2023-2024 NBA season: How to watch on TV, online

MANILA, Philippines – After five different champions in the last five seasons, the NBA looks headed for another unpredictable run.

The 2023-2024 NBA season rolls off with the defending champion Denver Nuggets not exactly the heavy favorites as several teams figured in blockbuster trades like the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and the Boston Celtics.

This season’s action also introduces an in-season tournament dubbed the NBA Cup, adding stakes to the early part of the competition, which sums up to an 82-game marathon to the playoffs.

Intriguing storylines around the league’s superstars likewise unfold, with LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers playing his 20th season; Damian Lillard teaming up with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Milwaukee Bucks; and Chris Paul linking up with former rivals Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors.

There are also new-look teams like the Phoenix Suns parading Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal; the Boston Celtics squad that acquired Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to play alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown; and the the San Antonio Spurs with their top overall draft choice, the 7-foot-4 French prospect Victor Wembanyama.

With the Philippines one of the largest markets of the NBA in the world, here are ways to catch the games on television or online:

NBA League Pass

The league’s official live and on-demand online streaming service offers several ways to subscribe and watch its games via the NBA app on the App Store or Google Play, or online.

After a seven-day free trial, NBA League Pass offers a single-team pass for P399 monthly or P2,199 annually if the subscriber elects to watch just one team.

For its higher tier, the one-device League Pass offers the service at P499 monthly or P3,499 annually, while League Pass Premium, where subscribers can watch simultaneously on three devices at a time, users can pay P650 monthly, or P3,900 annually.

Looking to cater to the younger crowd in the Philippines, the NBA recently introduced a 40% discount for students, with a 12-month lock in period.

Students will need to submit a copy of their school ID in the verification page, along with proof of enrollment or verified university credentials.

After confirmation, the NBA will then send a unique code to be inputted in the checkout page.

Smart, PLDT, and GCash also offer the NBA League Pass service.

Cignal TV

The official broadcast and digital partner of the NBA and NBA 2K League in the country, the network will air games on both free and pay TV through the One Sports and NBA TV Philippines channels, respectively.

Streaming is also available through the Pilipinas Live app on the App Store or Google Play, or online at www.pilipinaslive.com — where subscribers could watch live NBA games broadcast over the NBA TV Philippines channel, in addition to locally-produced programming, and the NBA 2K League.

Having signed a multiyear extension with the NBA, One Sports will continue televising regular season games, the NBA All-Star Weekend, the playoffs, and the NBA Finals.

Setanta Sports

The NBA also added a new broadcast partner in the country, Setanta Sports, subsidiary of UK-based Eurasian Broadcasting Enterprise Ltd.

Setanta, through its pay TV channel and streaming platform, will broadcast more than 120 NBA games each season of their deal, as well as original NBA programing.

Fans in the Philippines can watch online through their online streaming service or the Setanta Sports app for P149 per month, P389 for three months, and P729 annually.

“Our goal really here is to make sure that we, our games are available to the widest number of people available,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said during a recent online press conference.

“That would mean that the mix between, you know free to air, if you will, and digital has to be there… our plan is to make sure that we have our games as widely available as possible to the most number of fans that we can.” – Rappler.com