Following the Sacramento Kings' spectacular run last season, fan excitement is already building for what’s next. With new talent in the rotation and rising postseason expectations, Kings basketball continues to draw attention across the Western Conference. If you're a DirecTV subscriber looking to follow every buzzer-beater, alley-oop, and game-winning three, here’s exactly where and how to tune in. Whether at home or on the go, DirecTV offers multiple ways to catch every moment of the 2025–2026 Sacramento Kings season live.
Following the Sacramento Kings throughout the 2025–2026 NBA season on DirecTV requires understanding how the platform structures its NBA coverage. DirecTV carries both national broadcasts and regional sports networks, delivering comprehensive access to games across the schedule.
DirecTV offers NBA game coverage across multiple networks. National broadcasts are available through:
When the Kings appear in nationally televised games, those channels will carry the broadcast. For local coverage, fans in the Sacramento region access games through their regional sports network — more on that in a later section.
DirecTV gives subscribers several ways to follow NBA games:
Every nationally televised NBA game is available in HD for DirecTV customers. Satellite subscribers with Genie HD DVRs can record games and rewatch specific plays, while DirecTV Stream users benefit from cloud DVR features. The ability to pause, rewind, and resume games unlocks full control over each viewing experience.
DirecTV delivers consistent access to NBA action with partnerships in place for all official broadcast networks. Whether it’s a high-stakes playoff game on ABC or a mid-season matchup on NBC Sports California, subscribers can expect uninterrupted coverage with professional-grade picture and sound quality.
Ready to map out your game nights? Next up, dive into the Sacramento Kings' 2025–2026 season schedule to see when you’ll need to be tuned in.
The 2025–2026 NBA season introduces a fresh chapter for the Sacramento Kings—and the full game schedule lays out the roadmap fans will follow from tip-off to playoffs. With 82 regular-season games on tap, including high-stakes division matchups, marquee national broadcasts, and back-to-back road challenges, this calendar drives how viewers set their screens throughout the season.
The Kings open their campaign at Golden 1 Center on October 23, 2025, facing the Los Angeles Lakers in a classic Pacific Division clash. That game will air nationally on TNT, setting the tone for a season that includes 12 nationally televised matchups across ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV.
Notable games in the first quarter of the season include:
The stretch from mid-December through February features critical Western Conference matchups and an East Coast road trip with playoff implications. Games during the holiday period typically see timezone-based scheduling shifts, with several afternoon tip-offs optimized for TV audiences.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend lands on February 13–15 in Indianapolis, creating a weeklong pause in play. Sacramento’s final 28 games after the break will determine playoff seeding and Wild Card slots. DirecTV users can track every broadcast transition—whether local or national—directly through the NBA schedule feed integrated into compatible DirecTV receivers.
The Kings wrap up the regular season with three home games in April, including a possible playoff preview against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Full schedule updates, including exact tip-off times and channel assignments for each game, will be accessible through the NBA mobile app and DirecTV’s interactive TV guide. Flex scheduling in March and April might shift certain games to national platforms pending playoff implications.
The Sacramento Kings’ 2025–2026 season will reach fans through a mix of local broadcasts and national telecasts. The NBA’s current media rights structure determines where specific games air, and for fans using DirecTV, this structure directly influences which channels to tune into on game night.
NBA games are divided between regional and national rights. Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) hold the rights to most regular season games not selected for national broadcast. National networks—specifically ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV—have exclusive rights to high-profile matchups, weekend games, and much of the playoff schedule.
Each NBA team signs a regional broadcast deal with a designated RSN. For the Kings, this partner is NBC Sports California. Nationally, the current NBA media rights deal runs through the 2024–2025 season. However, based on the league’s renewal history and negotiations underway, ABC, TNT, ESPN, and NBA TV are expected to remain the primary national carriers through the 2025–2026 season.
DirecTV supports each of these networks, both through traditional satellite service and its streaming counterpart, DirecTV Stream. This ensures full access to regional and national broadcasts, provided the viewer is within the Kings' designated market area or subscribing to a national sports tier.
For fans within the Sacramento Kings' designated market, NBC Sports California functions as the go-to Regional Sports Network (RSN). It delivers wall-to-wall coverage of regular-season games, pre-game shows, post-game analysis, and exclusive interviews, all tailored to Kings basketball. DirecTV includes this network in its lineup, offering seamless access to nearly all locally televised Kings matchups.
