NBA expands Indian broadcast deal

Indian sports and entertainment pay-television channel Sony Six has expanded its three-year broadcast deal with North American basketball league the NBA in an agreement that will more than quadruple the number of regular-season games aired in the country.

After showing 72 regular-season games and 18 play-off matches during the first year of the partnership last season, Sony Six will now show up to 14 live NBA contests each week in 2013-14.

The new agreement means fans in India will have access to more than 300 live regular-season games, which will air daily as part of the “NBA Mornings on Six” programme. The programme will feature live back-to-back NBA games every morning of the week.

This season’s coverage on Sony Six gets under way on October 30 with NBA champion Miami Heat taking on Chicago Bulls before Los Angeles Clippers face Los Angeles Lakers.

Sony Six will promote the daily six-hour offering via its channel network and media platforms, while a new basketball lifestyle show featuring local content will air weekly in primetime.

As well as the enhanced regular season package, Sony Six will continue to have access to the NBA All-Star game, playoffs, and the NBA Finals.

In November 2012, Sony Six agreed a three-year deal, from 2012-13 to 2014-15, for the exclusive rights to show NBA basketball in India.