NBC Sports is touting strong gains in its first season back with the NBA, pointing to significant audience growth across both linear and streaming platforms. After a 24-year absence, NBC returned to league coverage for the 2025-26 season. The company blended new production elements with familiar voices and legacy branding.
That approach helped drive a 109% year-over-year increase in regular-season viewership, according to the network.
Across NBC and Peacock, with select simulcasts on Telemundo, games airing on Sunday and Tuesday nights averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 2.8 million viewers. The package also included five Monday broadcasts.
The centerpiece, Sunday Night Basketball, delivered the biggest results. The weekly showcase averaged 3.4 million viewers. That figure ranks as the most-watched Sunday NBA package in 13 years, excluding Christmas Day games. It also marks the league’s most-watched regular weekly window since the 2015-16 season.
Meanwhile, Coast 2 Coast Tuesday averaged 2.6 million viewers. That total represents a 99% increase compared to similar Tuesday windows last season.
NBC Sports President Rick Cordella said the network focused on modernizing the presentation while maintaining elements fans remember.
“We wanted to elevate the viewing experience while honoring our history with the NBA,” Cordella said. “These results reflect the strength of the league and the work done across our teams.”
NBC also saw gains in studio programming. Basketball Night in America averaged 1.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA pregame show in 15 years. Additionally, NBC highlighted audience trends on Peacock. The platform attracted a younger and more diverse audience for NBA games. The network said nine out of 10 viewers also consumed other entertainment content on the service.
Several marquee matchups fueled the season’s momentum. The debut of Sunday Night Basketball on February 1, featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, averaged 4.5 million viewers. It became the most-watched Sunday night NBA regular-season game in more than two decades, excluding holiday broadcasts.
That mark did not stand long. A February 22 matchup between the Boston Celtics and Lakers drew 5.6 million viewers, setting a new season high across NBC platforms. Elsewhere, a March 10 doubleheader on Coast 2 Coast Tuesday led all Tuesday broadcasts. The games averaged 3.6 million viewers.
NBC also pointed to a strong opening night. The October 21 NBA Tip-Off doubleheader averaged 5.6 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. It marked the most-watched opening night presentation since 2010, excluding holiday-adjusted schedules.
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