It has been confirmed that Channel Nine will broadcast the Sunday Afternoon game throughout the NBL season kicking off this weekend with the Illawarra Hawks vs Melbourne United game.
On weekends when there is no Sunday afternoon game, seven of them in total, Nine will select the best game from the round to replay.
The Nine Network will also broadcast the NBL finals series.
A majority of broadcasts will be through Nine’s HD channel GEM, however they could be moved to GO! or Nine itself if a scheduling clash arises.
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The incredible transformation of the National Basketball League (NBL) continues to gain pace in the lead up to the season opener with the announcement on Monday of a new deal that will get the sport onto free-to-air with the Nine Network.
While details of the new deal are yet to be confirmed, it is widely tipped that the Nine Network have secured the rights to broadcast one game per round for the 2015/16 NBL season, as was the provision left by the NBL in the previous deal signed with Fox Sports.
That deal with Fox Sports is putting every game throughout the season live (and in HD) on televisions across Australia, something that has never been achieved before by the NBL.
To those who weren’t at the season launch, it was announced via the NBL’s social networks.
Suggestions floating around by those in the know seem to be leaning towards the Nine Network televising there one game a week in the Sunday afternoon time slot. However, this also is being questioned as the Sunday afternoon time slot is only being utilised by the NBL for 12 out of 19 rounds.
The transformation of the NBL has been incredible. Just a couple of months ago both the Townsville Crocodiles and Wollongong (now Illawarra) Hawks were in voluntary administration and it was looking questionable that the league was ever going to get off the ground. For the league to now have multiple sponsors, every game live for the first time ever and a free to air TV deal is simply outstanding and unprecedented.
As The Roar‘s Michael DiFabrizio wrote today: ‘This is the season to start following the NBL.’
More details to come when they are available
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Peter O'Shea
Guest
The fact that having every game on Fox Sports is great, I don't quite agree with the choice of commentary team. Channel 10 made the same mistake with their BBL coverage.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fox Sports commentary teams have been announced!
Sir Tony Abbott - Ambassador to Russia
Guest
Good news for hoops fans. Looks like basketball is finally beginning to turn the corner. Too many people play and enjoy the sport for this not to happen. Also, it has gone under the radar a bit that basketball World Cup qualifiers will be setup like the soccer world cup qualifiers so that more meaningful fixtures can be played in Australia.
Armchair analyst
Guest
this deal is good. however if the only fta game is not live into all markets which was the problem in last deal then there will be significant complaints. the provision was to have 1 live game on fta per week.
emurray
Guest
I often wonder why niche sports like basketball or even a league and super rugby don't go for a local free to air model - as in Sydney gets kings game every week, Wollongong gets hawks game etc. and if you want to see every game you get fox -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Ozzie Bob
Guest
Great news for the NBL! Great to see the sport get some positive publicity!
Connor Bennett
Editor
Although still in the early stages it has really been an outstanding turn around for the NBL over the past 6 months. I'm sure basketball in Australia will only benefit from such progress