NBL ventures into the Pacific with new rights deal

Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited, a body which delivers content to free-to-air broadcasters in a range of Pacific countries, has agreed a rights deal with the Australian National Basketball League club competition.

PCBL will broadcast NBL games through its Pasifika TV contribution feed, which currently delivers 56 hours of content per week to 23 Pacific free-to-air broadcasters across 11 countries.

The length of the agreement was not disclosed but the deal will at least cover the remainder of the 2016-17 NBL season, which got underway earlier this month.

“We have made no secret about our desire to ensure NBL can be seen by as many people as possible,” NBL general manager Jeremy Loeliger said. “To partner with Pasifika TV to showcase the NBL to fans across the Pacific is exciting and will hopefully enhance the growth of the sport in those nationals at the same time.”

The agreement further expands the NBL’s global reach, with the league having earlier this month signed rights deals with Indian digital media company Veqta and Chinese media companies Ali Sports and Sina Sports.