FIBA agrees extended and expanded ESPN deal for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands – A significant deal between FIBA and ESPN has been renewed for a further four year period, with ESPN expanding its market coverage and reach by becoming the exclusive broadcast partner in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, building on its existing presence in Australia.
With ESPN also extending its status as the ‘Home for Hoops’ in Australia, the move will see FIBA’s valued broadcast partner continuing to play a prominent role in driving the exciting growth of basketball right across the region.
This includes live coverage of every game from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027. During the previous cycle in Australia, ESPN was heralded for its extensive coverage of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney, contributing to a record-breaking engagement and the most successful edition of the flagship tournament ever.
Fans will now be able to stream FIBA games live on Disney+ via the ESPN tile, making it easier than ever before to access FIBA action.
This is expected to have a significant positive impact in terms of deepening the reach of FIBA basketball, since Disney+ is available in millions of homes in Australia and New Zealand.
Games will also continue to be distributed via ESPN services and channels on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, and Fetch TV in Australia, with FIBA rights complementing other top-tier basketball properties such as domestic NBL competition, as well as NBA and WNBA.
Coverage will be available for access via Sky in New Zealand, while the deal brings international basketball to the Pacific Islands across the entire cycle for the first time. The territories have seen major growth both in terms of basketball participation and interest in the sport during recent years.
Frank Leenders, Director General of FIBA Media and Marketing Services, commented:
“It’s great to not only be continuing our existing partnership with a renowned global broadcaster like ESPN, but to have also secured market expansion.”This is excellent news for fans in the region who will benefit from increased opportunities to consume the kind of quality basketball content that ESPN delivers via a multitude of platforms.
“The appetite for the sport in the likes of the Pacific Islands is growing rapidly, and so expanding the reach of FIBA basketball into even more homes will play its part in fuelling the ever-growing global popularity of the sport.”
Meanwhile, Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand and Head of ESPN Asia-Pacific, said:
“We’re excited to continue our programming relationship with FIBA. This deal reinforces ESPN as ‘Home for Hoops’ and adds to our strong lineup of NBA, WNBA, NBL, WNBL and NCAA programming for Australian and New Zealand audiences.
“There’s some great international basketball ahead with the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 secured, so hoops fans can follow all the action on our ESPN network, including ESPN on Disney+, as the Australian Opals and Australian Boomers take on the world.”
About FIBA FIBA (fiba.basketball) – the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 212 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognized as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
For further information about FIBA, visit fiba.basketball and about.fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on Facebook, X, Instagram,LinkedIn and YouTube.
About ESPN ESPN is the world’s leading sports entertainment company and is renowned for delivering sports with personality and authority. In Australia and New Zealand, ESPN operates the ESPN and ESPN2 sports television networks, distributed on Disney+, Foxtel, Fetch, Kayo Sports and Sky platforms.
We deliver over 10,000 hours of live events and studio programming each year, with a major media rights portfolio. ESPN networks feature some of the most respected and recognizable sports anchors and reporters on the globe, with names like Scott Van Pelt, Stephen A. Smith, and Pat McAfee. If you love sports, or you want to reach people who love sports, there’s no better place than ESPN.
ESPN and ESPN2 is available via Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.
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FIBA agrees extended and expanded ESPN deal for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
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