bt sportBT has struck an “exclusive multiyear” deal to screen NBA games on TV and online to fans in the UK and Ireland.
Coverage starts on December 1st when the Indiana Pacers take on the LA Clippers at 8.30pm UK time on BT Sport 2 and the broadcaster says fans can look forward to regular primetime games.
Fans will also be able to access selected games streamed live and for free on the BT Sport website and BT Sport App (available on iOS and Google Play) along with either www.nba.com and NBA LEAGUE PASS International.
A BT spokesman confirmed that to view the online games viewers will need a BT.com login which can only be got by ordering the channels direct from BT. This means Virgin Media customers will be unable to access any streamed matches.
BT says full schedule details will be confirmed in due course but the deal see up to 200 games appearing across BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2 and ESPN throughout the season.
There will be up to seven live games per week throughout the regular season and the first and second rounds of the Playoffs, as well as every game of the Conference Finals, culminating in the NBA Finals in June.
BT Sport will also show Chicago Bulls take on the Brooklyn Nets on Christmas Day and The Nets’ sell-out face off against the Atlanta Hawks at The O2 in London on January 16.
In addition to game coverage, BT’s deal includes magazine shows, highlights programmes and other NBA-themed content.
Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “BT Sport will be the new home of the NBA in the UK and Ireland.
“The NBA is simply the best basketball in the world; it is fast moving, high scoring and includes some the world’s most recognisable global sporting icons. Existing NBA fans will love our coverage, and we look forward to converting many more.”
NBA’s Dan Markham said: “With BT Sports’ first rate presentation and formidable portfolio of premium sports content, fans can now look forward to more NBA action than ever before in the UK and Ireland, including selected free streamed games.
“Through its innovative multi-platform offering of live NBA games, highlights, magazine shows and unique behind-the-scenes programming, BT Sport is the ideal partner to serve as the official broadcaster of the NBA.”