The Chicago Bulls enter the 2025–2026 NBA season with renewed momentum, riding the wave of offseason acquisitions and promising young talent poised to energize the Eastern Conference. With fierce rivalries rekindled and a playoff push in clear sight, this season offers no shortage of compelling matchups and primetime drama for Bulls fans across the country.
As demand rises for flexible viewing experiences, more fans are turning to streaming and digital TV services to follow their favorite teams live. The days of relying solely on traditional cable packages are long gone. Viewers now expect real-time access, multiple device compatibility, and coverage without compromise.
DirecTV has remained a consistent go-to for NBA fans, especially in Chicago, due to its robust sports programming lineup, access to regional sports networks, and comprehensive NBA coverage. It supports both satellite and streaming formats, making it a versatile solution whether you're watching courtside highlights at home or catching the game on the go.
The 2025-2026 Chicago Bulls campaign features several marquee matchups that will shape the course of their season. The storied rivalry with the Detroit Pistons renews on November 16, 2025, with the first face-off at United Center. Circle Christmas Day on your calendar: the Bulls are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers in one of the NBA’s most-watched holiday showcases. Games against the Milwaukee Bucks—division powerhouses and geographic rivals—are spread across January 18 in Milwaukee and March 10 in Chicago.
National broadcasts will focus on clashes with elite teams, starting with an ESPN Thursday night game against the Boston Celtics on December 12. NBA on TNT will also feature the Bulls’ road game at Golden State on February 6. Expect elevated energy and top-tier competition in these nationally televised encounters.
The complete 2025-2026 Chicago Bulls schedule, including dates, times, and television networks, is published on the official Bulls website. The NBA’s central scheduling page also compiles team-by-team calendars, real-time updates, and streaming information across national and regional providers.
Tip-off times and television coverage can shift as the season progresses, particularly during flex scheduling windows in the latter half. Keeping tabs on the latest changes will avoid surprises on game day. Adjustments to accommodate national coverage or to resolve scheduling conflicts with other sporting events are announced by the NBA, often on short notice. Fans using DirecTV should frequently check the on-screen guide and DirecTV's online schedule for the most current broadcasting details.
The NBA distributes national television rights to a select group of major networks. For the 2025–2026 season, ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV hold the exclusive national broadcasting rights. ESPN and ABC, both owned by Disney, carry marquee games throughout the week—including Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday matchups. Expect high-profile Bulls games against contenders to appear in these slots.
TNT owns the rights to the long-running “NBA on TNT” franchise and features games primarily on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Early-season doubleheaders, All-Star festivities, and key playoff battles run through TNT. NBA TV functions as a hybrid, delivering both live games and league-wide content such as analysis programs, studio commentary, and classic game replays.
While national broadcasters handle headline matchups, regional sports networks (RSNs) cover the majority of regular-season games for specific teams. For the Chicago Bulls, NBC Sports Chicago holds the RSN rights. This partnership guarantees comprehensive coverage of Bulls games that don’t land on a national slot.
NBC Sports Chicago broadcasts live games, pregame and postgame shows, as well as behind-the-scenes features. Only viewers located within the Bulls’ designated market area—primarily Illinois and parts of surrounding states—can access these regional broadcasts.
Understanding the distinction between national and local rights helps clarify where to find specific games. National rights mean a game is broadcast across the country on a major network and may override local coverage. When ESPN or TNT has exclusive rights to a game, NBC Sports Chicago won’t be allowed to air it in the Chicago market.
In contrast, local rights via NBC Sports Chicago apply when none of the national partners have claimed exclusive coverage. These matchups constitute the bulk of a team’s 82-game season. For Bulls fans using DirecTV, knowing which service carries each type of broadcast determines whether the game appears on a national network channel or through the regional RSN feed.
Nationally televised games are typically available across all DirecTV packages that include ESPN, TNT, ABC, or NBA TV. Local games on NBC Sports Chicago usually require access to the regional sports network tier, available in-market.
