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Amazon Prime Video has expanded its coverage of live sports, including basketball. The streaming service has signed a deal with the NBA to broadcast games globally, with an expanded package of games in select territories, including Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Amazon Prime Video has also reached an agreement with the WNBA to stream regular-season games, postseason games, and the Commissioner's Cup Championship. The deal with the NBA includes the rights to broadcast 66 regular-season games per season in the US, with 86 in international markets, as well as the knockout rounds, select playoff games, and the NBA Conference Finals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| NBA Games | Yes, through NBA League Pass |
| WNBA Games | Yes, through WNBA League Pass |
| NBA TV | Yes, with a League Pass subscription |
| Live Games | Yes, for out-of-market regular-season games only |
| Local Games | Not available for live streaming |
| Nationally Televised Games | Not available for live streaming |
| Playoff Games | Not included in the subscription |
| Automatic Renewal | Yes, monthly unless turned off |
| On-Demand Games | Available during the off-season |
| Additional Features | Home and away broadcast options, Mobile View stream |
| Cost | $16 per month |
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What You'll Learn
Amazon Prime Video will broadcast NBA games
Amazon Prime Video has signed a deal to broadcast NBA games, marking a significant expansion into sports content for the streaming service. The 11-year media agreement with the NBA, which runs through the 2035-36 season, will see Amazon Prime Video telecast approximately 75 regular-season games each year, including Thursday night doubleheaders, Friday evening doubleheaders, select Saturday afternoon games, and more. The deal also includes the knockout rounds of the NBA Cup, all NBA Play-In Tournament games, and select first and second-round playoff games.
This agreement is part of a broader initiative by the NBA to increase the reach and accessibility of its games for fans in the United States and worldwide. In addition to Amazon Prime Video, the NBA has also partnered with The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal, leveraging their platforms to distribute content across a wide range of platforms and enhance the fan experience.
For Amazon, this deal represents a strategic move to enhance its live sports offerings and attract new subscribers. With the rights to broadcast NBA games, Amazon Prime Video will become a go-to destination for basketball fans around the world, particularly in markets like Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, where the company has an expanded package of games.
Prime Video has also made a foray into women's basketball, having previously acquired the rights to broadcast the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) games. In 2021, Prime Video entered into a three-year agreement with the WNBA, obtaining the exclusive global rights to 16 WNBA games per season, later extended to 20 exclusive regular-season games. This agreement marked a significant step for Prime Video as it acquired the exclusive global rights to a women's professional sports league for the first time.
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WNBA games are also available on Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime subscribers can access WNBA games on Prime Video. In 2025, Amazon Prime Video will stream most Thursday night WNBA games for free to all subscribers, including the Championship Game of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup in July. Additionally, subscribers can purchase the WNBA League Pass add-on to stream out-of-market games, access replays, and use the live game DVR feature. The WNBA League Pass is available for $35 for the entire season or $13 for a monthly subscription.
WNBA games on Amazon Prime Video are part of the platform's sports content expansion. Amazon has made deals to bring live games from major sports leagues, such as the NBA, MLB, and NHL, to its streaming service. Amazon Prime Video's investment in sports content enhances its appeal to sports enthusiasts and provides an alternative to traditional cable packages.
The availability of WNBA games on Amazon Prime showcases the platform's commitment to diversifying its sports offerings. By including women's sports leagues, Amazon contributes to increasing the visibility and accessibility of women's sports. This move aligns with a broader trend of recognizing and elevating women's athletics.
Prime Video's streaming of WNBA games provides an opportunity to reach a wider audience and increase engagement with women's basketball. The convenience of streaming services, coupled with the popularity of Amazon Prime, has the potential to attract new fans and grow the sport's fan base. This accessibility is particularly notable for fans who may not have easy access to WNBA games through traditional television broadcasts.
In addition to the WNBA, Amazon Prime Video also offers a range of basketball-related content. For example, subscribers can access NBA games with an NBA League Pass subscription. Amazon's comprehensive basketball coverage allows fans to follow both the women's and men's professional leagues, providing a more holistic view of the sport.
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NBA League Pass is a monthly subscription
Amazon Prime Video has reached a deal to bring live NBA games to its streaming service. This means that Amazon Prime subscribers will be able to watch live NBA games as they happen.
