As part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s legal proceeding against the NBA, details about the league’s contracts with NBC and Amazon were unsealed in court this week, revealing intricate details about how the NBA will be televised going forward on NBC and Amazon beginning next season. Here is an overview; you can also read the unsealed documents for yourself here:
Let’s start with NBC and Peacock.
NBC
- NBC’s deal, as was previously known, runs for 11 seasons from the 2025-26 season and through the 2035-36 season.
- The network will air up to two pre-season games per season and a doubleheader on opening day. Opening Day can happen whenever the NBA decides but it is expected to happen on a Tuesday. Doubleheaders on opening night will tip off at 7 or 7:30 PM ET.
- 100 regular season games, including the opening day games, will air on NBC or Peacock. The number of games NBC airs will be reduced if there aren’t enough time slots to air games on the network. There is a limit on how many reductions the network can make but that number is redacted.
- NBC will air at least eight primetime games on Sunday nights during the regular season, with the last NBC Sunday night game on the next to last Sunday night of the regular season
- The NBA asked NBC to be aware that the end of some games on another national partner could overlap with the beginning of their Sunday night time slot which includes whenever their pregame show begins.
- NBC will also air games on Monday night (on Peacock) and occasional Monday afternoons (on broadcast TV), including New Year’s Day 2029, MLK Day (2 games), President’s Day (if the NFL expands its schedule, NBC could hypothetically air an NBA game the day after the Super Bowl) and Veterans Day 2030. Single primetime games can begin at 7 PM ET and doubleheaders are optional as well.
- NBC comes into the agreement understanding that there are certain Mondays where the NBA does not schedule games: the Monday after All Star Weekend, the Monday of an NCAA National Championship game and New Year’s Day if it falls on a Monday.
- NBC will also air games regionally on Tuesday night. One game will begin at 8 PM ET on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones. Another game will begin at 8 PM PT for stations in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. Both games will be available on Peacock nationwide.
- NBC is guaranteed a minimum of 15 first round games, plus eight “if necessary” games. In the semifinals, it is guaranteed seven games and four that are “if necessary.”
- During six of the 11 seasons, all of the games from one conference final will air on NBC. This will happen on the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh seasons that are part of the deal (Amazon will air a conference final on the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and eleventh seasons) — meaning ESPN will be shut out of the conference finals in the final year of the deal.
- NBC will never air a Christmas Day game or games taking place on the last day of the regular season no matter what day it falls under.
- NBC will also have the rights to the Rising Stars game, All-Star Saturday Night, the All-Star Game and the HBCU Classic Game. If the HBCU Classic Game is replaced with another type of event, NBC will automatically be granted rights to that event as well. In 2026, 2030 and 2034, the game can air exclusively on Peacock. During other years, the game will air on Peacock and USA Network. The HBCU Classic will tip off at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
- The Rising Stars game will tip off at 9 PM on Friday, All Star Saturday Night will begin at 8 PM and the All Star Game will begin the following night at 8 PM.
- NBC will also have the ability to create and broadcast new events around All-Star weekend as long as they don’t clash with the events that already exist.
- NBC and the NBA will have the ability to work together to produce the NBA Awards Show on NBC, an OTT service (Peacock) or an authorized platform (USA Network). If NBC chooses not to produce the NBA Awards, the league has the right to produce and distribute the broadcast on its own or sell it to another media company.
- The NBA will work in good faith with NBC to swap games that are in the same windows NBC has the rights to if the game which is currently scheduled no longer has the same appeal as it did before (flex scheduling). NBC has to submit a request two weeks before the scheduled game and has to make sure that the teams involved haven’t exhausted their national television appearances limits.
- If NBC has a high profile event that conflicts with the normal start time of NBA games, the league will work with the network to make modifications to their schedule.
