NBA TV has returned to the league's direct management for the first time since 2008, unveiling a revamped programming lineup. This includes broadcasting 60 regular season games, extending coverage to international leagues, and launching a brand-new nightly studio show.

This shift follows the National Basketball Association's revised media rights agreements set to begin in the 2025-26 season. Previously, Warner Bros. Discovery managed NBA TV through TNT Sports, but they relinquished operational control earlier this year. Now, the league is responsible for both the cable channel and the NBA App streaming platform.

Under the new structure, NBA TV will showcase 60 regular season games this season. These games will strategically avoid overlapping with national broadcast slots allocated to ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock, and Prime Video under the league’s updated rights agreements. All games will be available simultaneously on regional sports networks in the local markets of the teams involved.

The inaugural broadcast is scheduled for Oct. 25, featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder visiting the Atlanta Hawks. NBA TV is also significantly expanding its coverage of international basketball. The network will broadcast live games from various leagues, including Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), France’s Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB), Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), Spain’s Liga ACB, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), and the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

The channel will continue its broadcasts of games from the Basketball Africa League, the NBA G League, and select high school games under the banner “Future Starts Now.” According to Sara Zuckert, senior vice president and head of the NBA App, "The future of NBA TV is focused on being the global hub of basketball.”

A new studio show titled “The Association” will air weeknights from Los Angeles, replacing “NBA Gametime Live.” The program will feature former players and broadcasters like Rudy Gay, John Wall, Chris Haynes, David Fizdale, and MJ Acosta-Ruiz, alongside remote contributors. The NBA TV schedule will also incorporate basketball-centric podcasts such as The Athletic’s “NBA Daily,” “Thinking Basketball,” “No Ceilings,” and “The NBA Front Office Show.” Additional content from social media creators and original docuseries like “Real Training Camp” and “Loud City” will also be featured.

These changes are aligned with the league’s efforts to create a cohesive digital experience across platforms. "NBA TV and the NBA App are designed to be a connected, global hub for basketball coverage, delivering nonstop access to live games, original programming and exclusive behind-the-scenes content,” Zuckert said.

With no playoff games or exclusive content in its lineup, the channel’s function may evolve toward serving a more specialized basketball audience.