NBA viewers bounce back

Ahead of the 2026-27 season,
NBA average national audiences
rose 16% to 1.78 million in the
first season of a new media
rights deal, reversing three
years of decline

Jalen Brunson
2026 NBA Finals
“Most Valuable Player”
as New York Knicks
beat San Antonio
Spurs to end
53-year title
drought

NEW BROADCAST ERA
11-year media rights deal
began in 2025-26, with Disney’s
ABC/ESPN joined by NBC/Peacock
and Amazon Prime Video

$76bn
Value of deal, with
31% of matches on
broadcast TV

$2.1bn
Advertising revenue
in 2025-26 campaign

170m
Americans watched NBA
coverage during 2025-26 season
– highest reach in 24 years*
*Total reach across all platforms

NBA REGULAR-SEASON NATIONAL
VIEWERSHIP (Average viewers, millions)

94
96
98
2000
02
04
06
08
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26

0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5

Shortened lockout
season amid
player dispute

Lockout
season

COVID-
affected
seasons

Bulls 72-10 season

Warriors 73-10
season

ABC/ESPN/TNT rights era begins

Michael
Jordan
returns

LeBron James joins Heat

1994
2.29m
1999
3.10m
2011
2.51m
2021
1.36m
2026
1.78m

Sources: NBA, Sports Media Watch
Picture: Getty Images
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