More than 200 NBA G League games each season will be coming to the ESPN+ streaming platform as part of a multi-year deal announced on Nov. 5. The deal started Tuesday when the Westchester Knicks defeated the Delaware Blue Coats in the G League season opener.
ESPN+ will broadcast multiple G League games per day every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the 2019 season. The agreement will also expand G league coverage across ESPN’s linear television networks, with scheduling details expected to be announced in the coming weeks according to an ESPN press release.
“From Greensboro to Stockton, Erie to Austin, there are basketball fans all over the country. This agreement illustrates the promise and capability of ESPN+ to super serve fans,” said Russell Wolff, Executive VP and GM of ESPN+, in the press release. “We’re excited to showcase some of the developing NBA talent and bring more great basketball events to ESPN+ subscribers.”
A subscription to ESPN+ costs $4.99 per month. Additional basketball coverage already offered by ESPN+ includes the live streaming of thousands of college basketball games and hundreds of games from FIBA competitions. In September, ESPN+ also announced the addition of a sports business show featuring NBA All-Star Kevin Durant.
SportTechie Takeaway
ESPN+ surpassed one million paid subscribers just five months after the direct-to-consumer media app was released in April. The platform offers a diverse range of original programming and has secured broadcast rights to mostly niche sports leagues. While the average sports fan may not watch games from the developmental league, diehard followers of basketball will see value in this added coverage.
