FIBA and ESPN sign Multi-Year Broadcast Deal

GENEVA, Switzerland (TV) – FIBA and ESPN today announced a multi-year, multi-platform (TV, internet and mobile) agreement, which includes the rights to more than 400 games across six tournaments from 2013-2015. The agreement covers the FIBA Americas Championships (2013, 2015), the EuroBaskets (2013, 2015), the FIBA Basketball World Cup (2014) and the FIBA World Championship for Women (2014).

“ESPN’s commitment to international basketball continues to intensify as the sport’s global popularity soars,” said Leah LaPlaca, vice-president, programming and acquisitions.

“This agreement expands our year-round basketball presence while serving the passionate and growing Spanish-speaking audience in the US.”

FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann said: “Following a great collaboration over the past three years, we are delighted to announce that ESPN have once again decided to partner with us and our events, including the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup which is set to be the biggest basketball event of all time.

“International basketball is as exciting as sport gets and it is great that the US audience can continue to follow our competitions thanks to a coverage that is second to none,” he added.

ESPN’s television rights will result in telecasts in both English and Spanish, extending throughout the United States and its territories, excluding Puerto Rico. Overall, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes will combine to televise every game. All Team USA and Gold Medal Games will air live on ESPN or ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes.

FIBA Americas Championship

• Flagship international basketball competition for the Americas;
• 10 teams, 40 games per championship;
• 2013 edition to be held in Venezuela in August, qualifies Americas teams for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup;
• 2015 edition qualifies teams from the Americas for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

EuroBasket

• Flagship International basketball competition for Europe;
• 24 teams, 90 games per championship;
• 2013 edition to be held in Slovenia in September, qualifies European teams for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup;
• 2015 edition to be held in the Ukraine, qualifies European teams for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

FIBA Basketball World Cup

• World’s premier international basketball competition;
• To be held in Spain in August-September 2014;
• 24 teams from all continents, 76 games in total;
• USA and Spain have already qualified.

FIBA World Championship for Women

• World’s premier women’s international basketball competition;
• To be held in Turkey in September 2014;
• 16 teams from all continents, 36 games in total;
• USA and Turkey have already qualified.

ESPN previously aired the FIBA Americas Championships and EuroBaskets in 2009 and 2011 and the FIBA World Championship in 2010.