Bulls fans have at least one thing going for them this season: They should have no problem finding the team’s games.
After Chicago Sports Network’s first season carrying the Bulls was blacked out on Comcast, the regional sports network has full distribution in the market. What’s more, because the Bulls don’t whet the appetite of the national networks, all but two of their games this season will air on CHSN.
This year marks the first of the NBA’s 11-year media-rights deal, which will spread games across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Prime Video. Barring unforeseen flex scheduling, Bulls fans won’t have to pull out a map to find the games. (Does anyone even pull out a map anymore? I digress.)
The Bulls’ middling ways have them appearing only on Peacock (Dec. 1 at Orlando) and Prime (Feb. 5 at Toronto). CHSN will carry the other 80, though one will coexist on ESPN (Jan. 16 at Brooklyn).
Imagine being as successful as the Knicks, Lakers, Thunder or Warriors. They’re tied for the most national-TV appearances with 34. Who wants that? The Bulls’ three appearances are tied with the Hornets for the second-fewest. That’s way more convenient.
But NBA fans have much to learn about this new media landscape that no longer includes TNT, though its beloved studio show, “Inside the NBA,” will live on with ESPN. Here’s a breakdown of each NBA partner’s plans for the season, which begins Tuesday.
### NBC/Peacock
NBC’s coverage will tug at Bulls fans’ heartstrings considering the network was the national outlet for the team’s dynasty years. It’s bringing back the theme song “Roundball Rock” and recreating voiceover artist Jim Fagan’s voice using AI. NBC also hired Michael Jordan as a special contributor, and he’s expected to appear during opening-night coverage.
The network’s first NBA game in 23 years will be the first game on the league’s schedule, when the Thunder host the Rockets on Tuesday after raising their championship banner. The network’s top crew of Mike Tirico, analysts Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford and reporter Zora Stephenson will call it. Other game announcers include Noah Eagle, Michael Grady and Terry Gannon, and other analysts include Grant Hill, Brad Dougherty and Derek Fisher.
For “Peacock NBA Monday” broadcasts, NBC will embed an analyst with each team, away from the play-by-play voice, a production element it calls “On the Bench.” Robbie Hummel and Austin Rivers will be the first such analysts for the Cavaliers-Pistons game Oct. 27. Peacock viewers also will have access to “Catch Up” and “Can’t Miss” videos and different viewing modes. NBC and Peacock total 100 regular-season games.
After its “Sunday Night Football” schedule, NBC will launch “Sunday Night Basketball” on Feb. 1. It will be a heck of a month for NBC, which will air the Super Bowl, the NBA All-Star Game and the Winter Olympics.
### ESPN/ABC
The lone incumbent of the NBA’s media partners will air 80 games, generally on Wednesdays (ESPN) and Saturdays and Sundays (ABC). It also will air the first Thanksgiving Eve tripleheader, in addition to its traditional five-game slate on Christmas Day.
The network’s biggest change is at the broadcast table, where Tim Legler replaces Doris Burke as an analyst on the No. 1 crew. Play-by-play voice Mike Breen, analyst Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters return. Legler is an underrated analyst who’s excellent with X’s and O’s. Burke will continue to call a full slate of games, working regularly with Dave Pasch.
The biggest addition to ESPN’s coverage is “Inside the NBA,” which still will be produced by TNT and serve as the pregame, halftime and postgame show for 20 regular-season dates and throughout the postseason. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith make their ESPN debut Wednesday, when the network begins its schedule with Cavaliers-Knicks.
### Prime Video
Having already latched on to the NFL, the Amazon platform now turns to the NBA, which granted an unprecedented portfolio for a streamer. Prime has exclusivity for the NBA Cup knockout rounds, the play-in tournament, first- and second-round playoff games and a conference final in six of the next 11 years. It also will add to its Black Friday NFL game with an NBA doubleheader.
Prime will carry 67 regular-season games, starting with Celtics-Knicks on Friday, and infuse the broadcasts with its typical bells and whistles. “Key Moments” curates impactful plays, “Rapid Recap” brings late-arriving fans up to speed and “Stats” show game numbers on overlays. And, of course, viewers can shop while they watch.
Several former TNT broadcasters landed at Prime, including play-by-play voices Ian Eagle and Kevin Harlan and analyst Stan Van Gundy. Michael Grady and Eric Collins also will call games, and Brent Barry and Dell Curry will serve as analysts. Evanston native Cassidy Hubbarth is among Prime’s reporters.
### Remote patrol
**Noah Eagle**, **Todd Blackledge** and reporter **Kathryn Tappen** will call the USC-Notre Dame game Saturday night on NBC 5.
**Kevin Kugler**, **Daryl “Moose” Johnston** and reporter **Allison Williams** will call the Saints-Bears game Sunday on Fox 32.
The Chicago Marathon announced an extension of its media deal with NBC 5 and Telemundo through 2028.