Throughout the 2025-2026 NBA season, NBC Sports Chicago remains the primary TV destination for Chicago Bulls fans in the team's home market. The network holds exclusive regional rights to air nearly all regular-season Bulls games that aren't picked up by national partners like ESPN, ABC, or TNT. In addition to the full game broadcasts, NBC Sports Chicago delivers pre-game analysis, post-game press conferences, player interviews, and in-depth commentary from the Bulls' broadcast team. Watchers can expect high production value, consistent scheduling, and game-specific studio coverage, anchored by familiar faces like Adam Amin and Stacey King on commentary duties.
DirecTV provides direct access to NBC Sports Chicago as part of its regional sports offering, but only within designated viewing markets. Subscribers in the Bulls’ broadcast territory—Illinois, northwest Indiana, parts of Iowa, and southern Wisconsin—can find NBC Sports Chicago on channel 665, included in DirecTV CHOICE™
Not sure if your location qualifies? DirecTV’s RSN lookup tool allows ZIP code input to confirm whether NBC Sports Chicago is part of your local lineup. Accurate billing information must match service area requirements for the channel to appear in the guide.
Regional Sports Networks operate under strict licensing zones defined by the league and network agreements. If a viewer lives outside the defined NBC Sports Chicago area, access through DirecTV is blocked—even with a premium package. This blackout structure serves to protect local broadcast rights of other NBA teams in overlapping regions. That means a fan living in New York or Florida won’t be able to view Bulls games on NBC Sports Chicago through DirecTV, even if they’re a lifelong supporter.
In out-of-market scenarios, DirecTV users must rely on national broadcasts or subscribe to NBA League Pass to follow the full Bulls season. For in-market fans, however, NBC Sports Chicago remains the most consistent and reliable source for live games during the 2025-2026 campaign.
The Chicago Bulls’ 2025–2026 season will be broadcast across multiple national and regional sports networks, and DirecTV makes them all directly accessible. Whether it's a primetime matchup or a regional showdown, subscribers can tune in via the following channels:
Locating Chicago Bulls broadcasts on DirecTV takes less than a minute if you know where to look. The built-in programming guide allows for keyword searches and date filtering. Simply press the GUIDE button on your remote, scroll to the sports category, and filter by NBA. To streamline the process:
With the right filters enabled, locating live Bulls games, analysis, or replays becomes seamless—whether they’re on a national primetime slate or covered by the regional network feed.
NBA League Pass offers access to hundreds of out-of-market regular season games, meaning Bulls fans can follow the team even when games aren’t televised nationally or on local broadcasters. Available through DirecTV, the service delivers live and on-demand games straight to your TV or streaming device. Coverage includes every team, every night—excluding games that fall under local broadcast restrictions.
Once subscribed, viewers can choose between watching single-team streams, national feeds, or select from multiple viewing angles depending on the game. With real-time scoring updates, condensed game replays, and full rebroadcast capabilities, the platform lets fans watch on their own schedule.
DirecTV users can subscribe to NBA League Pass through two primary avenues: directly from their receiver or through the online account portal.
In both cases, billing begins immediately, and access remains active for the entire regular season. Auto-renewal typically applies unless canceled manually before the new season's launch.
Whether you're tracking the Bulls' playoff push or watching future stars across the league, NBA League Pass on DirecTV offers comprehensive coverage tailored for serious fans.
The Chicago Bulls 2025–2026 season brings high expectations and high-intensity matchups—catching every minute means choosing the right DirecTV package. DirecTV offers a tiered lineup of plans with varying degrees of sports coverage. Not all packages include channels essential for NBA viewing, so digging into the details pays off. Here's a breakdown of what each package delivers for basketball enthusiasts.
This entry-level package includes over 75 channels. Sports fans will find basic national sports networks like ESPN and TNT, both of which are part of the NBA’s national broadcast schedule. However, this tier does not include regional sports networks (RSNs) like NBC Sports Chicago. Bulls fans residing in the Chicago area will miss out on most local broadcasts with this plan. NBA TV is also excluded.
CHOICE is the go-to package for most NBA fans. It includes over 105 channels, and more significantly, delivers access to regional sports networks such as NBC Sports Chicago—crucial for in-market Bulls games. It also includes NBA TV, giving subscribers daily coverage, highlights, and select live games.
For fans inside the Bulls’ viewing region, CHOICE ensures seamless access to nearly every game—local and national. It sits at the intersection of affordability and sports accessibility.
