The National Basketball Association (NBA) has discussed a plan with several streaming-focused distributors to offer locally-televised games over the Internet and without a cable package, according to a report published this week.
The report, from the Sports Business Journal, said the league has approached Google-owned YouTube TV, Amazon’s Prime Video, Disney’s ESPN and sports streamer DAZN about offering locally-televised games from regional sports networks, including games from 13 teams that are currently distributed through Main Street Sports Group by way of their FanDuel Sports-branded channels.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had previously indicated that the league was targeting the 2027-28 season for a centralized local streaming solution, but the impending collapse of Main Street Sports Group has accelerated the timetable.
Industry sources cited by Sports Business Journal believe the potential package of local streaming rights could be worth billions of dollars to the league.
The NBA’s primary challenge will be persuading enough teams to participate in the centralized package to make it attractive to major streaming distributors. Thirteen teams currently tied to Main Street Sports Group — the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs — would likely be among the first candidates to join.
Additional teams that currently distribute games through NBC Sports regional channels, including the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings, could also be potential participants.
Five teams have already shifted away from the traditional regional sports network model — the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans — after moving toward combinations of direct-to-consumer streaming and local over-the-air distribution.
If all of those teams participated, the centralized offering could include 22 of the league’s 30 franchises, with the possibility of adding teams that operate their own regional sports networks, such as the Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets.
According to Sports Business Journal, YouTube TV and DAZN have been particularly aggressive in pursuing the potential local rights package. DAZN has also reportedly approached the 13 Main Street teams with offers for one-year bridge agreements in case the league delays its centralized launch until 2027-28.
Another complication involves the NBA League Pass service, which offers out-of-market games and is currently licensed to Amazon. The league has indicated it would ideally like a future streaming hub to include both in-market and out-of-market viewing options.
If the NBA ultimately chooses a platform other than Amazon for the in-market package, however, the two services would remain separate unless the league restructures its League Pass agreement or awards the new local rights package to Amazon.