Channel Nine To Offer Weekly Free-To-Air NBL Game Under New TV Deal

Australia's National Basketball League and Channel Nine have signed a multi-year TV deal that will net the league a "weekly Sunday afternoon game on free-to-air television," according to Roy Ward of THE AGE. NBL matches will be "mostly shown on Nine's digital HD channel GEM, but could be switched to Go or Nine if clashes arise" with its other sports such as cricket. The network will also screen five NBL finals matches, including the championship-clinching game, and provide the NBL with a "substantial promotional package across its various platforms." Nine will simulcast the feed from Fox Sports, starting with Melbourne United's first home game against Illawarra Hawks at Hisense Arena on Sunday at 3pm. The deal gives NBL Exec Dir Larry Kestelman "another win" since taking control of the league, which already has Fox Sports showing all matches live in HD and Sky Sports New Zealand showing all New Zealand Breakers games, "plus a selection of other matches" (THE AGE, 10/6).