Subscribers need a package that carries RSNs. DirecTV's CHOICE package or above includes NBC Sports California within the correct regional footprint. This package tier starts with access to over 200 channels, including NBA-focused and regional sports coverage.
In-market viewers can tune into channel 698 to watch NBC Sports California. However, availability is locked to specific zip codes in Northern California and nearby areas aligned with the Kings' regional sports rights. DirecTV uses zip code verification to ensure regional compliance.
Beyond live games, NBC Sports California enriches the fan experience through extended Sacramento Kings content:
To qualify for NBC Sports California on DirecTV, the billing zip code must fall within the Kings' NBA-designated home market. Typical coverage zones include Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Fresno, Chico, and parts of Northern Nevada. Outside of these areas, this RSN will not be available, and viewers would need alternate options for game access.
DirecTV Stream subscribers can also access NBC Sports California via the CHOICE plan or higher, provided they are located within the local broadcast region. Streaming coverage mirrors the satellite version, including live games and studio content, streamed live or on-demand through the DirecTV app or website.
The Sacramento Kings will appear in nationally televised games during the 2025–2026 NBA season, and DirecTV carries every major network broadcasting those matchups. Fans looking to follow the team beyond regional coverage will need access to ABC, TNT, ESPN, and NBA TV—each delivering a portion of the season’s highest-profile showdowns.
ABC continues serving as the league’s broadcast partner for marquee Sunday games and signature events like the NBA Finals. For DirecTV viewers, ABC is available through the local channel lineup, delivering games over-the-air in HD without additional charges. During the regular season, ABC will air key nationally televised weekend matchups, including select Kings games if scheduled.
TNT owns the most consistent weekly NBA broadcast slots: Tuesday and Thursday nights. Kings appearances on TNT typically include rivalry games or pivotal late-season matchups with playoff implications. DirecTV includes TNT in all its base English-language packages, including Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier tiers.
ESPN handles a heavy share of primetime NBA coverage throughout the week, especially Wednesdays and Fridays. These broadcasts also include doubleheaders and post-game analysis from top-tier commentators. Subscribers to DirecTV’s Choice package and up will receive ESPN (and ESPN2), ensuring full access to nationally broadcast Kings games aired on the network.
NBA TV supplements the other broadcasters with year-round programming—live games, studio analysis, and archival footage. For Kings fans, NBA TV will occasionally carry exclusive live matchups and whiparound coverage of league-wide action, especially during busy slates. DirecTV includes NBA TV in the Choice package and above, or as part of the Sports Pack add-on for lower-tier plans.
Looking to catch every Kings matchup spotlighted on the national stage? These four networks are non-negotiable. Coverage spans dramatic buzzer-beaters on TNT, coast-to-coast battles on ESPN, weekend showdowns on ABC, and deep league commentary on NBA TV. All of them work together to deliver a complete national viewing experience on DirecTV.
Locating Sacramento Kings broadcasts on DirecTV depends on the type of game—regional or national—and the network broadcasting it. Use this guide to navigate channels effortlessly and avoid missing tip-off.
When the Kings are playing on their home network, NBC Sports California carries the game. DirecTV subscribers in the Sacramento market can find this regional sports network on:
This channel carries the bulk of regular season games not picked up by national networks. Pre-game and post-game coverage, interviews with players and coaches, and analysis from local commentators are all part of the broadcast.
For nationally televised games, DirecTV assigns fixed channel numbers across the United States. Here’s where to tune in:
Note that ESPN and TNT often feature marquee matchups. Kings games featured during primetime slots or high-stakes matchups late in the season frequently shift to these national partners.
Out-of-market games not picked up by NBC Sports California or national networks are available through NBA League Pass on DirecTV. If you want to watch every Kings game from any location outside Northern California, League Pass delivers it live and uncut.
All games airing via League Pass appear in this dedicated block. During doubleheaders or busy game nights, additional digital overflow channels become active automatically.
Set your DVR or enable game reminders on the DirecTV guide—timing and channel assignments won’t change unexpectedly. Have you bookmarked these channels yet?
