TNT Sports has agreed a multi-year deal to broadcast the NBA in the UK and Ireland to show more than 250 live games.
The UK sports broadcaster, which rebranded from BT Sport to TNT Sports this summer, will exclusively broadcast nine games each week during the NBA regular season as well as games from the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, NBA Playoff games and the NBA Finals.
Amongst additional NBA programming, along with the NBA All-Star Weekend and the NBA Draft, throughout the 2023-24 season, TNT Sports will air more than 40 weekend games as part of its ‘NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays’ programming which will start as early as 6pm GMT.
Trojan Paillot, Vice President, Sports Rights Acquisitions and Syndication, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: “We are hugely excited to be embarking on this journey with the NBA in the UK and Ireland.
“Fans watching basketball on our platforms will have much to look forward to, and we’re privileged to be able to lean on the outstanding foundation of TNT’s broadcasting of the NBA in the United States for over 30 years.
“When TNT Sports launched in July, we reaffirmed that premium rights were a priority for us, and the NBA falls squarely into that category. To have the best players in the world, competing in one of the toughest and entertaining competitions in world sport, is extremely exciting as we further extend our proposition in the UK and Ireland.”
TNT’s coverage of the NBA commences 24 October (12:30am GMT) when defending NBA champions the Denver Nuggets face the Los Angeles Lakers. The same early morning will feature the second game of the broadcast, as the Golden State Warriors welcome the Phoenix Suns to Chase Centre on NBA opening week.
You game? 🏀
The NBA season starts on October 24 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 on TNT Sports and discovery+ 🙌@NBAUK | @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/YVdOrgpe3l
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) October 16, 2023
Complementing TNT Sports’ live game coverage will be a host of programming available across its platforms, including NBA highlight shows, original programming and classic games.
TNT Sports’ digital and social platforms will also provide fans with on-demand access to premium content throughout the season, including game recaps and highlights.
TNT Sports takes over Sky Sports as the home broadcaster of the NBA in the UK and Ireland after the latter held the broadcast rights to the league for several years.
NBA Europe and Middle East Vice President, Global Media Distribution, Elsa Memmi, added: “We are thrilled to build on our long-standing collaboration with TNT in the US to bring live NBA games and programming to our passionate fans in the UK and Ireland.
“With regular weekend games in primetime, extensive coverage of our marquee events, and original programming and highlights, fans now have a new home for the NBA.”
