ABC to broadcast 8 Saturday night NBA games next season

Add Saturday nights to the days of the week the NBA wants to own on television.

In addition to ABC's usual Sunday afternoon coverage and ESPN's Wednesday and Friday night telecasts, the company announced Thursday that ABC will air eight Saturday night games during the 2015-16 season.

The slate of nationally-televised Saturday night games include Jan. 23, Jan. 30, Feb. 20, Feb. 27, March 5, March 12, March 19, and April 9, with all eight set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The specific matchups will be known when the NBA officially releases its schedule later this summer.

"The creation of Saturday Night NBA on ABC is an important moment in the long, successful relationship between ESPN and the NBA," ESPN president John Skipper said Thursday. "Saturday night games will be highlighted by the NBA's biggest stars, top rivalries and most compelling storylines," he added.

"We expect to establish this series as a big-game destination for NBA fans, along the lines of what we've accomplished in college football with Saturday Night Football on ABC."