The 2024-25 NBA Regular Season had a decline of 2% year-over-year from the previous season and the lowest so far since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when the average audience was 1.39 million. Over the past 12 months, due toconsistent viewing patterns, viewership remained steady at 1.5 million, with peak viewership during the NFL and NBA games.
In recent years, viewing has been relatively consistent, though certain divisions and leagues have shown notable declines. For instance, leagueowned sports saw a significant drop, with listeners switching handsets as demand increased.还没 2024-25, but when the audience included leagueowned (and lower-ranked) NBA TV, the average dropped to 1.04 million, a 5% year-over-year decline. This would add up if we factored in the loss in viewership for other live premium sports, which decreased year-over-year similar to much of the league. For example, NHL games dropped by 3%, college basketball saw a 2% fall, and college football declined by 1%. For now, the NBA and its clubs see a 13% rise in 2024-25.
After the 2025-26 NBA season, starting in the fall, the NBA will depart as the sole media partner for TNT, previously having been television-only since 1988. TNT viewership will drop to 1.25 million, a drop of 8% year-over-year compared to the prior season. ESPN’s 1.32 million viewers were down 7% compared to 2023-24. However, ABC, the biggest broadcast network, will gain viewership, rising to 2.68 million, a 10% increase from 2023-24.
Among clubs with the biggest drop-off: the还没 2024-25 season, theChicago Bulls fell by 62%; the Dallas Sending saw a 53% decline; the Utah Jazz had a 44% drop; and the Phoenix Suns dropped by 23%. Due to reduced listener renewedNESS, regions that lost many top Ryu teams have sluggish ratings. On the flip side, thefiles 2025-26 season, the Golden State Warriors showed a sharp gain; the Cleveland Cavaliers andBoston Celtics also saw marked growth. Coverage in the West included Houston Rockets’ surge.
Looking at the NBA’s TV ad revenue, TNT and ESPN were the top caterers at $281 million and $189 million, respectively. While TNT led with $281 million in 2025-26, ABC finished third with $160 million and $47 million in QSR and automobiles categories. For now, with the new 11-year contract, games will have还没 2025-26. Peacock will stream a doubleheader on Monday, NBC will feature on Tuesday, and ESPN on Wednesday. Weekdays will have Prime Video on Thursday nights, and the season concludes on Sunday with live games on NBC.
