NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league’s new direct-to-consumer in-market streaming platform will launch in time for the 2027-28 season, giving local fans an easier way to watch their team’s non-national games without navigating fragmented media rights and regional sports networks.
The timeline is later than some had hoped. Earlier expectations pointed to a possible 2026-27 debut, but Silver indicated there isn’t enough time to bring the service to market by this fall, according to Sports Business Journal.
A core group of 13 teams that lost their FanDuel regional sports network partnerships after the collapse of Main Street Sports Group will form the initial foundation. Those clubs are securing one-year broadcast deals for the upcoming season and are expected to move to the league’s streamer the following year.
The Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings — currently on NBC Sports RSNs — are candidates as NBC seeks to exit the regional sports business. Teams like the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, which air on over-the-air channels, could also participate, potentially pushing the total above 20 teams.
The service will be geofenced, so out-of-market fans will continue using NBA League Pass. A key challenge remains persuading big-market teams, such as the New York Knicks, to join instead of pursuing potentially higher-paying individual deals. League officials believe broader participation will increase the platform’s value and licensing revenue.
YouTube is the leading candidate to host and distribute the streamer, likely within the YouTube TV Primetime Channels store. However, ESPN, Prime Video, and other major platforms are also in discussions.