What are blackouts?

Sports Blackouts for TV

Sports blackouts are a factor in every programming distribution service. Blackouts are determined primarily according to who has the rights to broadcast a given game in a given area, and are defined by the NBA.  Blackouts take place when a game is televised locally in your area via a regional sports network or an over-the-air station. If a game is blacked out on NBA League Pass in your local area, you should tune to your local station to see the game.  Games appearing on national television are not available live on League Pass.

This applies to games being televised on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. You may view these games simply by switching to the designated channel.

For example, the Lakers are playing the Rockets and both teams are broadcasting the game locally -- KCAL 9 in the Los Angeles area, and FSN Southwest in the Houston area.  NBA League Pass Subscribers living in the Los Angeles area will be blacked out in the Lakers over-the-air territory.  Subscribers in the Houston area will also be blacked out for NBA League Pass Broadband.

• Can my blackout issue be investigated further?
• What determines a broadband blackout?