Japanese broadcaster WOWOW has confirmed it will continue to air and stream the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the 2025-26 season, responding to viewer demand for live coverage of the world’s premier basketball league. The announcement was made on October 17, 2025, through an official corporate statement published by WOWOW.
The coverage will include the league’s regular season, with two featured games broadcast each week complete with Japanese-language commentary and analysis, as well as extensive playoff coverage spanning the first round through the conference finals. WOWOW’s broadcast package encompasses up to 14 first-round playoff games, seven conference semifinal games, and seven conference final games, along with the NBA All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday events.
Notably, the NBA Finals will not be included in WOWOW’s 2025-26 season broadcast package, as specified in the announcement. The season is set to open on October 22, 2025, with a live stream of the Golden State Warriors’ season-opening game, available on both WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand platforms.
WOWOW’s coverage will highlight the participation of Japanese athletes in the league, specifically mentioning Yuta Watanabe’s continued presence with the Los Angeles Lakers and Yuki Kawamura’s two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, which began in the current season. The broadcaster emphasized that viewers can enjoy both the performances of Japanese players and the broader array of international star talent through its platform.
The announcement aligns with WOWOW’s ongoing commitment to delivering premium sports content to its subscribers, reinforcing its position as a key broadcaster for international basketball in Japan. Viewers interested in accessing the NBA coverage through WOWOW’s services can find subscription information directly through the broadcaster’s official channels.
For the most current updates on WOWOW’s NBA broadcast schedule, including specific game times and matchup details as the 2025-26 season progresses, fans are encouraged to consult WOWOW’s official programming guides, and announcements.
Stay tuned to Archysport for ongoing coverage of international basketball broadcasting rights and how they impact global access to NBA games.
