Foxsports back on board with NBL

High Ryder

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Thread starter #1
Fox Sports backs basketball
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 8:55 AM
NBL



The National Basketball League’s extensive association with Australia’s leading sports broadcaster FOX SPORTS is set to continue, with a new commercial agreement having being struck between the long-term partners for the 2008/09 NBL season.
The new one-year deal will ensure that the NBL will continue to have a strong television presence in Australia through FOX SPORTS, extending a relationship that first began almost 15 years ago.
Scott Derwin, the interim Chief Executive Officer of the recently merged bodies of Basketball Australia and the NBL, said the deal showed the great faith FOX SPORTS have in basketball as premium sports programming.
“FOX SPORTS have been a great supporter of basketball for many years now and this extension of our relationship demonstrates their belief in the potential of basketball,” said Derwin. “Given the fact that we are currently undergoing a major review of our entire sport that is expected to see the face of the NBL change considerably in season 2009/10, this is a vote of confidence by FOX SPORTS in the future of our sport.
“We have entered into a one-year deal, which is by mutual agreement given the blueprint for the ‘new NBL’ in season 2009/10 and beyond remains to be finalised as part of the review,” Derwin added. “Both FOX SPORTS and the League see this agreement as a stepping stone to a longer-term deal and we are grateful for FOX SPORTS’ continued support of basketball while we undertake the major restructure of the NBL.”
FOX SPORTS Chief Executive Officer David Malone said the NBL had proven to be a valuable property for the network and was looking forward to what promises to be a thrilling 2008/09 season.
"The NBL is a popular programming choice with our subscribers and we see the basketball as an important part of our overall sports package,” said Malone. “Basketball as a sport has made the difficult choice of undergoing some short-term pain for the long-term benefit of the sport as part of their commercial review, and we’re excited about the future direction that has been mapped out. With a tighter 10-team competition this season, the NBL promises to be a thrilling spectacle in 2008/09 and we’re pleased to be the official broadcaster of the sport once again.”
The agreement will see FOX SPORTS cover at least one game a week live starting in October, as well as all games of the 2009 NBL Finals series.
As per standard NBL policy, specific financial details of the commercial agreement cannot be disclosed.
 

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Osmodiar

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#4
Very good to see fox sports back the basketball. I think the only way to lift basketball again though is to pump some NBL and NBA games (or even an NBA segment) on free to air once a weekend. Nonetheless at least there is some exposure out there and NBL hasn't been forgotten.
 

celtic_pride

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#5
Very good to see fox sports back the basketball. I think the only way to lift basketball again though is to pump some NBL and NBA games (or even an NBA segment) on free to air once a weekend. Nonetheless at least there is some exposure out there and NBL hasn't been forgotten.
To be honest, I doubt any network would bring in the NBA, however it would be good to have it on a HD channel (like C10 are this season with the NFL)
 

bus24

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#6
Excellent. :) :thumbsu:

For someone who has a team based thousands of kms away, it's great to have. (Even if our games are rarely covered).
 

Alex99

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#7
Every FTA network in Australia would love to show NBA basketball but the cost of buying the broadcasting rights is huge. I don’t know the exact figure but it’s astronomical in how much they ask. We get it on ESPN because they can spread the cost all over Asia.

It’s the same reason why SBS struggle to show the EPL – we all know they want to, they just cannot justify the cost.

It good news that Fox have stuck with basketball but the season will start in September however games on Fox will not start until October and they will only show one game ‘live’ per week. Hopefully after the review has been implemented and a new strategy is in place, the NBL and Fox can negotiate a better broadcasting agreement that will be an improvement on this one year deal.
 

LondonCalling

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#8
If anyone could give me a hand that hasn't currently, could they please fill out this survey regarding their opinions on basketball in Australia.

This is for a research project I'm doing as a research student at RMIT University, and not for profit.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=UPQHcVYCjxrd7I1xHbqQLA_3d_3d

Thanks guys,

LC
 
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