NBA’s in-market streaming hub could launch next year
NBA’s in-market streaming hub could launch next year
The league has held preliminary talks with major distributors about where the service will land once it launches.
The NBA knows that having in-market broadcasts of games spread across so many different channels and streaming platforms is a tough ask for fans, who are already confused enough about where to watch their favorite sports teams. The league wants to launch a new streaming service dedicated to allowing fans to watch the in-market games of their local team without pay-TV, and a new report indicates that the streamer could be quite close to launching.
Key Details:
- Why not?: The NBA has informed teams that its in-market streaming service could launch for the upcoming season.
- Who’s in?: As many as 22 teams could be primed to join the service.
- Familiar faces: The league is in talks with Amazon, DAZN, ESPN, and YouTube TV about distributing the service.
Reporting from Sports Business Journal indicates the NBA has told teams that its new streaming service for in-market games could be available in time for the 2026-27 season. That would be a year earlier than analysts expected the league to try to get the service to market.
The ultimate collapse of Main Street Sports Group has accelerated the timeline for the NBA. The 13 teams whose in-market rights were owned by Main Street are now free to be added to the new streamer, and SBJ reports that NBC Sports wants to be out of the regional sports network (RSN) business. If it shuts down its NBC Sports channels in California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, four more NBA teams would become available.
There are also five teams that have already left RSNs and are airing on local broadcast channels or other platforms. If those clubs were to opt into the new NBA streamer, it would have the rights to 22 teams total, and it could even work out deals to add more teams in an ideal scenario. The more teams opt in, the more money the NBA can ask for from distribution partners.
The report indicates the NBA has already had discussions with current broadcast partners Amazon and ESPN, as well as DAZN, which distributes NBA games internationally. YouTube TV, which distributes a somewhat similar service in NFL Sunday Ticket, has also been approached. The report says that DAZN and YouTube TV have “particularly escalated talks” with the NBA in recent weeks. DAZN has also been speaking with teams that were partnered with Main Street about distributing their local games individually.
Many options are currently on the table, including eliminating the out-of-market service NBA League Pass and putting both in- and out-of-market games on the same platform. From all the signs, however, the NBA would like to get an in-market streaming option for as many teams as possible to fans before the start of the 2026-27 season.
NBA League Pass
For passionate basketball aficionados, NBA League Pass stands as the premier destination for immersing yourself in the thrilling world of professional basketball. It offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to meticulously follow every move of your favorite team throughout the season or broaden your horizons to catch every game played across the entire league. It’s important to note that, due to broadcasting rights, blackout restrictions may apply to games that are televised locally or aired on national channels.
