NBL finally gets TV deal

[Mark]

The NBL has finally secured television coverage for its upcoming season, although basketball fans may have to wait nearly a month into the competition to watch games live on Fox Sports.

With the struggling national competition to tip off on September 13, the NBL said on Thursday they had reached agreement on a one-year deal with the pay-TV broadcaster to cover at least one live game a week starting in October, as well as all games of the 2009 finals series.

Fox Sports has telecast NBL games for 15 years.

But with the league falling on hard times following the demise of three teams - the Sydney Kings, Brisbane Bullets and Singapore Slingers - and uncertainty around the continued involvement of naming rights sponsor Hummer, Fox and the NBL had taken some time to agree on a short-term deal to replace the five-year contract that expired at the end of last season.

The agreement, though, will no doubt come as great relief to the NBL after fears the league may struggle to keep the broadcaster.

And with the game's television future secured, both parties were confident the one-year extension would lead to a longer-term agreement with the NBL set to undergo a major revamp for the 2009-10 season.

"We have entered into a one-year deal, which is by mutual agreement given the blueprint for the new NBL in season 2009-10 and beyond remains to be finalised," said Scott Derwin, the interim chief executive officer of the recently merged bodies of Basketball Australia and the NBL.

"Both Fox Sports and the league see this agreement as a stepping stone to a longer-term deal and we are grateful for Fox Sports continued support of basketball while we undertake the major restructure of the NBL.

"Given the fact that we are currently undergoing a major review of our entire sport that is expected to see the face of the NBL change considerably in season 2009-10, this is a vote of confidence by Fox Sports in the future of our sport."

Ninemsn

[mattwinter]

Funny that we hear this on the same day as the rumors that netball will be going to Ten. Surely NBL would rate just as well if not better, Fox sports may end up regretting signing a one-year deal if Ten were to also come in and pick up the NBL next season.

[djpower]

Originally Posted by mattwinter

Funny that we hear this on the same day as the rumors that netball will be going to Ten. Surely NBL would rate just as well if not better, Fox sports may end up regretting signing a one-year deal if Ten were to also come in and pick up the NBL next season.

I would of thought that the ARC would of rated higher than both Netball and basketball but look what happened to that it was on the ABC for one year before they pulled the plug. Maybe if rugby waited a couple of more years until the commerical channels where aloud to mulichannel 10 would of picked that up also be interesting to see what 10 coverage of game not including a Aussie team are like with the netball

[mattwinter]

Originally Posted by djpower

I would of thought that the ARC would of rated higher than both Netball and basketball but look what happened to that it was on the ABC for one year before they pulled the plug. Maybe if rugby waited a couple of more years until the commerical channels where aloud to mulichannel 10 would of picked that up also be interesting to see what 10 coverage of game not including a Aussie team are like with the netball

I think the ARC failed because of the crowds, not the TV ratings...

[Hosko]

Originally Posted by mattwinter

Surely NBL would rate just as well if not better, Fox sports may end up regretting signing a one-year deal if Ten were to also come in and pick up the NBL next season.

The ANZ Championship netball rates much higher then the NBL.

[Waltman_fan_82]

Originally Posted by Hosko

The ANZ Championship netball rates much higher then the NBL.

well its a bit hard to follow teams ,you never know when your team will get kicked out

im sure if nbl started over like netball it would easily get higher ratings