ABC and NBC will combine to air 90 NBA games during the 2026-27 season, a 14% increase over the broadcast networks’ total of 79 in the prior season.
The uptick will continue the squeeze on general-entertainment programming, extending a long-term shift toward live sports, unscripted fare and news and away from traditional dramas and comedies. More sports also means lower residuals for talent and other stakeholders in entertainment programming.
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While select games have been announced previously, the NBA revealed its full schedule for next season on Thursday. (Find it HERE.) Tip-off has been set for October 20, when NBC and Peacock will have a triple-header. Games will see the Boston Celtics facing the Detroit Pistons; the Philadelphia 76ers taking on the defending champion New York Knicks; and the Oklahoma City Thunder playing the San Antonio Spurs.
Broadcast network games will be on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Other games will be on ESPN and certain exclusives are planned on Peacock.
Disney’s ABC and ESPN will carry five games on Christmas Day, with the slate highlighted by a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs. New York and San Antonio will have the most national games during the season, with 34 out of their 82 contests appearing on one of the three outlets with national rights. Amazon Prime Video joined NBCUniversal and Disney as a rightsholder when 11-year rights deals took effect in 2025.
Two games for each team have not been fully scheduled, given that matchups and exact timing will be determined by the outcome of early rounds of the Emirates Cup. The in-season tournament, which was added to the calendar in 2023, streams on Prime Video.
All-Star Weekend will start February 19, a few days after the Super Bowl, with ESPN and NBC/Peacock carrying portions of the weekend’s activities.
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