The NBA on NBC will be back soon, and the network is using the massive audiences of the NFL playoffs to spread the word.
NBC debuted the first promotional spot for its upcoming NBA package during Sunday night’s Washington Commanders-Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Wild Card game. The ad featured three of the NBA’s biggest stars—Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum—alongside 30 Rock actor Jack McBrayer.
COMING THIS FALL: The stars of the @NBA are aligning on @NBC and @peacock! pic.twitter.com/FRlQk4YCTt
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) January 13, 2025
According to Sports Business Journal, the commercial will air across several of NBC’s marquee properties, including Today and Access Hollywood.
NBC’s first year of an 11-year agreement with the NBA begins next season. According to reports, the network will pay an average of $2.45 billion annually for the package, including regular-season inventory for both NBC and Peacock and playoff inventory, with a conference final in six of the 11 years.
The league hopes to gain some exposure in its new set of deals that it doesn’t currently get from its current arrangement. The NBA will see about 75 regular season games air on broadcast next season as opposed to just 15 games under the current deals. Then, of course, there’s the streaming component with Peacock, which was emphasized in the new ad.
Fans have certainly expressed their excitement for the nostalgia trip that the NBA on NBC will provide, including the reintroduction of “Roundball Rock.”
Sunday’s commercial will begin a full-on media blitz for the NBA and NBC when the season approaches this fall.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.