NBA TV, the league’s cable outlet that has been on the air since 1999, is not slated to carry any regular-season or playoff games in the 2025-26 campaign, raising questions about the channel’s long-term viability.
The network is owned by the National Basketball Association but has been operated by Warner Bros. Discovery’s Turner Sports arm since its launch. Warner Bros. Discovery, however, is not part of the league’s new national media rights package that begins in 2025-26 and is shared by Disney (ESPN/ABC), NBC Sports and Amazon Prime Video. As a result, TNT and its sister properties have been excluded from the upcoming rights rotation.
Reduced Reach
According to Hoops Wire, NBA TV is currently available in roughly 37 million U.S. households, down sharply from a peak of 61 million in 2013. With all national game windows shifting to the new rights holders, the channel’s future programming options appear limited to studio shows, archival “Hardwood Classics” broadcasts, G League contests and other league-produced content.
Internal Uncertainty
An unnamed Turner Sports employee told Hoops Wire late last season that staff had not received guidance on plans for NBA TV or the league’s digital platform NBA.com, both of which are still operated by Turner. The employee expressed concern about job security and the direction of the properties.
Hoops Wire reports that NBA TV is expected to remain on air for the 2024-25 season, but its status beyond that point is uncertain.
Source: Hoops Wire
