The National Basketball Association (NBA) has secured continued coverage in the Netherlands via a broadcasting partnership with ESPN, with the latter replacing fromer media rights holder Ziggo.
As a result of the agreement, ESPN will cover over 200 live NBA games each season, starting with the forthcoming 2021/22 campaign – the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season, kicking off on 19 October.
ESPN and the NBA have been collaborating outside of the Netherlands for nearly 20 years, both in the league’s home market of the US and internationally.
Furthermore, the latest enhancement will see ESPN secure the media rights to Christmas Day games, NBA All-Star Games, the Playoffs, Conference Finals and the Final, as well as additional studio programming.
Adam Cox, NBA Senior Director, Senior Director, Global Media Distribution, remarked: “We’re excited to build on our longtime relationship with ESPN by providing fans in the Netherlands with more live NBA games and coverage than ever before.
“With regular weekend games in primetime and the league’s most iconic moments throughout the season, there has never been a better time to be an NBA fan in the Netherlands.”
For ESPN, the agreement represents a strengthening of its international coverage across various markets and across a range of different sports, including a LatAm focused partnership with Germany’s Bundesliga and a $1.4 billion US-facing contract with Spain’s LaLiga.
“I’m incredibly proud to add one of the world’s most spectacular and prestigious leagues to our live sports roster,” said Rob Labree, Director Programming & Production at ESPN in the Netherlands.
“The NBA needs no introduction, with all its talent, icons and illustrious teams. The NBA will feature prominently in ESPN’s programming in the upcoming season, with many live games and popular shows like ‘NBA Countdown’ and ‘NBA Today.’”
