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How to watch NBA and WNBA games on NBA TV: Plans, pricing, free trials & more

Editors' pick

DirecTV Stream

Access to NBA TV as a standard on all but the entertainment package. Plus, national access via the likes of ESPN and TNT. Have RSNs to cover nearly all NBA teams*

*Exceptions: 76ers, Kings, Raptors, Jazz

Monthly from

$89.99

Get DirecTV Stream

The 2024 NBA season is over and done with, as all remaining teams head towards the 2024 NBA Finals - but before fans know it, a new season will begin, with action spread across almost every corner of North America.

For those who want more than just the regular games broadcast in their area all year, there's little that compares to NBA TV, the pay-television channel that is a dedicated one-stop shop for those who cannot get enough of the action on and off the court.

Like NFL Network and MLB TV, other channels that offer full-throated coverage of their respective sports, NBA TV - which began in 1999 and celebrates a quarter-century this year - dedicates itself exclusively to following basketball's top flight, complete with additional programming and documentaries tracing the sport's history.

Plenty of fans already have a subscription to NBA TV, so how can you watch it, too? Which streamers offer the channel as part of their regular packages? Will you need an add-on subscription to watch it elsewhere? How much will it cost? GOAL has everything you need to know about watching NBA TV.

What is NBA TV?

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NBA TV is the premium pay television channel owned by the NBA and operated by Warner Bros. Discovery's TNT Sports division. Launched in 1999, it is the United States' premier channel dedicated solely to NBA coverage.

The channel broadcasts regular season, playoff, and exhibition games from across the NBA and WNBA and coverage from other professional basketball leagues. This is further complimented by a roster of original programming, ranging from documentary films to analysis shows covering basketball across the continent.

What is on NBA TV?

NBA TV Game TimeNBA

NBA TV's primary offering is more than 90 NBA games every regular season, with some limited first-round matches from the NBA Playoffs. Typically, these are aired four days a week across the season and are drawn from terrestrial coverage on other channels.

This means that live matches are still subject to local blackout restrictions, where regional providers will carry them for their respective drafts. Additionally, NBA TV offers archival broadcasts of iconic matches from prior seasons, a slew of documentary films, and additional programs such as studio shows.

Below is a list of just some of the shows broadcast on NBA TV:

  • 10 Before Tip
  • 3DTV
  • Basketball Stories
  • Beyond The Paint
  • Books and Basketball
  • Courtside Cinema
  • Game Of The Day
  • #Handles
  • Hardwood Classics (1999–present)
  • High Tops: Plays of the Month
  • NBA 360
  • NBA Action
  • NBA Gametime Live
  • NBA Hoop Party
  • NBA Jam
  • NBA Journeys
  • NBA Presents
  • NBA Slideshow
  • NBA Specials
  • NBA TV Originals
  • NBA Vault
  • NBA Wired
  • Open Court
  • Real NBA
  • Real Training Camp
  • Vintage NBA
  • WNBA Action

How to watch NBA TV

NBA TV is available on several major cable and streaming package providers throughout the contiguous United States, including FuboTV, Sling TV, and DirecTV.

However, base subscriptions to these providers may or may not include immediate access to NBA TV at the lowest tier and may require customers to opt for a higher tier or purchase additional add-on packages to ensure they have the channel.

Streaming serviceMonthly priceFree trialNBA TV Availability
FuboTV$74.99 +7 days
Sling TV$40.00 +No
DirecTV Stream$64.99 +No

Below, GOAL breaks down how to watch NBA TV through each provider in greater depth, allowing you to decide which streaming option is right for your home entertainment needs.

  • DirecTVDirecTV

    DirecTV Stream

    One of the biggest providers on the market, DirecTV Stream remains a popular choice despite its higher overall cost. With four well-rounded packages - Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier - it offers a wide range of services.

    NBA TV is included as standard on all but Entertainment, as Channel 216, and negates the need for any hidden costs or add-ons when it comes to enjoying all the court action you want from across the NBA season.

    Those higher price tags may well put some customers off, but with a channel range bigger than nearly all of their rivals across the North American market, there’s more than enough options to keep you satisfied once the big game wraps up.

    DirecTV Stream subscription plans

    PlanMonthly priceFree trialDVRChannels
    Entertainment$69.99NoUnlimited90+
    Choice$89.99NoUnlimited125+
    Ultimate$114.99NoUnlimited160+
    Premier$159.99NoUnlimited185+
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  • FuboTVFuboTV

    Fubo

    Available in a trio of English-language tiers - Pro, Elite, and Ultimate - plus an extra Spanish-language option, fuboTV has carved out a place as one of the more popular providers across the North American streaming market for its in-depth roster of channels, multi-screen capability, and DVR capacity.

    NBA TV comes included with the Fubo Pro plan and above, though it is also part of the streamer’s Sports Plus with NFL Red Zone add-on, available for an extra $11.00 per month if you are looking to expand your portfolio of sports channels.

    Additionally, a subscription to the latter will also include NFL RedZone - the flagship feature of this package - and NHL Network, plus various Pac-12 Networks, depending on your region. Overall, 30 channels form part of your additional purchase.

    FuboTV subscription plans

    PlanMonthly priceFree trialDVRChannels
    Fubo Pro$74.997 day1000 hours180+
    Fubo Elite$84.997 day1000 hours250+
    Fubo Premium$94.997 day1000 hours250+
  • Sling TV laptopGOAL / various

    Sling TV

    As one of the leading low-price providers for streaming packages on the market, the Sling TV options - Orange and Blue - offer subscribers multiple channels at a smaller price than several of their rivals, costing just $40.00 per month individually, or priced at $60.00 per month for the pair as a combination bundle.

    Like others however, you will still need that add-on subscription, with the streamer offering Sports Extra for those who want to add their sport-specific channels, with NBA TV included as part of their offering for just $11.00 per month.

    That’s the same price as fuboTV, and can be added on to any of your Sling TV packages. That still keeps your monthly cost just over the fifty-dollar mark at its cheapest though, a significant step-down on multiple competitors.

    Sling TV subscription plans

    PlanMonthly priceFree trialDVRChannels
    Sling Orange$40.00No50 hours30+
    Sling Blue$40.00No50 hours40+
    Sling Orange + Blue$55.00No50 hours45+
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    FAQs

    Where can I watch NBA TV?

    You can watch NBA TV through several streaming providers, either directly through premium tier packages or via add-on subscriptions.

    FuboTV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream all offer various options for watching NBA TV and other sports channels.

    Does NBA TV have every game?

    NBA TV does not cover every game from across the NBA regular season. Owing to the shared broadcast rights across multiple terrestrial and pay-television channels, NBA TV does not carry multiple games covered by ESPN and some other providers.

    However, with more than 90 games every season and an impressive roster of archive programming, there is still plenty of action to catch when you have NBA TVA among your channels.

    Is NBA TV available for free?

    NBA TV is not available for free. It operates as a pay-television channel that requires a subscription through a cable or streaming provider.

    What is the difference between NBA League Pass and NBA TV?

    NBA TV is a linear channel covering NBA games and additional documentaries, while NBA League Pass is an over-the-top direct-to-consumer streaming subscription service.

    NBA League Pass offers subscribers up to 40 out-of-market games each week, vastly increasing the overall pool of available matchups. For more information, visit GOAL's guide to the NBA League Pass.

    What is included in NBA TV?

    With NBA TV, customers have access to more than 90 NBA games per regular season and more than 50 different programming strands, from analysis and chat shows to documentary films and archival matchups.