You're sitting on the couch, jersey on, wings ready, and the game starts in five minutes. Then it hits you. You have no idea what channel is the nba channel on your specific cable box. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustrating feelings in the world, especially with how much the TV landscape has shifted lately.
Between the new massive media rights deals, the return of NBC, and Amazon Prime Video suddenly being a major player, just "finding the game" has become a part-time job.
NBA TV (often called "the NBA channel") is the league's 24/7 network. It’s different from ESPN or ABC. It’s the home of those random Tuesday night doubleheaders, Hardwood Classics, and a whole lot of studio analysis from guys who clearly haven't slept since the preseason.
If you're staring at your remote in a panic, let's get you sorted.
Finding NBA TV on Your Provider
Every provider likes to be different. It’s like they enjoy making us hunt. Here is the breakdown of where the NBA channel usually hides on the major networks.
DIRECTV and Dish Network
Satellite users have it a bit easier because these numbers rarely change across the country.
- DIRECTV: You’ll find NBA TV on Channel 216. It’s usually included in the Choice package or higher.
- Dish Network: Flip over to Channel 156.
Xfinity (Comcast)
Xfinity is tricky. Because they are regional, the "low" channel numbers (like 1-100) are almost never the same. However, for most of the country, the high-definition feed for NBA TV is on Channel 478 or sits in the 700-800 range.
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Honestly, the easiest way to find it on Xfinity is to just hold the microphone button on your XR11 or XR15 remote and bark "NBA TV" at it. It works 99% of the time.
Spectrum (Charter)
Spectrum is all over the place. Depending on if you were originally a Time Warner Cable or Bright House customer, your number will vary wildly. Frequently, it is found on Channel 308. In some legacy markets, it might be as low as Channel 73.
Verizon Fios and Cox
- Verizon Fios: Look for it on Channel 597 (HD) or Channel 97 (SD).
- Cox Communications: Usually found on Channel 304.
What Channel is the NBA Channel on Streaming?
If you've cut the cord, you aren't looking for a number; you're looking for an app. But not every "Live TV" service carries it.
YouTube TV is basically the gold standard for NBA fans right now. It includes NBA TV in its base package. No extra fees, no "Sports Plus" nonsense. It just shows up in your guide.
FuboTV is a great choice if you want those Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) like FanDuel Sports Network (the artist formerly known as Bally Sports), but there’s a catch. You usually have to pay for the "Sports Plus" add-on to get the actual NBA TV channel.
Sling TV is the budget pick. You need the "Sling Orange" package, and then you have to add the "Sports Extra" bundle. It’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, but it’s cheaper than the others if you only care about basketball.
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Hulu + Live TV is the outlier. Despite being a massive service, as of 2026, it does not carry the linear NBA TV channel. You’ll get ESPN, ABC, and NBC, but if you want the 24/7 NBA channel, you're out of luck here.
The 2026 "New Look" NBA TV Schedule
You might have noticed something different this season. The "NBA on TNT" era is over. It’s weird, I know. No more Shaq and Chuck on Thursday nights (well, not on TNT anyway).
The league’s new broadcast schedule looks a bit like this:
- Mondays: Peacock (Streaming exclusive)
- Tuesdays: NBC / Peacock
- Wednesdays: ESPN
- Thursdays: Amazon Prime Video
- Fridays: Amazon Prime Video / ESPN
- Sundays: ABC / NBC
NBA TV fills the gaps. They usually take the games that aren't "A-list" enough for NBC or ESPN but are still too good to be buried on League Pass.
The Blackout Nightmare
Here is the thing about what channel is the nba channel that most people get wrong. Just because you found the channel doesn't mean you can watch the game.
If your local team (let's say the Dallas Mavericks) is playing a game that is being broadcast on NBA TV, but it's also being shown on your local Regional Sports Network (like FanDuel Sports Network Southwest), the NBA TV feed will be blacked out.
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You'll see a screen that says "This program is unavailable in your area."
It’s incredibly annoying. In that case, you have to find the local channel, not the national one. The only way around this is using a service like NBA League Pass, but even then, local blackouts apply unless you're using a VPN to make it look like you're in a different city.
Is NBA TV Included with League Pass?
Yes! This is a lifesaver for people who don't want cable. If you subscribe to NBA League Pass, the 24/7 NBA TV linear stream is included. You can watch it directly through the NBA app on your phone, Roku, or Apple TV.
In fact, starting in 2026, Amazon Prime Video has become a massive hub for this. You can actually subscribe to League Pass through Amazon, which keeps all your basketball viewing in one app. It’s way smoother than the glitchy NBA app of years past.
Common Misconceptions
People often confuse NBA TV with the "NBA League Pass" channels. On providers like DIRECTV, you might see 10 different channels labeled "NBA." Those are for out-of-market games. Channel 216 is the actual network with the talking heads and the studio shows.
Another thing: NBA TV is not 4K by default. While some games on NBC or ESPN are moving toward 4K, NBA TV is still mostly 1080i or 720p depending on your provider. If the picture looks a little soft on your 80-inch OLED, that’s just how the signal is.
Your Next Steps to Get the Game On
- Check your remote: If you have a voice remote, say "NBA TV" right now. It saves ten minutes of scrolling.
- Verify your package: If you see a "lock" icon on the channel, you likely need a "Sports Tier" or "Gold" package. Call your provider and ask for a promotional rate to add it; they almost always have one during the season.
- Use the NBA App: If you’re away from home, remember that you can usually log into the NBA app using your cable or YouTube TV credentials to stream the channel live on your phone.
- Download Peacock and Amazon Prime: Since so many "national" games moved there this year, having the NBA channel alone isn't enough anymore. You'll need these two apps to see the full schedule.
Now that you know exactly where to look, you can get back to the game.