The US-based National Basketball Association (NBA) and entertainment and sports programming network ESPN Africa have announced a multi-year broadcast deal to provide expanded NBA coverage on the African continent.

Disney-owned ESPN Africa will feature original content covering NBA Africa events, including youth and elite basketball development programming, NBA player and legend appearances.

The programming network will broadcast all 45 games live in primetime in Africa, ESPN2 will broadcast 30 classic games each season and will air the NBA Christmas Day games, NBA All-Star, the Play-In Tournament, weekly magazine show NBA Action, the NBA Draft and multi-game live look-in programme NBA 360.

Audiences across Africa will also have access to new localised NBA programming.

Kyle De Klerk, The Walt Disney Company Africa’s director of sports, said: “As the home of American sports in Africa, ESPN is committed to showcasing the very best in premier sporting content through a uniquely diversified and exciting portfolio of sporting leagues to audiences across Africa.

“This extended broadcast agreement with NBA Africa expands on this promise, and the exhilarating new programming on offer will give fans across the continent even more opportunity to share in the passion and excellence of this renowned league.”

Kornelia Semmelink, NBA Africa senior director of global media partnerships, added: “ESPN Africa airing a record number of NBA games and providing more locally relevant content to our fans underscores the momentum for the NBA in Africa and will help us continue to grow the game across the continent.

“Through this expanded collaboration, we will make the excitement of the NBA more accessible to fans in Africa on the devices and platforms they use most, including in primetime.”

tagged in: ESPN Africa, Kyle De Klerk, National Basketball Association, NBA, NBA Africa, The Walt Disney Company Africa