When did the NBA first appear on American television?
The 30th of October 1954 marked the first time an NBA game appeared on American television. NBC aired a contest between the Boston Celtics and Rochester Royals in Rochester that evening.
Questions about NBA on NBC
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the highest household rating for an NBA Finals broadcast by NBC?
In 1998, the Finals between the Bulls and Utah Jazz earned an eighteen point seven household rating setting a record at the time. That same year marked the last championship run led by Jordan before his first retirement.
Who served as the primary play-by-play voice for the second iteration of the NBA on NBC beginning in 1990?
Marv Albert served as the primary play-by-play voice for much of the second iteration beginning in 1990 alongside analyst Mike Fratello. An embarrassing sex scandal forced NBC to fire Marv Albert before the 1997-98 season began.
Why did NBC lose the NBA rights after the 2001-02 season?
NBC lost the NBA rights after the 2001-02 season when Disney outbid them through ABC and ESPN. The league signed a four billion dollar six-year deal with those networks while NBC offered only thirteen hundred million dollars for four years.
When did NBCUniversal regain NBA rights under their new eleven year agreement starting in 2025-26?
The 23rd of July 2024 marked the announcement that NBCUniversal regained NBA rights under an eleven year agreement starting in 2025-26. The network will air hundred regular season games annually with fifty percent streaming exclusively on Peacock.