Does NBA League Pass Have Ads? What You Get With League Pass vs Premium
Yes, the standard plan does. NBA League Pass at $16.99 a month or $109.99 for the season shows commercials during breaks. League Pass Premium, at $24.99 a month or $159.99 for the season, has no commercials; during timeouts and halftime it shows an in-arena feed instead. Those are NBA.com’s U.S. prices for the 2026–27 season, checked October 20, 2026, the night the regular season tips off.
League Pass vs League Pass Premium, checked October 20, 2026
| Feature | League Pass | League Pass Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $16.99 | $24.99 |
| Season price | $109.99 | $159.99 |
| Commercials | Yes | No; in-arena stream during breaks |
| Devices at once | 1 | Up to 3 |
| Offline downloads | No | Yes, on phones and tablets |
| Multiview | Up to 4 games | Up to 4 games |
| Alternative broadcasts | Included | Included |
U.S. prices from NBA.com’s League Pass page as of October 20, 2026, before tax. Team Pass ($13.99/mo.) covers one out-of-market team.
What “no commercials” really means on Premium
Premium doesn’t cut the breaks out of the game. Timeouts, quarter breaks and halftime still happen; instead of the TV ads, Premium shows a live feed from inside the arena. You’ll still see the sponsor signage and any branding that’s part of the broadcast itself, since that’s in the picture, not inserted ads.
A few things work the same on both plans. Each includes live radio calls of every game, and both carry out-of-market games only. Blackout rules apply to both.
Is Premium worth $8 a month more?
Over a six-month regular season billed monthly, Premium costs $149.94 against $101.94 for standard League Pass, a $48 difference. On season pricing the gap is $50. Here’s who gets the most from it:
- Households that watch on more than one screen. Standard League Pass allows only one stream at a time; Premium allows three.
- Fans who hate breaks in the action and want the in-arena view during timeouts.
- Travelers who want to download replays for a flight.
If you watch alone on one TV and don’t mind ads, standard League Pass or Team Pass is the better buy. Our League Pass plans and prices guide has the full monthly-vs-season math.
What League Pass won’t show, ads or not
Neither plan shows national games live on ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock or Prime Video; NBA.com says those games become available after 6 a.m. ET the next day. Your local team’s games are blacked out too. That’s why the three opening-night games on Tuesday, October 20—Celtics at Pistons, 76ers at Knicks and Thunder at Spurs on NBC and Peacock—were not live on League Pass.
On DIRECTV, the national TV games are on ESPN (channel 206), ESPN2 (209), NBA TV (216) and your local ABC and NBC stations, and your local team is on a regional sports network or local station depending on the team. NBA League Pass is also available as a DIRECTV add-on. For every channel and the team-by-team local picture, see our NBA on DIRECTV guide.
Want the national games and your local team in one package? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
Does NBA League Pass have commercials?
Yes. Standard League Pass ($16.99/mo. or $109.99/season) has commercials. League Pass Premium ($24.99/mo. or $159.99/season) has none and shows an in-arena feed during breaks.
How do I get NBA League Pass without ads?
Choose League Pass Premium. As of October 20, 2026 it costs $24.99 a month or $159.99 for the season in the U.S.
Does League Pass Premium show national games?
Not live. National games on ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock and Prime Video are blacked out on all League Pass plans and are available after 6 a.m. ET the next day.
Can I get NBA League Pass on DIRECTV?
Yes, League Pass is offered as a DIRECTV add-on for out-of-market games. National games air on ESPN (206), ESPN2 (209), NBA TV (216) and local ABC and NBC.
Details reviewed October 20, 2026 (ET). League Pass plans, prices and features from NBA.com and the NBA Help Center; channel numbers from our NBA on DIRECTV guide. Prices and features can change during the season. NBA, League Pass and DIRECTV marks belong to their owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.