Nine became a broadcast partner with the National Basketball League, "allowing the free-to-air broadcaster to put two games a week on secondary channel 9GO! from October," according to Jennifer Duke of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The three-year deal "is funded through a revenue-sharing agreement that positions Nine as the marketing arm" for basketball to commercialize broadcasting and sponsorship, rather than the typical model of the TV network "paying a rights fee and production costs." Nine Dir of Partnerships Ian Paterson said that the model "was similar to Nine's five-year deal" with netball that started in early '16. Under that partnership, Nine "helps obtain sponsorship and advertising for on-court signage and bibs, and advertising spots sold during the games," and shares those funds with Netball Australia (SMH, 8/17). In Sydney, Roy Ward reported Nine will reportedly "promote the league across its channels, something which could prove a big boost," while the NBL will continue to handle game production. Nine will also simulcast its live games on the 9Now online service and "has secured the digital catch-up rights to show replays of all NBL games" throughout the season, "regardless of what network they are broadcast on." The league has not finalized what it will do with its NBL TV app, which showed all games live and on replay for a monthly subscription fee last season. Former NBA player Andrew Bogut’s decision to sign with the Sydney Kings "has already boosted the NBL's exposure." Nine’s first broadcast game could be Bogut’s debut in Sydney against the Adelaide 36ers on Oct. 13, "although the schedule has yet to be revealed" (SMH, 8/17). In Sydney, Eli Greenblat reported for the NBL and Owner Larry Kestelman, "it comes as the basketball league enjoys a strong renaissance after years of upheaval" that included clubs going bankrupt and crowd numbers dwindling. Kestelman, "who made his fortune in property and co-founded the Dodo internet and phone business," paid A$7M ($5.1M) three years ago to take control of the NBL. He said that the league had "been on a journey for three years" to now have almost sellout crowds (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/17).