- The Tip-Off games and NBC’s Sunday games take priority in the NBA’s eyes alongside playoff games and All-Star weekend. If an affiliate has a conflict and can’t air a game, the league needs two weeks notice or notice as soon as possible. NBC also has the right to find another over the air station that has a similar reach to air the game in the affiliate’s place. If NBC can’t find an alternative, the NBA has the right to find an alternative on its own as well. NBC can also provide a national feed of the game to the station’s distributors.
- The NBA Conference Finals games will receive priority on NBC over all other sporting events and entertainment programming. Eastern Conference Final games will tip off at 8 PM ET while Western Conference Final games will tip off at 8:30 PM on weekdays and 8 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
- All games that air on Telemundo in Spanish must also be distributed on NBC’s authorized OTT service – Peacock.
- If breaking news or a long running game forces NBC to temporarily preempt a Sunday, Monday or playoff game, NBC can move the game over to the USA Network or a cable network with similar reach that also airs major sporting events. A crawl will also run on the screen letting viewers know that they can watch the game on USA Network.
- NBC will have the right to produce alternate telecasts.
- The NBA and NBC will have co-exclusive rights to distribute “NBA Tonight” on Peacock, NBA.com and the NBA app. “NBA Tonight” is solely described as a “new ancillary programming block.” When NBC distributes it, they have the right to add their own graphics and collaborate on guest appearances. In Amazon’s contract, “NBA Tonight” is described as a whip around show similar to “NBA Crunchtime” and “NFL RedZone.”
- NBC will be allowed to cut into other games but can’t cut into multiple games at the same time.
- It can also implement betting into their broadcasts as long as it adheres to league rules. Fans won’t be able to place a bet or wager directly on an NBC app unless it is approved by the NBA.
- NBA TV will have the right to replay shoulder programming and games after the telecast is finished on NBC.
- The NBA will work with NBC to provide a direct link to Peacock from the NBA app “with the goal of providing seamless navigation to a transaction page” for viewers to purchase a Peacock subscription if necessary.
- NBC can include post game highlights on NBC News programming such as “Today Show” but there is a limit to how much of the highlights can be shown. The number is redacted. Those segments can also air online with the highlights included as long as its not just the highlight by itself.
- NBC will be allowed to use interactive statistical overlays, interactive replay selection within game overlays and alternate camera angles including a single camera feed on a specific player.
- Select games will be distributed in 4K and any other type of format that comes out in the future.
- NBC and the NBA will work together to distribute highlights during a game broadcast that drives viewers to watch the games.
- NBC will also have access to NBA documentaries, home videos and game archives that fans will be able to watch on a Peacock NBA hub
- NBC will promote the NBA during Sunday Night Football, the ‘26, ‘30 and ‘34 Super Bowl games, the Olympics, Big Ten football and basketball, the Kentucky Derby, Premier League, NASCAR, WWE Smackdown, Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thanksgiving Day Dog Show, the New Year’s Eve special, awards shows, “The Tonight Show,” A-10 basketball and World Cup action on Telemundo
- The NBA will work to promote its product during the American Century Championship golf tournament and even at Universal theme parks
- NBC and the NBA will also find a way to give NBA ID users perks and benefits on NBCSports.com and other digital services.
- The NBA will have the right to sell virtual signage during game telecasts
Amazon
- Amazon will have rights to 60 regular season games per season, with one or two games per day on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the season.
- Amazon will not have rights to games on Christmas Day or the last day of the regular season no matter day it falls under.
- Amazon will have the right to air games on Saturday afternoons to reach its minimum requirement of airing 60 games per season.
- Amazon will have the right to air one or two NBA games every year on Black Friday. These games would most likely air after the tech giant’s afternoon NFL game. They’ll be called “NBA Black Friday on Amazon Prime presented by (insert sponsor here)”
- They will also have the right to an opening week doubleheader.
- Between January 1st and March 31st, the NBA may schedule up to five (total) Friday games on ESPN — meaning Amazon would not air a game on those nights.
