Tag Archives: National Basketball Association

NBA, ESPN Africa agree broadcast deal

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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.

Kyle De Klerk

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.”

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Fremantle joins African basketball doc

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European production group Fremantle has teamed up with True Detective producer Richard Brown to produce an original documentary series about the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Tebogo Malope

Directed by South African director Tebogo Malope, the series will follow the stories of the players, coaches and teams from across Africa in the BAL, throwing a spotlight on the momentum and ambition behind the pan-African basketball league and the individuals who have worked to change the landscape of sports on the continent.

The BAL is a partnership between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America.

The series has been developed by Malope alongside executive producers Brown, Fisher Stevens (Tiger King), Anthony Scheinman, Christian Vesper and Akin Omotoso, who is currently directing The Greek Freak for Disney+ about basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Sports marketing company Infront and BAL will work alongside Fremantle, which will handle international sales, and Brown to produce the docuseries.

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