Fox Sports secures FIBA broadcasting rights through to 2021
In a major coup for Australian basketball fans, Fox Sports Australia has secured the rights to broadcast every FIBA competition featuring the Opals and Boomers through to the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup.
The unprecedented deal includes the 2018 FIBA World Cup for women in 2018 and the 2019 edition for the men, including all qualifiers that commence in November as part of the new FIBA system of competition for both men and women.
Other competitions that will now screen exclusively via Fox Sports include the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, the FIBA Asia Cups for men and women, and the FIBA Continental Cups qualifiers.
Recently, Fox Sports broadcast the Opals debut FIBA Asian Cup campaign that saw them qualify for the 2018 FIBA World Cup for women, earning silver behind Japan. This week, Fox Sports will also televise live the Boomers attempt to win FIBA Asian Cup gold at their first attempt.
“We are thrilled to team up with Fox Sports in bringing the very best of national team basketball to fans right across Australia, said FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann.
"The close followers of the Boomers and Opals now know there is one place where they can watch and follow the games of their favorite players and teams."
The sentiment was shared by Fox Sports CEO Patrick Delany who referred to the growth of the sport throughout Australia and the alignment with their coverage of the NBL and now also the WNBL this coming season.
“Basketball in Australia is booming thanks to the success of Australia’s NBA stars, and our home-grown competitions, the NBL and WNBL, which will both be broadcast live on Fox Sports," said Delany.
“The Boomers and Opals are enjoying unprecedented success, and both teams are shaping up to be genuine medal contenders at the upcoming World Cups.
“The next couple of years are crucial for our national teams, as they prepare to take on the world’s best in a range of tournaments as part of FIBA’s new competition system, and Fox Sports will be the only place to follow their progress live.
“This deal reaffirms Fox Sports’ commitment to providing a platform for Australian athletes and exposure for one of Australia’s most popular sports.”
Fox Sports has certainly bought into Australian basketball. They first locked in the NBL, they are supporting the WNBL in its return to television screens this coming season, and now the Opals and Boomers will form part of their expanded basketball coverage.
To watch all the Australian basketball action on Fox Sports, Australian basketball fans will have to get access to pay television provider Foxtel. Through subscribing to the Sports Combo package for $55 per month, not only do you get access to Fox Sports which will be covering the NBL, WNBL and the Big 3, but you also get access to ESPN which provides extensive coverage of the NBA and WNBA and other various basketball events, and EuroSport, which broadcasts EuroLeague basketball.
With more Boomers and Opals games both home and away over the next four years, fans have a chance to watch every Boomers and Opals game live - something that has never before been possible.
Fox Sports FIBA Broadcasting Rights
2017 FIBA Asia Cup (Men & Women)
2017–2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers (Men only)
2018 FIBA World Cup for Women
2019 FIBA World Cup for Men FIBA Asia Cup for Women
2019–2021 FIBA Continental Cups Qualifiers (Men & Women)
2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Men & Women)
2021 FIBA Asia Cup (Men & Women)