By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –@tvanswerman
More than 30 years of experience covering TV technology.
TV Answer Man, do you know if DIRECTV Stream will have the free preview of the NBA League Pass this week like Comcast does? I can’t find any mention of a free preview at the web site. The season is starting tonight so I can’t understand why there isn’t anything at the DIRECTV Stream web site! — Hank, Toledo, Ohio.
Hank, the NBA season begins tonight, October 24, with a doubleheader on TNT. Nationally broadcast games, such as the TNT games, are not available on the NBA League Pass, the pay package of out-of-market games. But League Pass will offer games starting tomorrow night and some pay TV operators are providing the plan for free for one week this week.
So, will DIRECTV and DIRECTV Stream have it for free, too? Answer: Yes. Both services will carry the free preview of the NBA League Pass from today, October 24, through Monday, October 30. You can see this NBA schedule for more information on which games will be available during the preview. (The DIRECTV-owned U-verse will also have the free preview.)
The NBA League Pass, which normally costs $100 for the entire season, includes up to 40 out-of-market games each week. Local blackouts still apply in the League Pass package. You cannot watch the team or teams in your local market with a League Pass subscription. You can determine which teams would be blacked out in your zip code here. Nationally broadcast games on ESPN, ABC or TNT are also not available on League Pass.
Dish and Comcast have also announced that they will offer free one-week previews of the NBA League Pass. Other pay TV providers may as well so check your on-screen guide for more details.
The NBA’s basic online NBA League Pass, which also streams up to 40 regular season games each week with commercials, is now available for $99 for the entire 2023-24 season, the same price as last year. You can also purchase the package by the month for $14.99, again the same as last year. However, the price of the NBA League Pass Premium plan has risen from $129.99 for the season to $149.99. The monthly price for the Premium package has also increased from $19.99 to $22.99. The Premium plan does not include commercials, allows streaming on three different devices at the same time, and includes access to in-arena streams. The NBA TV channel is included for free in both plans.
Have a question about new TV technologies? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
— Phillip Swann