The ULTIMATE package expands to over 140 channels, adding a large roster of sports networks including CBS Sports Network and FS1. PREMIER, the highest tier, goes further by integrating premium movie channels along with full sports coverage.
These tiers suit households looking for comprehensive entertainment—not just NBA coverage but a complete sports and movies bundle.
In Chicago? Go with CHOICE or higher. That’s the only way to get NBC Sports Chicago, where the majority of Bulls games air locally. Outside Chicago? Local RSNs won’t help—but NBA League Pass, which can be added to any DirecTV plan, will. For out-of-market fans, prioritizing League Pass access matters more than the RSN lineup.
Subscribing to DirecTV sports packages, including access to Chicago Bulls games, follows a straightforward process. Whether you're a new customer building a package from scratch, or an existing subscriber looking to expand sports options, DirecTV provides multiple ways to get started.
Already a DirecTV customer? Layering additional sports coverage takes minutes. Head to your account dashboard on the web or app. Select “Manage My Plan,” then choose “Add-Ons.” From there, scroll to either:
DirecTV structures its pricing around base packages and premium add-ons. As of the 2024–2025 cycle, here’s what you can expect for basketball-centric viewers:
Promotional periods can also include a free NBA League Pass preview for the first two weeks of the season. Watch for that in early October. Want real-time savings? Ask a live agent during checkout if any seasonal sports bundles are active—it often unlocks hidden discounts.
The DirecTV app works seamlessly across a wide array of devices. Whether using an iPhone, Android phone, iPad, Android tablet, Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, or Chromecast, the app delivers real-time access to live Bulls games. Smart TVs from major brands like Samsung and LG also support the app, enabling direct streaming without extra hardware.
With the DirecTV app, viewers can watch live broadcasts of NBC Sports Chicago and any national broadcasters carrying Bulls games. That includes ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV for nationally televised matchups.
After logging into the app using DirecTV credentials, users can customize their experience by setting the Chicago Bulls as a favorite team. Doing this brings Bulls games to the forefront of Live TV recommendations, ensures alerts before tip-off, and allows quick access from the home screen of the interface.
Navigation within the DirecTV app is intuitive: browse the sports tab, select the NBA section, and tap the Bulls logo to see upcoming games, current matchups, and highlights. Integration with cloud DVR also lets subscribers schedule recordings directly from the app.
DirecTV’s streaming service covers all major devices, removing barriers between Bulls fans and live NBA action. Whether you’re tuning in from a smart TV in your living room or catching the game on a compact streaming stick while traveling, the DirecTV app delivers consistent performance.
Installation takes less than five minutes on nearly every device. Use the search function in your device’s app store to locate and download the DirecTV app. Once installed, sign in using your DirecTV login credentials—the same ones you use for your home setup. After logging in, navigate to the “Sports” or “Live TV” section to browse Chicago Bulls broadcasts, and you’re ready for tip-off.
To enjoy the fast-paced action of the Bulls in sharp definition, device selection matters. Roku Ultra, Amazon Fire TV 4K Max, and Apple TV 4K offer the most reliable performance for high-definition and Ultra HD streaming. These devices support adaptive streaming, maintain stable frame rates, and handle the dynamic visuals of NBA games without lag or loss of quality. When paired with a compatible 4K television and high-speed internet, viewers get stunning visual clarity—ideal for close-up replays and high-speed drives to the basket.
Already have a preferred streaming device at home? Check its compatibility, install the app, and let DirecTV do the rest. Your Bulls gameday setup is already in your hands.
DirecTV provides everything necessary to follow the Chicago Bulls throughout the 2025–2026 NBA season without missing a single play. With exclusive access to NBC Sports Chicago, full integration of NBA League Pass, and comprehensive coverage through RSNs, it's positioned as the most complete viewing solution available. Subscribers enjoy Bulls games in HD or 4K, the power to record entire series with DVR, and the freedom to stream games live or on-demand via the DirecTV app.
Even Blackout restrictions become manageable thanks to multiple workarounds built into DirecTV’s service. Whether watching at home, on the go, or rewatching with friends the next day, the platform adapts to your schedule and device preferences.
Why settle for fragmented game coverage or glitchy streams? DirecTV consolidates all NBA broadcast rights, advanced technology, and sports-centric features into one seamless ecosystem.
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