To access live NBA games, Amazon Prime users will need to purchase an NBA League Pass subscription. This is a monthly subscription service that provides fans with access to live and on-demand games throughout the NBA season. The NBA League Pass is available as an add-on subscription to Amazon Prime Video.
The NBA League Pass subscription offers fans the ability to follow the league in the way they choose. This includes the ability to watch games in different languages, access various broadcasts, and view multiple screens simultaneously. The subscription also includes archived games from past seasons, as well as special features like the option to view player statistics and other game scores at the same time.
It is important to note that nationally televised games and local team games televised in your area are not available for live streaming with the NBA League Pass. These games will be available to watch 72 hours after they air. Playoff games and the NBA Finals are also not included in the NBA League Pass subscription and must be watched on a national TV channel or local station.
The NBA League Pass subscription can be cancelled at any time, and subscribers will have the option to pause or cancel their subscription at the end of their current billing cycle.
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Live NBA games are subject to blackout restrictions
Amazon has recently announced that it will be bringing live NBA games to its Prime Video streaming service. However, it is important to note that live NBA games are subject to blackout restrictions. These blackout restrictions are implemented due to exclusive broadcasting rights held by local and national content providers in certain regions.
Blackout restrictions prevent fans from watching their local NBA team's games live on streaming services like Amazon Prime Video or NBA League Pass. These restrictions are location-specific, determined by IP addresses or device location services, and can change as a user's location changes. For example, a fan located in North Carolina would be unable to watch the Charlotte Hornets live on any digital service due to blackout restrictions.
In the United States and Canada, blackout restrictions are determined by zip codes, which define the teams covered by local broadcasters. To comply with these restrictions, fans in these regions must purchase expensive cable packages to view their local teams' games live. However, blacked-out games are typically available for on-demand viewing shortly after the game has concluded.
To circumvent blackout restrictions, some fans have turned to services like StreamLocator, which provides access to the international version of NBA League Pass, free from blackout restrictions, at a reduced price. This service offers a unique solution by utilizing SmartDNS technology, which does not slow down internet speeds like traditional VPN services.
While Amazon Prime Video is set to offer live NBA games, it is important for users to be aware of the potential blackout restrictions that may apply based on their location. These restrictions are implemented to protect the exclusive broadcasting rights of local and national content providers and can impact a fan's ability to watch their favorite teams live.
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Amazon Prime Video has an 11-year agreement with the NBA
Amazon Prime Video has signed an 11-year agreement with the NBA, which will see the streaming service bring live basketball games to its customers. The deal, which runs through the 2035-36 season, was announced in July 2024 and will see Amazon Prime Video telecast NBA games beginning in the 2025-26 season.
The agreement is a landmark media rights deal for Amazon Prime Video, which will present exclusive global coverage of 66 regular-season NBA games, including an opening week doubleheader, a new Black Friday NBA game, and all games from the Knockout Rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup. The deal also includes exclusive coverage of every game of the postseason SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, first and second-round playoff games, and Conference Finals in six of the 11 years of the agreement.
Prime Video will distribute its package of games in the US and internationally, with an expanded package of games in select territories, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. This expanded package includes a minimum of 20 additional primetime regular-season games each year, a Conference Finals series, and the NBA Finals in six of the 11 years.
As part of the agreement, Prime Video will also become the NBA's strategic partner and third-party global destination for NBA League Pass, the league's live game subscription service. This will give Prime Video expanded distribution rights for NBA League Pass in the US and internationally. In addition, Prime Video will stream half of all NBA Summer League games, as well as a package of WNBA and NBA G League regular-season and postseason games.
The NBA's partnership with Amazon Prime Video is part of a broader strategy to expand the reach of NBA telecasts, with all national games available on broadly distributed streaming services and a dramatic increase in exposure on broadcast television. The deal with Amazon will help the NBA to reach new fans and innovate how people watch live sports coverage.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Amazon Prime Video offers live streaming of select basketball games.
Amazon Prime Video has the rights to stream 66 regular-season NBA games per season in the US (86 in international markets), including the Emirates NBA Cup and the NBA Playoffs. Amazon Prime Video has also streamed Overtime Elite games, as well as WNBA games.
Amazon Prime Video first started streaming NBA games during the 2022-23 season in Brazil. In July 2024, Amazon announced an 11-year rights agreement with the NBA, beginning with the 2025-26 NBA season.
Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. There are also discounted options for young adults and qualifying government assistance recipients, as well as a free trial.
