The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership with digital sports content and media group Perform that is set to be worth a guaranteed sum of close to €500m ($541.1m).
For the period of four Basketball World Cup cycles spanning 2017 to 2033, Perform will be Fiba’s worldwide partner for the distribution and sale of all media-related rights, with respect to men’s and women’s national team competitions.
The partnership will cover more than 5,000 live games including qualifiers and major championships – such as the Basketball World Cup and EuroBasket – over the term of the agreement, with more than 1,500 live games in the first cycle spanning 2017 to 2021.
The partnership will result in the creation of Fiba Media, a joint venture between the two organisations, committed to increasing the value of the basketball fan experience. Fiba Media will also seek to deliver maximum exposure, on multiple platforms, providing fans with unprecedented access to content.
Perform will guarantee and invest close to €500m in the strategic partnership, enhance live production, broadcast services and data and editorial distribution through the dedicated Fiba Media unit, along with providing basketball’s global governing body with its industry expertise and experience.
Fiba will have an active role in respect of all major strategic and commercial activities of Fiba Media, and will share in any future revenue growth beyond the guaranteed amount. Perform will package and distribute all live Fiba content to broadcasters and digital platforms. Committed to promoting live international basketball across its leading consumer portals, such as Sporting News, Perform will also collect and distribute live data via its RunningBall and Opta brands.
Fiba secretary general Patrick Baumann said: “This strategic and innovative partnership marks a new era for Fiba. It allows us to combine the strength and benefits of our successful commercial subsidiary – Fiba Media & Marketing Services SA – with the extensive global resources of Perform. This partnership will support Fiba’s objective of making basketball the most popular sports community in every part of the world, by delivering great action of our sport across the available media offerings."
Perform chief executive Simon Denyer added: “Basketball has long been a major focus for Perform and Fiba is a fantastic partner that continues to evolve the game globally. Fiba and Perform’s strategies are perfectly aligned. We want to grow its properties through investment in production, sales and distribution to ensure fans around the world have access to the full portfolio of Fiba games on all platforms.”