When the NBA officially sealed its new broadcasting deal in 2024 and shifted its national TV rights away from TNT Sports, the reaction from the fanbase was not at all optimistic.
At that time, analysts were skeptical and insisted the league was making a bad mistake. Fast forward to the end of the 2025-26 regular season, and the numbers tell a very different story.
Understanding the NBA’s Massive Viewership Surge in the 2025-26 Season
According to an official update shared by NBA Communications, 170 million people in the United States tuned in to watch NBA games during the regular season across its various broadcast partners.
That marked the league’s highest reach in 24 years and also represented an 86% increase compared to last season’s viewership.
170 million people in the U.S. watched NBA games across ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and NBA TV during the regular season – the most in 24 years and up 86% vs. last season. pic.twitter.com/iXGUISQQIT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 15, 2026
The reaction across the NBA world was immediate.
How the Basketball World Reacted to the 2025-26 Viewership News
One of the first reactions came from NBA analyst Trevor Lane. He has been covering the Los Angeles Lakers since 2015.
In a post on social media, Lane expressed gratitude for having been part of the journey. He also noted that he was glad to have contributed to NBA TV.
“Really enjoyed beyond a small part of @NBATV this season. More to come!” Lane wrote on X.
Really enjoyed beyond a small part of @NBATV this season. More to come! https://t.co/ofoBiczEiN
— Trevor Lane (@TrevorLane) April 15, 2026
During the 2025 in-season tournament, headlines dominated regarding the underwhelming attendance and star players sitting out games to avoid potential injuries.
Empty seats and reduced stars gave rise to the sentiment that the NBA was losing its grip on fans. The numbers have now validated the determination of the league.
“While I fully understand the fan frustration about having to bounce around for national games, I have really enjoyed the variety of voices and quality of production (last night’s Amazon blunder notwithstanding). And the league is understandably geeked about these numbers,” NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote on X.
While I fully understand the fan frustration about having to bounce around for national games, I have really enjoyed the variety of voices and quality of production (last night’s Amazon blunder notwithstanding). And the league is understandably geeked about these numbers. https://t.co/t885ZS3sM5
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 15, 2026
This past season marked one year of the NBA’s new broadcasting agreement. The deal was worth a reported $76 billion, with ABC, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, and NBC/Peacock.
At the time the deal was announced, there was genuine concern among media insiders that scattering games across so many platforms would hurt the audience rather than grow it. The outcome, however, was anything but a disaster.
“Year 1 of the new TV deal seems to have been a success,” NBA analyst Tim Reynolds commented.
The NBA says 170 million people in the U.S. watched NBA games across ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock and NBA TV during the regular season.
That’s the most in 24 years.
It’s an 86% increase over last season.
Year 1 of the new TV deal seems to have been a success.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) April 15, 2026
Another notable reaction came from NBA content editor Jahlil Will, who expressed his happiness by suggesting that the latest viewership surge is bound to sting those who have been pushing the “NBA is dying” narrative.
“This is going to devastate the ‘NBA is dying’ crowd,” Will wrote on X.
This is going to devastate the “NBA is dying” crowd. https://t.co/rW45jJ2DUe
— NBA Jah (@JahlilWill) April 15, 2026
In the end, these numbers serve as a powerful reminder that narratives don’t always match reality.
