US sports broadcaster ESPN has added to its live programming during Covid-19 by agreeing a rights deal with New Zealand’s National Basketball League.
The agreement will grant the NBL its first complete live coverage in the US, with streaming service ESPN3 to show all 56 games from the reformatted 2020 season, which commences today (Tuesday).
Viewers outside of the US and New Zealand can watch all games on the league’s recently-launched direct-to-consumer global streaming service.
Profits from the new service known as LeaguePass.co.nz, will be split between the league, the clubs, and the players.
NBL coverage in the US comes with the domestic NBA season still suspended due to Covid-19. The National Basketball Association’s Board of Governors this month made their biggest step yet toward resuming their 2019-20 season, voting overwhelmingly on a 22-team return-to-play centred in Orlando, Florida, and slated to start on July 31.