DirecTV Stream gives fans in the Sacramento Kings’ home market a direct path to access NBC Sports California — the exclusive regional broadcaster for most Kings games. Unlike many live TV streaming services, DirecTV Stream includes regional sports networks (RSNs) in its channel lineup when you're located in the right zip code. If you live in Northern California, this means full coverage of locally televised Kings matchups.
On top of regional action, DirecTV Stream also carries all the national networks broadcasting NBA games. With ESPN, TNT, ABC, and NBA TV in its lineup, you won’t miss any marquee matchups, playoff games, or nationally televised doubleheaders. This consolidates the entire league's broadcast ecosystem into a single streaming package — no need to juggle services.
Every DirecTV Stream subscription includes a cloud DVR with unlimited recording hours if you maintain the base package. Missed tip-off because of traffic? Save full replays and skip commercials on your own terms. The DVR holds recordings for up to nine months, so there's no rush to catch up.
Additionally, DirecTV Stream allows up to 20 simultaneous streams on the same home network. While one screen plays the game in the living room, others can tune in from tablets, desktops, or smart TVs in different rooms. Off-network viewing supports up to three concurrent streams, ideal for fans following the Kings from multiple locations.
DirecTV Stream operates via internet connection, so there’s no satellite dish installation or equipment rental. Just install the app on any supported device and log in to start watching. Whether you use Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, or a smart TV, the transition from traditional cable to streaming requires minimal setup. The service also includes a dedicated app for smartphones and tablets, letting you carry Kings games on the go.
Use DirecTV Stream’s zip code lookup tool to see which regional sports networks are included in your location. Availability hinges on geolocation, and not all areas receive NBC Sports California, even within California. Fans outside the Kings market won’t have live game access via this RSN and should consider national channel availability or alternative services like NBA League Pass for broader access.
Streaming Sacramento Kings games on DirecTV Stream provides the flexibility modern fans expect without sacrificing broadcast access. Upgrading to a streaming setup doesn’t mean cutting off NBA action — it expands it across more screens, more devices, and more ways to enjoy the season.
Trying to catch every Sacramento Kings matchup on DirecTV during the 2025–2026 season? You’ll need to understand blackout restrictions. These aren’t technical glitches or subscription issues—they stem from NBA broadcast rights agreements. Here's how they work and what to do when they block your access.
Local and national broadcast deals determine who gets to show specific games in certain areas. If you're located within the Kings’ local market—primarily Northern California—and the game airs on NBC Sports California, it won’t be available for live viewing on platforms like NBA League Pass. Similarly, if a game is nationally televised on ESPN, TNT, ABC, or NBA TV, local RSNs may not broadcast it.
This means if you're watching through DirecTV or DirecTV Stream, but trying to view a Kings game from outside your market or on the wrong channel, access may be automatically restricted.
Blackouts come down to licensing, not technology. But by understanding the rules and staying informed about your local coverage and subscription details, there's no reason to miss a minute of Sacramento’s 2025–2026 campaign.
Every basket, every fast break, every game-changing block—missing a moment of the Sacramento Kings' 2025–2026 season isn't an option for die-hard fans. DirecTV delivers the most comprehensive route to watching all the action unfold, combining national broadcasts, regional coverage, and reliable streaming access in one streamlined platform.
For Sacramento-area viewers, DirecTV's access to NBC Sports California guarantees regional broadcasts of the majority of regular season games. When the Kings take the national stage—whether on ESPN, TNT, ABC, or NBA TV—DirecTV keeps every broadcast easily accessible from your remote. With the addition of DirecTV Stream, fans can ditch hardware altogether and watch live coverage on mobile devices, tablets, smart TVs, and web browsers, adapting the viewing experience to their lifestyle.
Looking to track the Kings wherever the schedule leads? Combine the extensive coverage of DirecTV with the schedule syncing features in the DirecTV app. Set alerts for tipoffs, record critical face-offs, or catch up via cloud DVR when evening plans conflict with gametime.
The blackout workaround options ensure that even fans outside the Sacramento broadcast region can stay connected without disruption. Whether following road games on NBA TV or watching critical Western Conference clashes on TNT, all parts of the Kings' journey are within reach when DirecTV is in play.
What defines the best way to watch? Coverage, flexibility, and consistency. DirecTV delivers all three. That’s how you follow the Kings—every quarter, every game, all season long.
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