ESPN Nets NBA Live Rights Deal
ESPN has added to its burgeoning portfolio of live sports rights after striking a multi-year deal with the NBA to add close to 100 live NBA games to ESPN in the UK and Ireland.
In addition to the live games, ESPN networks will air the studio show NBA Fastbreak, the original series NBA Action and all-time great NBA games.
ESPN will tip off its NBA coverage on 6th October, live from The O2 Arena in London, where the Utah Jazz will take on the Chicago Bulls as part of NBA Europe Live 2009 presented by EA SPORTS.
In addition to the game in London, viewers will see the second NBA Europe Live game when the Utah Jazz take on Euroleague Basketball’s Real Madrid on 8th October in Madrid.
ESPN’s full NBA games package has up to three games a week, including a weekly game on Sunday in primetime, the NBA All-Star Game, the Playoffs and The Finals in standard and high definition.
The ESPN produced studio show, NBA Fastbreak, will air on both ESPN and ESPN America.
NBA Action – the original series that gives an inside look at gameday preparation of the league’s star athletes – will also be aired on ESPN as part of the deal.
ESPN is available on Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision, Top Up TV, Tiscali and UPC (in Ireland) after striking a number of carriage deals.
The new UK channel also owns live rights to English Premier League and Scottish Premier League games as well as coverage of this season’s Europa League.
