NBA League Pass Too Expensive? Cheaper Ways to Watch the 2026-27 Season
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off in late October. If you’re weighing whether League Pass is worth it this year — or looking for a cheaper way to follow your team — here’s what each option really costs and what it actually covers.
What League Pass costs in 2026-27
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| League Pass Standard | $21.99 | $149.99 |
| League Pass Premium (no ads, 3 screens) | $28.99 | $199.99 |
The catch: blackouts
League Pass is built for out-of-market fans. In the US, games involving your local team are blacked out because they air on regional sports networks, and nationally televised games are blacked out too. That surprises a lot of first-time subscribers — you can pay $150 and still not see your own team on a Tuesday night.
Where NBA games are broadcast in 2026-27
This is the second season of the NBA’s new national TV deal, which replaced TNT:
| Games | Where |
|---|---|
| National games | ESPN / ABC |
| National games | NBC / Peacock |
| National games | Amazon Prime Video |
| Your local team | Regional sports network in your area |
| Out-of-market games | NBA League Pass |
Every option compared
| Option | Approx. cost | What it covers | Official? |
|---|---|---|---|
| League Pass Standard | $149.99/year | Out-of-market games (blackouts apply) | ✅ |
| TV antenna | One-off ~$30 | ABC and NBC national games | ✅ |
| Streaming apps (ESPN, Peacock, Prime) | Several monthly fees | National games on each platform | ✅ |
| Live-TV app with regional sports | ~$85+/month | Local team via RSN (market-dependent) | ✅ |
| IPTV4K — 12 months | $49.99/year | Channels broadcasting the games, in HD/4K | ❌ |
Third-party prices are approximate at the time of writing and change each season — check official sites for current pricing.
The cheapest official setup
If you follow an out-of-market team, League Pass Standard on an annual plan is good value — just remember the blackouts. If you follow your local team, you’ll need access to your regional sports network, which usually means cable or a pricier live-TV app. Add an antenna and you’ll catch the ABC and NBC national games for free.
Where IPTV fits
IPTV subscriptions carry live channels such as ESPN, ABC, NBC and many regional sports networks, which is why fans look at it as an alternative that avoids blackouts. Two honest caveats:
- It’s not an official NBA product. IPTV providers aren’t licensed by the NBA, and the legal picture depends on your country — please read Is IPTV legal? first.
- Test it on a game night. Evening tip-offs are peak load. Try it during a real game before paying — that’s what our free trial is for.
Watching football too? See our NFL Sunday Ticket alternatives. For other sports, Best IPTV for sports.
Game-night setup for smooth 4K
- Ethernet on your TV or streaming stick beats Wi-Fi every time.
- Speed: 4K needs about 25 Mbps per screen.
- Player app: see the best IPTV players.
- Freezing at tip-off? Work through our 9 buffering fixes.
Bottom line
League Pass is the official route for out-of-market fans, but blackouts mean it rarely covers everything on its own. Combine official options if you want to stay fully licensed; IPTV is the lowest-cost route but without official guarantees. Either way, test before tip-off: start a free trial or compare our plans.
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