The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced an expanded agreement with Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) Africa along with a multi-year extension deal.
Beginning with the 2022/23 season, the Disney-owned broadcaster will air a total of more than 180 regular season games per season, such as conference finals and finals.
Since 2019, ESPN Africa has been the NBA’s pay-TV broadcast associate for the continent, and with this extension, the channel will air all 45 matches live in primetime in Africa this season.
In addition, ESPN2 will broadcast the Christmas Day games, the NBA All-Star Game, the Play-In Tournament, the weekly magazine show ‘NBA Action,’ the NBA Draft, and the multi-game live look-in programme ‘NBA 360.’
Furthermore, the broadcaster will also give localised NBA content encompassing the tournament’s events in Africa, such as youth and elite basketball development programming.
Kyle De Klerk, Director of Sports Commercial and Business, The Walt Disney Company Africa, said, “As the home of American sports in Africa, ESPN is committed to showcasing the very best in premier sporting content through a uniquely diversified and exciting portfolio of sporting leagues to audiences across Africa.
“This extended broadcast agreement with NBA Africa expands on this promise, and the exhilarating new programming on offer will give fans across the continent even more opportunity to share in the passion and excellence of this renowned league.”
Kornelia Semmelink, Senior Director, Global Media Partnerships, NBA Africa, commented, “ESPN Africa airing a record number of NBA games and providing more locally-relevant content to our fans underscores the momentum for the NBA in Africa and will help us continue to grow the game across the continent.
“Through this expanded collaboration, we will make the excitement of the NBA more accessible to fans in Africa on the devices and platforms they use most, including in primetime.”