- If a scheduled game no longer serves the national audience, Amazon will have the option to flex the game for another game already scheduled in the same time slot up to two weeks in advance. The league will consider changes even if it doesn’t fall under that 2 week timeline.
- Amazon will be the only national network airing games on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays whenever it airs games on that day. If Amazon decides not to air a game on a certain day, the NBA has the right to schedule a game on NBA TV or another national TV partner that day.
- Amazon will have the ability to cut into other games being played on the day it is airing games.
- Amazon and the NBA will produce a standalone announcement show for the NBA Cup which will unveil groups and tournament changes. It will air around the same time Amazon is already airing NBA games
- NBA Cup semifinal and final games will be exclusive to Amazon in the U.S. and will not air on local RSNs.
- All Play-In Tournament games will air on Amazon
- Amazon will air nine to 17 first round playoff games and five to 9 second round playoff games.
- Amazon will air an equal amount of Eastern and Western Conference Finals
- Amazon will air a conference final on the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and eleventh seasons of the 11 year contract
- None of Amazon’s playoff games will air on local RSNs
- Amazon will create theme music for its NBA package which the league will have the right to use while promoting Amazon’s games.
- If the NBA produces its whip-around show known as “NBA Tonight” on a night Amazon is airing exclusive games, Amazon will have the right to air the show on its platform as well on Thursday and Friday but not on Saturday.
- Amazon will have the right to produce alternate telecasts.
- Amazon will have the right to distribute NBA highlights on their social media accounts
- Highlights will include a message to tune in to Amazon’s future games
- Games must be distributed on the “base level subscription tier” – the most broadly distributed subscription tier on Prime. There must be 80 million U.S. paid digital subscribers as of October 22nd, 2024, April 1st in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 and a mutually agreed number beginning in 2029. As of April, Amazon has over 200 million monthly viewers.
- In order to air NBA games, Amazon must also be broadcasting 13 live NFL games or at least three non NBA sporting events that are rated among the top 100 US telecasts in that year.
- After consulting with the league, Amazon has the right to offer games on more expensive, exclusive tiers as well. Shoulder programming can also air on more exclusive tiers as well.
- Amazon will have the right to air their games on demand.
- Amazon can distribute their games and shoulder programming on other Amazon owned products like Twitch as long as it is approved by the league in advance. Games can also air on Amazon.com, Fire TV, video devices with Alexa and Echo devices with screens.
- Amazon cannot sublicense any of their games or syndicate it to a third party without the NBA’s approval. It also can’t bundle the games with a broadcast service or an MVPD unless the NBA approves. When ESPN, TNT Sports and Fox announced the formation of Venu Sports, league executives were reportedly unaware of the joint venture. This puts an end to the possible possibility without the league’s approval.
- If an NBA app user authenticates that they subscribe to Prime, they can access Amazon games on the NBA app.
- Amazon and the NBA will work together to provide highlights that drive viewers in to their live broadcasts.
- Amazon will have the right to distribute games at bars and restaurants.
- Amazon will be able to use the NBA’s “footage bank” to create original long and short form video and audio content including originals, docuseries, weekly ancillary shows. It won’t be a requirement of the deal though. Shoulder programming such as pre and post game shows are required.
- Amazon will be able to use X-Ray, Rapid Recaps, AI visualizations like Prime Vision, betting and shopping integrations including QR codes during games
- NBA authorized products will be available to viewers during game telecasts
- Viewers will be able to purchase NBA authorized items while watching live games using the same payment credentials used to pay for Prime while receiving the benefits Prime provides such as one day shipping.
- Amazon will promote NBA games during Thursday Night Football and as viewers are watching Amazon Originals.
- NBA branding will be featured on shipping boxes, delivery vans, Amazon.com’s homepage, the Fire TV homepage.
- The NBA will provide Amazon with tickets for “best available” seats to each game airing on the tech giant. The league will also provide the company with tickets, suites, courtside seats to the All Star Game and the NBA Finals.
- The NBA will have the right to sell virtual signage.
