NBA TV has been a staple for basketball fans since its debut in 1999. Home to flagship shows like NBA GameTime and Run It Back, it delivers live games and studio analysis that are essential for the NBA and WNBA faithful.
The future of NBA TV looked uncertain last year following the NBA’s new media rights deal. But Warner Bros. Discovery stepped in with a five-year renewal through TNT Sports, promising NBA Digital properties like NBA TV to continue providing the coverage we fans rely on.
In this guide, I’ve listed NBA TV channel numbers for over 50 U.S. cities, including top markets like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. I’ve also included tips on adding NBA TV to your channel lineup if you’re not already on board.
What channel is NBA TV on near me?
NBA TV’s channel number varies based on your TV provider and location. While satellite services like DIRECTV and DISH offer the same channel numbers nationwide, cable providers may have different numbers depending on the region.
In the table below, you’ll find NBA TV channel numbers for six major providers across 50+ U.S. cities. If you don’t see your city, enter your zip code into the service-finder tool below the table to uncover your local provider options.
| City | Cox channel | DIRECTV channel | DISH channel | Optimum channel | Spectrum channel | Xfinity channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 273 |
| Anchorage, AK | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | — |
| Atlanta, GA | — | 216 | 156 | — | 333 | 293 |
| Austin, TX | — | 216 | 156 | — | 308 | — |
| Bakersfield, CA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | — |
| Baltimore, MD | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 749 |
| Boston, MA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 257 |
| Bronx, NY | — | 216 | 156 | 221/269 | 308 | — |
| Brooklyn, NY | — | 216 | 156 | 221/269 | 308 | — |
| Buffalo, NY | — | 216 | 156 | — | 308 | — |
| Charlotte, NC | — | 216 | 156 | — | 308 | — |
| Chicago, IL | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 235 |
| Cincinnati, OH | — | 216 | 156 | — | 325 | — |
| Cleveland, OH | 213 | 216 | 156 | — | 325 | — |
| Colorado Springs, CO | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 167 |
| Columbus, OH | — | 216 | 156 | — | 325 | — |
| Dallas, TX | — | 216 | 156 | — | 336 | — |
| Denver, CO | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 416 |
| Detroit, MI | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 254 |
| El Paso, TX | — | 216 | 156 | — | 308 | — |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 478 |
| Fort Worth, TX | — | 216 | 156 | — | 336 | — |
| Fresno, CA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 416 |
| Honolulu, HI | — | 216 | 156 | — | 242 | — |
| Houston, TX | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 101 |
| Indianapolis, IN | — | 216 | 156 | — | 418 | 273 |
| Jacksonville, FL | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 478 |
| Kansas City, MO | — | 216 | 156 | — | 308 | — |
| Las Vegas, NV | 318 | 216 | 156 | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles, CA | — | 216 | 156 | — | 308 | — |
| Louisville, KY | — | 216 | 156 | — | 568 | — |
| Memphis, TN | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 221 |
| Miami, FL | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 478 |
| Milwaukee, WI | — | 216 | 156 | — | 325 | — |
| Minneapolis, MN | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 734 |
| Nashville, TN | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 713 |
| New Orleans, LA | 325 | 216 | 156 | — | — | — |
| New York, NY | — | 216 | 156 | 221/269 | 308 | — |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 256 | 216 | 156 | — | — | — |
| Orlando, FL | — | 216 | 156 | — | 108 | 478 |
| Philadelphia, PA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 731 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 308 | 216 | 156 | — | — | — |
| Pittsburgh, PA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 273 |
| Portland, OR | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 416 |
| Sacramento, CA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 416 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 266 |
| San Antonio, TX | — | 216 | 156 | — | 308 | — |
| San Diego, CA | 331 | 216 | 156 | — | 308 | — |
| San Francisco, CA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 416 |
| San Jose, CA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 416 |
| Seattle, WA | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 416 |
| St. Louis, MO | — | 216 | 156 | — | 246 | — |
| St. Paul, MN | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 257 |
| Tampa, FL | — | 216 | 156 | — | 803 | 478 |
| Tucson, AZ | 308 | 216 | 156 | — | — | 273 |
| Washington, DC | — | 216 | 156 | — | — | 749 |
Data effective as of post date.
