BBL SIGN MEDIA DEAL, OFFER GAME STREAMING

The British Basketball League has confirmed all its games will be streamed online this season after agreeing a media rights deal with Perform.

The six-year deal will see each match available, with commentary, on a number of betting sites in tandem with additional data while the majority of contests will be shown via livebasketball.tv, the subscription service owned by FIBA but overseen by Perform.

It is understood it will also see highlight packages of games made available via league and team websites within 24 hours although one source told MVP that clubs will not initially derive additional revenue from the move.

The contract complements the recent agreement the BBL has reached with the BBC for 23 British Basketball League and nine Women’s British Basketball League games to be shown live on the BBC Sport website and all six BBL/WBBL finals to be shown live on the BBC red button.

Perform recently signed a new rights deal with FIBA after Euroleague withdrew from their long-standing partnership last year. And BBL chiefs are hoping the extra exposure – which does not preclude Perform from re-selling some rights to traditional broadcasters – will boost the league.

“This partnership with Perform Group is an absolute game changer for the BBL and the sport of basketball in the UK,” stated BBL Commercial Director, Bob Hope.

“It represents a massive investment in the sport, and it will allow games in the BBL to be streamed to a worldwide audience.

“We are particularly delighted to be able to deliver top BBL club action via a well-established partner like Perform.

“We are confident that both our existing basketball fans, and many new fans, will appreciate this new accessibility to the great, action-packed sport that is BBL basketball.”