ESPN, NBA Dunk Mulityear Pact In UK

Contract Provides For Up To 100 Games Annually, Ancillary Fare

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 9/30/2009 7:06:00 AM

ESPN and the NBA have reached a multiyear agreement to add close to 100 live pro basket ball games to the programmer's roster in the UK and Ireland.
In addition to the live games, ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN Classic will air the studio show NBA Fastbreak, the original series NBA Action and classic pro hoops contests.
Deal terms were not disclosed.
ESPN will tip off its NBA coverage on Oct. 6, live from The O2 arena in London, where the Utah Jazz will take on the Chicago Bulls as part of NBA Europe Live 2009, presented by EA Sports In addition to the game in London, viewers will see the second NBA Europe Live game when the Jazz take on Real Madrid on Oct. 8.
ESPN's full NBA games package will present three games weekly including a Sunday priimetime contests, the All-Star Game, playoffs and The Finals in both standard- and high-definition formats.
ESPN is available on Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision, Top Up TV, Tiscali, a well as UPC in Ireland.
"We are thrilled to be expanding our global relationship with ESPN and bringing fans increased coverage of the NBA," said Sophie Goldschmidt, NBA EMEA managing director, in a statement. "Through ESPN's multiple channels, NBA games and highlights will now be available to a broader audience in the UK and Ireland."
Noted Jeroen Oerlemans, ESPN vice president, TV channels Europe, Middle East and Africa: "The NBA is one of the world's top sports properties, with some of the greatest athletes on the planet. This agreement allows us to deliver all of the action and excitement of the NBA to sports fans in the UK and Ireland. ESPN continues to build a fantastic offering of local and international sport. "