The 2026-27 NBA regular season tips off in mid-October, running all the way through to June for the playoffs, but basketball fans better get ready for some serious channel surfing. National TV coverage is seeing a shake-up, with ESPN and ABC now sharing the spotlight with NBC, and its streaming platform Peacock stepping up in a big way for games.
Your National Broadcast Playbook Is Changing
Forget what you knew, because watching the best of the league is getting a new look. ESPN and ABC are still your go-to for national broadcasts, but NBC and its Peacock subscription service are grabbing a significant chunk of the action. Plus, NBA TV is still bringing a large slate of games to your screen. This means if you want to catch all the big matchups from around the league, you are going to need to know exactly where to tune in, because it is not just one or two spots anymore. It’s a new era for NBA viewing, and navigating it is going to be part of the game day prep.
New York Teams Face Local Broadcast Hurdles Early
Down in New York, getting eyes on the Knicks and Nets will demand some flexibility, especially early in the season. The New York Knicks are primarily on MSG Network, but expect some games to jump over to MSG Sports Network if there are NHL conflicts. The Brooklyn Nets will be on YES Network, but April might see some of their games bumped to WWOR-9 if they clash with Yankees games. Even the radio situation is locked in, with Tyler Murray as the Knicks’ voice alongside Monica McNutt, broadcasting on WHSQ 880-AM or WEPN 1050-AM. So, while we are stoked for basketball to be back, figuring out the right channel could be a workout in itself.
Knicks’ Early Season Grind: National Spots and Prime Matchups
The Knicks are jumping right into it! Their preseason kicks off Monday, October 5, at the Sixers, followed by home games against the Wizards and Timberwolves. The regular season starts hot on Tuesday, October 20, hosting the Sixers on NBC and Peacock. Then it is an away game against the Celtics on Prime Video just three days later! November is packed, with matchups against the Nets on the 2nd, Bulls on the 4th, and big ones versus the Bucks on the 10th and Cavaliers on the 11th (that one is on ESPN!). They are also hitting the road for games against the Pacers and Raptors. December brings a Christmas Day showdown against the Spurs at noon on ABC and ESPN, plus a trip out west to face the Jazz and Suns to close out the year. It’s going to be a wild start with a mix of national and local broadcasts, so circle those dates and get ready to yell at your screen!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply