Guide to Watching NBA Games Online, on iPhone, iPad, and Android
Want to catch live streaming NBA action on the Internet or on the go? Here’s our complete guide for watching NBA online and on iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices.
NBA League Pass Broadband
This product from NBA.com gives you access to all NBA games that aren’t broadcast locally or nationally (Premium package – $169.00 / year), or all games for up to 5 NBA teams (Choice package – $109). The player itself is quite nice and allows for viewing up to 4 NBA games at one time.
In our review of NBA League Pass Broadband, we felt it was a good product as long as you understand the blackout rules and are OK with them. It’s ideal for fans of out of town teams that aren’t often on TV, or folks who just can never get enough NBA. There is a free preview of NBA League Pass through January 8th, 2012 for those that want to give it an early season test drive.
NBA League Pass Mobile
NBA League Pass Mobile lets you watch live NBA action from your iPhone or Android device for $39.99. It essentially the same deal as NBA League Pass Broadband but for your phone. Be sure you understand the blackout rules before purchasing because you won’t get local teams or any games broadcast nationally on ESPN, TNT, ABC, etc.
We thought this was rather pricey, especially considering the blackout restrictions, but if you’d like to give it a try, you can download NBA Game Time 2011-2012 from the App Store or find it in the Android Market.
NBA Game Time Courtside App for iPad
NBA Game Time Mobile is not available for the iPad, but you can still watch live out-of-market NBA games on your iPad by subscribing to the NBA League Pass. ($169 / season). By linking your League Pass subscription to the NBA Game Time Courtside app, you’ll be able to watch live NBA action on the iPad.
Note: You can watch in windowed mode (seen below) or watch in full screen mode.
WatchESPN / ESPN 3
ESPN’s online entity, ESPN 3, also carries all the NBA games that are broadcast on ESPN networks. This typically includes weekly double headers of high profile teams on Wednesday and Friday night throughout the season. There will also be some Sunday games and some additional dates thrown in throughout the 2012 season. You can see the entire ESPN NBA schedule here at NBA.com
As we mentioned in our initial post about NBA on ESPN3, most, but not all ISPs have access to ESPN3. ESPN requires online providers to pay a fee to get access to ESPN3. Most of the major players have chosen to pay this fee, but some smaller ISPs have not.
The ESPN3 broadcasts are the exact same feed you would get when watching the game on TV. You can also watch up to four sporting events at once, although they usually don’t air more than one NBA game at once.
TNT Overtime Extra
TNT typically airs two NBA games every Thursday evening during the regular season with some occassional Monday and Tuesday dates as well. These games are often (not always) available online through TNT Overtime Extra. Although intended to be used as a supplement to the TNT broadcast, it’s not bad as a standalone way to see a game.
With Overtime Extra you can watch up to four different camera angles simultaneously in “Mosaic” view, or just follow the action with the Action Cam.
Check out the full 2011-2012 TNT NBA schedule.
There is also a very cool feature, Player Cam, in which a one camera will isolate on a single player. This usually last for the entire half, even when the player is one the bench.
NBA Audio Pass
For those of you who enjoy listen the NBA games, there is NBA Audio Pass. It’s free, you just need to register for an All Access account at NBA.com. Listen to any game, and choose whether you’d like to listen to the home or away announcers.
We’ve heard some complaints that it can be a bit glitchy, but it’s there if you need it.
Overview
For those that have chosen to cut loose their cable or satellite provider, you’ve still got plenty of great NBA games for free online every week. With ESPN3 and TNT Overtime Extra, you’ve got 3 and sometimes 4 nights a week to enjoy the NBA. And, they tend to be top tier matchups. The commercial broadband products will probably appeal only to a very limited audience of hard core fans and fans of out-of-market NBA teams.
Related Posts :
Category: Basketball, Internet, NBA
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Help find a cure for breast cancer. Consider a 