Australian commercial broadcaster Ten Network is in talks to renegotiate a rights deal for the National Basketball League, the sport’s top division in Australia.
Ten struck a three-year deal for the league’s rights, from 2012-13 to 2014-15, in April 2012. However, the contract was signed with the Basketball Australia governing body, which agreed earlier this month to hand over management of the league to a new organisation established by the clubs and led by Scott Stavretis, chief executive at telecommunications company Eftel.
Stavretis told the Advertiser newspaper that the new NBL administration had already “had conversations” with Ten, and he said he was confident of a satisfactory conclusion.
Kristina Keneally, the chief executive of Basketball Australia, which is de-merging from the league, said: “We are doing everything we can to support the de-merger going ahead and for the new league securing free-to-air television. We can't take imprudent risks but we remain hopeful the new NBL is able to work with our broadcast partners Ten, or, if they choose, some other broadcast partner.”