NBCU Has Big Plans For The Return Of The NBA

At its upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall, NBCUniversal unveiled innovative features for Peacock’s NBA coverage, promising “unprecedented integration” with NBC Sports’ production. The enhancements come as part of an 11-year, $2.45 billion annual NBA rights deal split among NBCU, Amazon, and The Walt Disney Co., starting in the 2025-26 season. 

“Peacock will be the most engaging platform for streaming NBA games, captivating both lifelong and new basketball fans,” said NBC Sports President Rick Cordella. “We’re applying the same innovation and passion we brought to major sports moments, like the 2024 Paris Olympics, which reached nearly 100 million users, to create an intuitive, interactive, and reliable NBA streaming experience.”

NBCU highlighted the following Peacock NBA features for the upcoming season:

• Instant Game Access: Fans can dive into NBA games immediately upon opening the Peacock app via the Live in Browse feature. Real-time stats and insights on the homepage provide quick context about matchups, helping fans catch up before watching.
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  Catch-Up: Latecomers can use the Catch Up with Key Plays feature across devices to view critical moments. Mobile users get a Can’t Miss Highlights playlist with game highlights, pre- and post-game moments, and one-tap access to live action.
• Peacock ScoreCard: A unique real-time experience blending bingo and fantasy sports, available on TV and mobile. Fans select a team- or theme-based game card, earn points based on game events, and receive personalized alerts on their performance. Top players may appear on a season leaderboard broadcast on-air.
• Peacock Performance View: A toggleable viewing mode offering real-time stats, such as shooting streaks and likely scoring zones, displayed as an on-screen overlay to predict game developments.
• Courtside Live: Starting in the second half of the season, this feature for Monday’s Peacock Exclusive Games offers a virtual courtside experience. It captures arena energy, showcasing player arrivals, pregame shootarounds, celebrity reactions, and more. Fans can customize their view via mobile or a Multiview on TV, immersing them in NBA culture.

These features build on Peacock’s Olympic streaming success, aiming to deliver a dynamic, fan-focused NBA experience.