The NBA has reported its highest viewership in 24 years, with 170 million people in the United States tuning into games across its four primary broadcast platforms: ABC/ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC/Peacock, and NBA TV. This marks an 86 per cent increase from last season.
The surge comes as the league's new 11-year media rights deal, valued at over $76 billion and signed in 2024, took effect this season. Prime Video joined as a new partner, while NBC/Peacock returned after a long absence.
Average viewership rose 35 per cent from last season, reaching its highest level in 13 years. Fifty-seven telecasts averaged two million viewers, the most since the 2011-12 season. Fans watched over 920 million hours of NBA content, a 25 per cent increase and the highest total since 2011-12.
Social media engagement also hit records, with 228 billion views across platforms, up 13 per cent. Arena attendance over the past three seasons has surpassed any comparable period in league history.
The NBA Cup group stage saw viewership jump 90 per cent, and the All-Star Game on NBC drew 8.8 million viewers, the most-watched mid-season showcase since 2011. The SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament began Tuesday, with playoffs starting Saturday and the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery scheduled for 10 May.
