When the NBA announced its new media rights deals with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon in 2024, many in the basketball world had something to say about the $76 billion-worth agreement.
The concern was that if all playoff games moved exclusively to national TV partners, what would happen to the fans who have been watching their local teams all season on their regional sports networks?
Many felt the decision would hurt viewership and push away everyday fans. Now, that same concern has been raised again.
Mike Breen Criticizes NBA Over National TV Playoff Broadcasts
During the final regular-season game of the New York Knicks against the Charlotte Hornets in the 2025-26 season, broadcasting legend Mike Breen called out the NBA directly.
“1st time ever…entire playoffs exclusive to national TV… poor decision…fans want to hear their home team announcers, at least 1st round…part of the family. I get it, the networks pay a fortune to get exclusivity…But I just think the fans deserve to be thrown a bone once in a while…This is our final telecast of the season,” Breen said while the game was on.
His statement was not vague. Moving all playoff broadcasts exclusively to national TV is a bad decision for several key reasons. For one, it shuts out local fans who have the most emotional investment in their team.
Many households, especially in smaller markets or among older and casual viewers, depend on basic cable or over-the-air options. Not everyone can afford expensive national sports packages or streaming add-ons.
This is not the first time Breen has raised this exact concern.
“It’s really sad… I think it’s so unfortunate, because for the fans, they want to hear their local broadcasters, at least for some part of the postseason, because broadcasters often are part of the fans’ family,” Breen told Newsday in April 2025.
Altitude TV reporter Vic Lombardi, who covers the Denver Nuggets for the regional sports network, also expressed the same sentiment.
“Mike Breen spewing truth. Sucks we can’t carry ANY playoff games. We will still carry pre- and post-game shows on @AltitudeTV. But the league has $76 billion reasons they chose this path. I get it,” Lombardi wrote on X.
As for the game itself that Breen was calling, the Knicks had a rough night. New York came out slow and was trailing by 10 points after the first quarter.
By halftime, the deficit had grown to 13 points. The Charlotte Hornets went on to beat the Knicks 110-96, with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each scoring 19 points as Charlotte clinched the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Now, the Knicks will move on to face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and for the first time, the fans at home in New York, or any other NBA city, will have no choice but to watch on a national platform, whether they like it or not.
