BBL extends with main partner Deutsche Telekom

German telco Deutsche Telekom has agreed a five-season extension to its role as the main rights partner of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), the top division of the sport in Germany.

The deal announced today (Tuesday) includes all games of the BBL up to and including the 2022-23 season.

In June 2014, Deutsche Telekom signed a four-year deal with the league for both national and international rights, commencing from the 2014-15 season and running through the 2017-18 campaign.

BBL fans will be able to watch live matches, on-demand games and highlights via the Telekom Sport platform. In addition, Telekom Sport will broadcast the AllStar Day and the BBL-Pokal cup competition, which will be held in a new format from 2018-19. 

The company also gains extensive communications and marketing rights through the deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed.

In addition, Deutsche Telekom will also hold the sublicensing rights for the next five seasons. In the future, games of the main round and up to 13 playoff games can continue to be broadcast on free-to-air television. A free-to-air highlights package will also be marketed.

Stefan Holz, managing director of the BBL, said: “With this proven mix, flanked by further content and marketing measures, we should be able to inspire even more people (to follow) the league and of course Telekom Sport.”