ABC and NBC will broadcast a combined 90 NBA games in the 2026–27 season, 14% more than the 79 shown by the two networks the previous year. The increase underlines broadcasters’ growing reliance on live sport, which can displace scripted entertainment and reduce residual payments linked to dramas and comedies.

The season begins on 20 October with an NBC and Peacock triple-header, including the defending champion New York Knicks against the Philadelphia 76ers. ABC and ESPN will show five Christmas Day games, while the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs will each feature in 34 nationally televised matches; Amazon Prime Video also holds rights under agreements that began in 2025.