On November 17, Disney+ announced it would begin streaming live NBA coverage in the Philippines through a new multi-year agreement, marking the first time the league will be available on the platform for local audiences.
The deal expands Disney and ESPN’s long-running international partnership with the NBA and signals a clear shift in the regional streaming landscape, where major players are competing for sports fans across Southeast Asia. For the Philippines, a country where basketball culture runs from neighborhood courts to national arenas, the move reflects how deeply the sport shapes everyday life.
Beginning November 20, subscribers can watch live NBA games, high-profile events such as NBA Christmas Day and the NBA Draft, and a library of ESPN documentaries. Coverage will also include commentary and analysis from famed basketball legends and commentators such as Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley through NBA Tip-Off and Inside the NBA. The programming slate suggests a broad approach that targets both dedicated fans and casual viewers who follow the league through clips, highlights, and social media.
The deal arrives at a time when sports rights across the Asia-Pacific region remain divided by territory and platform. Despite that complexity, the Philippines continues to stand out for its commitment to the game, seen in murals, barangay tournaments, and the routine sight of musicians and artists squeezing in pickup runs before work.
Disney+ will open its NBA coverage with a doubleheader featuring Houston at Cleveland at 8:12 a.m. and New York at Dallas at 10:35 a.m. Philippine Time on November 20.
