheap and free ways to stream the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat during the 2023 NBA Finals without cable.