x
Breaking News
More () »

NBA returns to NBC under new media rights deal

Around 100 NBA games will be broadcast by NBC Universal each year and around 50 WNBA games.

NEW YORK — The NBA is coming back to NBC as part of the league's new media rights deal.

NBC will broadcast up to 100 regular-season games each year when the agreement starts for the 2025-2026 season. The network carried NBA games from 1990 through 2002. 

Dozens of WNBA games, as well as Team USA men's and women's contests, are part of the deal.

In addition to NBC, the games will be aired on NBCUniversal networks, including Peacock, USA Network, Sky Sports and Telemundo. 

“We are excited to once again become long-term partners with the NBA and WNBA, as well as USA Basketball,” said NBCU Media Group Mark Lazarus, chairman. 

NBC will broadcast games on Tuesday nights as part of a doubleheader with Peacock. Viewers in the Eastern and Central time zones will see a game that starts at 8 p.m. ET, while viewers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will get a game that tips off at 8 p.m. PT. Both games will stream on Peacock.

RELATED: NBA says it has entered deal with NBC, Disney and Amazon, not accepting Warner Bros. Discovery's offer

After the NFL Playoffs wrap up, NBC will air a game Sundays at 8 p.m. each week, following an hour-long pregame show. 

Peacock will stream around 50 games exclusively on Monday nights in the regular and postseason.

NBC will also have the All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night. During the playoffs, NBC and/or Peacock will have up to 28 games the first two rounds, with at least half on NBC.

NBC will also carry one of the two conference finals series in six of the 11 years on a rotating basis with Amazon. NBC will have a conference final in 2026-27 followed by Amazon the next season.

RELATED: How to watch Indiana Fever games on WTHR

More than 50 regular-season and first-round playoff WNBA games will air on NBC, USA Network and Peacock. NBCUniversal will air WNBA playoff semifinal games in seven years of the deal and will broadcast the WNBA Finals in 2026, 2030 and 2034.

“We look forward to bringing WNBA games to NBCU’s vast audiences on its networks and platforms, which will not only help elevate the league but also enhance the storytelling of the WNBA’s incredible athletes,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

The agreement also means the return of the popular "Roundball Rock" theme song used by the "NBA on NBC" in the 1990s.

The 11-year deal also includes Amazon Prime Video and Disney and will bring the league an estimated $76 billion over the length of the agreement. With NBC and ABC in the fold, the deal gives the NBA two broadcast network partners for the first time in its history.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)

Before You Leave, Check This Out