SKY FALLS IN FOR BBL TV COVERAGE

The British Basketball League will be broadcast on British Eurosport this season after chiefs failed to agree a new deal with Sky Sports.

It will see the BBL receive only a one-hour weekly highlights programme, featuring just one game. with no current plans for live coverage.

The league had also held talks with BT Sport after venting their ire at Sky’s late decision to pull last season’s showpiece play-off final off one of their main channels at the last minute.

However the new deal will be seen by most as a major step back with Eurosport attracting a fraction of Sky’s reach.

The BBL is also showing a number of live games via an online platform this season but had made its target as a regular live slot on Sky Sports, where its previous arrangement saw teams co-fund a two-hour programme which saw game shown on a delayed basis.

Eurosport’s coverage will solely be a condensed version of the online broadcast, leaving clubs with a potentially minimal cost towards production.

“Moving to more regular scheduling throughout the season I’ve no doubt that we’ll be able to translate a surge of interest in the sport, reflected in our participation numbers, into a passionate following for the new weekly show,” BBL’s Commercial Director David Leyden Dunbar said.

“Accessibility also played a major role in the decision-making process and with British Eurosport available on both Sky, Virgin and BT’s new platform we’re confident that we can build our audience through the season.”