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The Roar

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NBL inks deal with Fox Sports, all games to be shown live

The Townsville Crocodiles take on the Cairns Taipans, with only pride on the line. (Image: AAP)
3rd September, 2015
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National Basketball League boss Larry Kestelman says he doesn’t do fail and has continued his regeneration of the tired competition with a TV deal guaranteeing live coverage of every game this season.

The deal is for five years and will be reviewed at the end of the 2015-16 season, though on Thursday both parties sounded committed to it running its full course.

The NBL has scheduled games every night from Wednesday to Sunday during the regular season starting in October, with the matches also broadcast in high definition on Fox Sports.

NBL executive director Kestelman said the deal would ultimately lead to a more professional league with a mix of quality local and imported talent playing at sold out venues.

“It’s all about just growing the game and making it more professional and making it more sexy,” Kestelman said.

He wasn’t concerned the blanket coverage would have an adverse affect on live attendance.

“I actually think it will promote the game promote the standard,” Kestelman said.

“People who didn’t know about the game will actually show up and watch it now.”

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With just under a month of his 100-day plan to go, Kestelman felt the NBL was on schedule to deliver the overhaul he had envisaged by the end of that period.

“Everything is on the way to completely rejuvenate what maybe was a little tired product and needed a facelift,” Kestelman said.

He was confident the NBL would soon secure a naming rights sponsor and a free-to-air television deal.

“Free-to-air is a harder proposition (than pay TV) with schedules already being set, but we are well down the track in discussions with a couple of parties and I’m confident we’ll get an outcome,” Kestelman said.

“We have a number of companies that we’re currently engaged with and talking about naming rights.

“Naming rights won’t be a problem.”

Although no financial details of the pay TV contract have been released, Kestelman was adamant the NBL wasn’t having to pay for all of the extensive coverage.

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“It’s definitely not the case that we’ve had to foot the bill for the full production. This is a partnership,” Kestelman said.

Sydney Kings and former NBA star Josh Childress described the deal as massive for the competition.

“It really underpins the entire league,” said Childress, who had his first training session of the pre-season on Thursday.

“It gives the fans comfort and confidence, it gives sponsors comfort and confidence and it’s the foundation that’s needed to grow.”

He said the greater visibility afforded by the five nights a week coverage would benefit players like himself trying to develop their own individual brand.

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