The NBL has cashed in on its growing popularity at home and abroad, landing a record new broadcast deal with ESPN.
The three-year deal is understood to be worth about $15 million a season, with every NBL game during that period broadcast live on ESPN.
All but two games each round will be exclusive to the network, with the NBL hopeful of announcing a free-to-air broadcast partner in the near future.
Games two and three of each semi-final series, as well as game three onwards in the grand final series, will be exclusive to ESPN.
The NBL has also struck agreements with the Foxtel Group and News Corp to expand coverage of the competition.
“This is the biggest deal in the history of the NBL,” league owner Larry Kestelman said.
“It is a big win for basketball fans and will result in a huge uplift in the coverage and exposure of our competition across a variety of major media networks and digital platforms.
“On behalf of the clubs, we sought, identified and secured true media partners who we felt would really invest in the league, and align with our ambition to take the coverage of our game, in Australia and New Zealand, to the next level.”
ESPN’s buy-in comes on the back of a period of growth for the resurgent NBL under Kestelman’s ownership.
The successful Next Stars program – which has helped launch the NBA careers of LaMelo Ball and soon-to-be-drafted Josh Giddey – has sparked interest overseas and cemented the NBL as one of the world’s premier development leagues.
Boomers star Matthew Dellavedova has signed with reigning champions Melbourne United and the league is expanding to 10 teams with the introduction of the Tasmania JackJumpers franchise.
AAP
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