Get NBA TV with cable or satellite TV
NBA TV is available through most cable and satellite TV providers, though not every service offers it in their base plans. Some require a higher-tier package or a sports add-on to unlock access. Still, if you prefer the reliability of traditional TV, this is a solid way to get the channel alongside other key sports networks.
Here are six traditional TV providers that carry NBA TV and other must-have basketball channels.
| Provider | Price | NBA TV | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | $71.00–$162.00/mo. | ✔ |
Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | $84.99–$164.99/mo. | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV Read DIRECTV review |
| DISH | $91.99–$121.99/mo. | ✔ |
View Plans for DISH Read DISH review |
| Optimum | $30.00–$160.00/mo. | ✔ |
View Plans for Optimum Read Optimum review |
| Spectrum | $45.00–$105.00/mo. | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Xfinity | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ |
Read Xfinity review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Get NBA TV with a live TV streaming service
Several live TV streaming services carry NBA TV, giving you an easy way to watch the channel without cable. You’ll find it on DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. Surprisingly, Hulu + Live TV has never carried NBA TV—an odd gap for the sports-friendly service.
After years of covering sports on TV, I’ve found DIRECTV STREAM to be the best for following the NBA. It has NBA TV, ESPN, TNT, and a wide selection of regional sports networks, which is ideal for watching nationally and locally televised games.
| Provider | Price | NBA TV | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM | $84.99–$154.99/mo. | ✔ |
View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| Fubo | $14.99–$94.99/mo. | ✔ |
View Plans for FuboTV Read Fubo review |
| Sling TV | $45.99–$60.99/mo.* | ✔ |
View Plans for Sling TV Read Sling TV review |
| YouTube TV | $82.99/mo. | ✔ |
View Plans for YouTube TV Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Requires Sports Extra add-on ($11–$15/mo.) for NBA TV access.
Score a standalone NBA TV streaming subscription
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
If you want NBA TV without a big cable or live TV package, you’re in luck. The NBA offers a standalone NBA TV subscription for only $8.99/mo., giving you 24/7 access to live NBA games, docuseries, and more. You can stream the channel directly through NBA.com or the NBA app, which works on most smart TVs, streaming devices, phones, and tablets.
You can also subscribe to NBA TV as an add-on through Amazon Prime Video or YouTube Primetime Channels. But if you plan to follow an out-of-market team all season, keep in mind that NBA League Pass includes NBA TV access—making it a great all-in-one option for diehard fans.
What’s on NBA TV?
NBA TV hosts many live basketball matchups throughout the year. In addition to NBA games, the channel carries WNBA, NBA G League, and NBA Summer League action. There’s also a plethora of classic games, studio shows, and documentaries that air between live events, as listed below.
NBA TV programming
- Basketball Stories
- Beyond the Paint
- Champions Revealed
- Courtside Cinema on NBA TV
- Game of the Day
- High Tops
- NBA GameTime
- NBA Hardwood Classics
- NBA Playoff Playback
- NBA TV Marquee Matchup
- Open Court
- Players Only
- Popcast
- Run It Back
- Shaqtin’ a Fool
- WNBA Weekly
What is NBA TV?
Launched in 1999, NBA TV is a premium channel that caters to all things basketball. Viewers can access various content through its programming, such as game highlights, analysis, interviews, and docuseries. It also stands out for broadcasting live NBA and WNBA games, including noteworthy events like the NBA Summer League.
While the league owns NBA TV, Warner Bros. Discovery operates the network in the U.S. in conjunction with its sports output on channels like TBS, TNT, and truTV. NBA TV International also exists for fans outside the U.S., though companies in Canada and the Philippines operate different versions of the channel.
What channel is NBA TV on FAQ
Is NBA TV on Hulu + Live TV?
No, Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer NBA TV. As someone who watches a lot of sports, I consider Hulu’s lack of NBA TV and NHL Network to be one of its biggest limitations.
How many games are on NBA TV?
NBA TV shows about 105 live NBA games each regular season. It also broadcasts around 40 WNBA games, making it a must-have channel for year-round basketball fans.
Is NBA TV a free channel?
No, NBA TV isn’t a free channel. But you can stream it without paying by signing up for a seven-day free trial through Amazon Prime Video or YouTube Primetime Channels. Live TV streaming services like DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo also offer free trials as a quick way to explore the channel before committing to a TV plan.
