In huge news this morning, SBS has confirmed a multiyear partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Yep, Aussie fans will be able to catch their favourite teams on free-to-air television!
Beginning with the 2019-20 NBA season, the Australian broadcaster will air two live, regular-season NBA games per week on its SBS VICELAND channel and on SBS On Demand. Viewers will also be able to stream games on-demand on SBS On Demand and additional NBA content will be available on SBS’s sports website.
“Premium international sports continue to be a focus of SBS’s offering and we are thrilled to partner with the NBA and the WNBA to bring live coverage back to Australians for free,” SBS Managing Director, James Taylor, says of the deal.
“The NBA and the WNBA are among the world’s most diverse leagues and basketball is an increasingly popular sport. Building on our recently announced deal with the NBL, these partnerships with the NBA and the WNBA make SBS the exclusive free-to-air home of basketball in Australia and are a great opportunity to bring new audiences, particularly younger viewers, to SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.”
Aussie NBA and WNBA fans will be able to watch their favourite teams on free-to-air TV.
Ramez Sheikh, NBA Asia Head of Global Content and Media Distribution, says the partnership with SBS reflects Australia’s “growing demand for basketball content.”
It’s no wonder we’re so keen to see more of the American league on our screens, with several Australians currently playing in the NBA and WNBA.
In the 2018-19 season there were 14 Australian players on NBA rosters, including Deng Adel, Aron Baynes, Andrew Bogut, Jonah Bolden, Ryan Broekhoff, Mitch Creek, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Isaac Humphries, Joe Ingles, Kyrie Irving, Thon Maker, Patty Mills and Ben Simmons.
Deng Adel played for the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this year, but has signed on with the Brooklyn Nets for the new season.
The 2019 WNBA season featured eight players from Australia on opening-night rosters, including Rebecca Allen, Liz Cambage, Kelsey Griffin, Ezi Magbegor, Leilani Mitchell, Alanna Smith, Steph Talbot and Sami Whitcomb.
Liz Cambage is one of Australia’s best WNBA stars.
We can’t wait for the start of the new season!
