NBL growth sees global footprint boom

The National Basketball League (NBL) is heading into the Hungry Jack's NBL27 season on the back of its biggest international broadcast footprint ever, with the competition set to reach hundreds of millions worldwide through a growing network of broadcast, streaming and digital partners spanning three continents.

Last season, 773 matches were showcased across the globe with an average of 110 games shown per broadcaster - a mark of deep, ongoing coverage commitments rather than one-off deals. That footprint now stretches even further, from Asia to North America and into Europe, carried through a mix of pay-TV, free-to-air, OTT and app-based platforms.

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In North America, a partnership with NBA TV delivers live coverage across the United States and Canada, reaching an estimated 33 to 37 million households, alongside worldwide video-on-demand distribution that extends the League's reach further still. NBA TV's ongoing commitment to broadcast the NBL is a further endorsement of the strong relationship between the leagues.

In Europe, ten territories including Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Ukraine now have NBL action through broadcasters such as Sportklub, Arena Sport and Maincast. The NBL has also welcomed a significant new addition to its European coverage in EuroLeague TV, extending NBL action into further territories across the continent including Greece, Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

In Asia, the League has unlocked key markets in China and Indonesia, with platforms including Leisu Sports, Penguin Sports and Douyin (the sister platform to TikTok), putting NBL content in front of an audience of close to 900 million. Indonesia's TVRI is bringing the NBL to fans free-to-air, drawing an estimated 500,000 viewers per match.

The NBL's digital footprint is proving just as powerful. Organic viewership on the NBL's YouTube channel generated close to 5.77 million views and more than one million watch hours last season. The Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam accounted for close to half of all viewership, a clear signal of the appetite for the NBL in territories the League is only just beginning to expand into.

"We thank all our international broadcast partners for the continued interest, faith and support they've shown," NBL Group Chief Media and Content Officer Heath O'Loughlin said.

"We are thrilled that the NBL will be seen in 35 countries this season, so millions more people can experience how good this League, and the players in it, really are.

"Growing our audience across Asia, North America and Europe is one of the things we're most proud of, and we're excited about how many more fans we can engage with and entertain this season."

That global growth is matched by an equally strong offering for fans at home, with the NBL confirming its full weekly programming schedule for NBL27:

NBL27 regular programming

Monday: NBL Overtime (ESPN, 9GO!, YouTube). The League's flagship panel show returns to unpack the biggest talking points from around the competition, with Felix Von Hofe, Peter Hooley, Damon Lowery and Derek Rucker.

Tuesday to Friday: NBL Now, presented by CODE Sports (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts). A daily check-in keeping fans across every development in the competition.

Wednesday: Dabble Preview and Ignite Cup Pre-Game (ESPN). Peter Hooley and Lanard Copeland map out the round's key matchups and storylines.

Saturday: Pre-game and post-game coverage (ESPN, Nine Network), bookending game day with build-up and immediate reaction.

Sunday: Moments That Mattered, presented by Mitsubishi (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts). Jack Heverin and Derek Rucker close out the round with the biggest moments and a look ahead.

The lineup gives fans, wherever they're watching, a complete picture of the competition from first tip-off to final buzzer.

Domestically, every game will be broadcast live on ESPN, with Disney+, Kayo Sports, and Sky Sport in New Zealand carrying the streaming coverage. Saturday night's will also air live and free on the Nine Network as part of the League's free to air offering.

>> How to watch NBL in Australia and New Zealand

Weekly shows are also available on NBL.com.au and the free NBL App, while fans in markets without a broadcast partner can continue to follow the season via the NBL's YouTube channel. The NBL Season tips off on Saturday 19th September, Play It Loud.

NBL27 International Broadcasters

Arena Sport - Croatia, Slovenia
https://tvarenasport.hr/

Douyin - China
https://www.douyin.com/

Euroleague TV - Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Italy, UK, USA, UAE, France, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Lithuania
https://euroleague.tv/home

Leisu Sports - China
https://www.leisu.com/

Maincast - Ukraine
https://maincast.tv/

NBA TV - USA, Canada
https://www.nba.com/watch/nba-tv

Penguin Sports / QIE.TV - China
https://www.qie.tv/

Sportklub - Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro
https://sportklub.com/

The Sports Channel - Israel
https://www.sport5.co.il/

TV Start - Russia
https://en.tvstart.ru/