• by Wayne Friedman , April 13, 2017

National TV advertising for the 2016-2017 NBA regular season basketball posted big gains versus the previous season -- in part from airing more games.

TV networks pulled in $628.6 million, according to iSpot.tv -- up 28% from $492.4 million for the 2015-2016 season. This past season there were 165 nationally televised games on TNT, ESPN and ABC up from 143 in the 2015-2016 season.

This season, ESPN pulled in $352.3 million; TNT, $145.5 million; ABC, $93.0 million; NBA TV, $35.9 million; and ESPN2, $1.3 million. Last season TNT was on top, $248.7 million; ESPN, $168.2 million; ABC, $60.8 million; NBA TV, $12.9 million; and ESPN2, $1.9 million.

For this past season, ESPN had 82 games; TNT, 64, and ABC, 19. A year ago, ESPN aired 74 games; TNT 53; and ABC,16.

Automotive marketers collectively spent $83.8 million this season; quick serve restaurants, $66.4 million; Wireless electronics/communications, $53.7 million; movie marketing, $45.2 million; and auto/general insurance, $39.0 million.

State Farm was the big NBA regular season spender of nationally televised game this NBA season -- $23.0 million. Verizon was next, $20.0 million; Taco Bell, $16.2 million; Burger King, $13.8 million; and Toyota, $13.5 million.

For the 2015-2016 season, State Farm was at $14.5 million; Samsung Mobile, $11.0 million; Taco Bell, $10.2 million; Kia, $9.4 million; and GEICO, $9.0 million.