Where To Watch Basketball: Channel Guide

what channel will basketball be on

Basketball fanatics can rejoice as there are several channels to watch basketball games on. Whether you're an NBA or an NCAA College Basketball fan, you can tune in to ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV. If you're looking for a streaming service, you can choose from DIRECTV STREAM, Sling, YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, or Fubo. For college basketball, you can watch on NBC's streaming service Peacock, FloSports, Paramount+, or Max.

Characteristics Values
Channels ESPN, ABC, TNT, NBA TV, NBC Sports, CBS, FOX, Peacock, Paramount+, DAZN
Streaming services Sling, Fubo, Amazon Prime, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu with Live TV
Streaming service prices NBA TV ($7/month or $59/year), Peacock ($5.99/mo), Paramount+ ($5.99/mo), Max ($9.99/mo), Big Ten Plus ($14.99/mo)

shunwild

Streaming services for basketball games

There are several streaming services available for basketball fans to watch live games. The official NBA League Pass service offers live coverage of every out-of-market game, with a choice of home or away commentary and a mobile-optimised stream. Subscribers can also access an archive of classic games, full-game recaps, and alternate camera angles. Nationally broadcast games are available to stream on-demand three hours after they air, while locally televised games are available three days later. League Pass Premium offers additional features, including the ability to download games and recaps to watch offline and access to an in-arena stream during breaks in the action.

For US viewers, ABC, ESPN, and TNT are the three main channels broadcasting NBA games. Hulu + Live TV offers access to these channels, as well as additional sports content on ESPN+ and entertainment from Disney+ and Hulu. Sling TV's Orange plan is a more affordable option, offering access to ESPN and TNT, although with a more limited overall channel offering.

For those without a cable subscription, DirecTV Stream is currently the most comprehensive option for NBA fans, although it does not offer a free trial. Free trials are available for Hulu + Live TV and for NBA League Pass when purchased through an existing Prime Video subscription.

For a free option, installing a TV antenna will allow you to watch games airing on ABC over the air. Websites such as LiveSportsOnTV.com also offer information on upcoming games and how to watch them live.

shunwild

Cable TV channels

To watch basketball on cable TV, you have a few options depending on the type of basketball you want to watch.

For National Basketball Association (NBA) games, you can watch on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV. ESPN shows doubleheaders on Wednesday and Friday nights, while TNT shows doubleheaders on Tuesday and Thursday nights. ABC shows a single game on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons in the second half of the season. Games are shown almost every night on NBA TV. During the playoffs, the first round is split between TNT, ESPN, NBA TV, and ABC, mostly on weekends, while the second round is split between ESPN, TNT, and ABC, again, on weekends.

If you're interested in watching college basketball, you can watch on NBC's streaming service Peacock, which has Big East coverage as part of its existing slate of Big Ten games. Paramount+ simulcasts all games on CBS. Max simulcasts any games that air on TNT, TBS, or TruTV.

In Canada, things are a little different. Games exclusively televised in the US by ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV may be simulcast by a Canadian network, but all contests involving the Toronto Raptors are non-exclusive.

shunwild

Free streaming options

If you're looking for free streaming options for basketball, there are a few ways to go about it. Firstly, you can explore free streaming services that provide live basketball games. Free-to-air channels like ProSieben offer select NBA games, and you can also find free live streaming on certain websites or platforms, such as Ran.de, where you can catch two NBA games every weekend during the regular season, along with playoff and finals fixtures.

Another option is to leverage free trials or money-back guarantees offered by premium streaming services or VPNs. While this may not be a permanent solution, it can provide temporary access to stream basketball games for free. For example, ExpressVPN offers a one-year subscription deal that includes three extra months for free, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee. This can be a great way to stream basketball securely while taking advantage of the free period.

Additionally, certain live sports streaming websites, such as livesportsontv.com, provide schedules, dates, times, and channel information for basketball games across various broadcasting networks in the US and Canada. These networks include ESPN, Fox, Paramount, Peacock, and DAZN, which offer a mix of NBA, NCAA College Basketball, and FIBA World Cup coverage. By using these websites as a guide, you can navigate the free streaming options available on these channels during specific basketball tournaments and leagues.

Lastly, DIRECTV offers a CHOICE package or higher that includes NBA League Pass, allowing you to watch up to 40 out-of-market games live and on-demand each week, along with other sports networks like NFL RedZone and NHL Network. While this option may not be entirely free, it provides a comprehensive choice for basketball enthusiasts who want to catch a wide range of games and utilize the potential flexibility of the service's refund policy.

shunwild

US and Canadian channels

If you're in the US and want to watch basketball on TV, you have several options. ESPN, Fox, Paramount, Peacock, and DAZN all show basketball games. Specifically, ESPN shows NCAA College Basketball games. Fox and FS1 are good options if you want to watch the US pre-Olympic games.

If you're in Canada, you can watch basketball on the Sportsnet ONE channel.

If you don't have cable or satellite TV, you can still watch basketball games through online streaming platforms. Fubo, for example, offers a free trial and allows you to stream US pre-Olympic games.

shunwild

Worldwide basketball tournaments

Basketball is a popular sport worldwide, with several tournaments taking place across the globe. One of the most prominent basketball tournaments is the NBA, which stands for the National Basketball Association. The NBA is a professional men's basketball league composed of 30 teams in North America and is considered one of the most influential basketball events globally. The NBA season includes preseason games, a regular season, and postseason playoffs, with the draft and summer league for rookies taking place before the start of each new season.

In addition to the NBA, there are several other notable international basketball tournaments. One of them is the FIBA Basketball World Cup, governed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). This tournament is considered the flagship event of FIBA and takes place every four years. The tournament involves 32 senior men's national teams competing for the title in the host nation. The structure is similar to the FIFA World Cup, with which it shared a four-year cycle until 2014. After 2014, significant changes were made to the FIBA World Cup, including expanding the number of teams from 24 to 32 and scheduling it to avoid overlapping with the FIFA World Cup. The most recent edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup was held in 2023 in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, with Germany taking home the championship.

Another well-known international basketball event is the World Basketball Championship, which includes the men's and women's competitions. The men's competition began in 1950, while the women's competition started in 1953, and they were traditionally held separately every four years. Beginning in 1986, both competitions were held in the same year, and this format continues today. The Stankovic Intercontinental (or International) Basketball Champions Cup is another high-level international basketball tournament held in China, featuring six teams from the top national men's basketball teams or invited teams from six continents.

Lastly, basketball is also a part of the Olympic Games, with men's and women's team events included. Men's basketball was first introduced at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, while women's basketball officially became part of the Olympics in 1976 in Montreal. Olympic basketball offers gold, silver, and bronze medals for each team event, with the Basketball World Cup considered the highest-level competition for national teams. These worldwide basketball tournaments showcase the talent and competition that basketball has to offer on a global scale.

Frequently asked questions

To watch every nationally televised NBA game this season, you will need access to ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV. You can get NBA TV for $7 a month or $59 a year through the NBA League Pass.

Streaming services that offer NBA games include Sling, Fubo, Amazon Prime, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV.

College basketball games can be watched on NBC's streaming service Peacock, FloSports, Paramount+, and Max.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment