Sky Sports inks landmark NBA deal

A new agreement for live games throughout the current season will commence with the NBA’s third regular season game in the UK. The contest – featuring the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons – is due to take place at London’s O2 Arena on 17 January.

The sold-out event will be the first NBA game played in the UK to be shown live in Sky Sports 1 HD and 3D, and will also be available live on mobile, online and tablet devices via Sky Go.

NBA coverage on Sky Sports will continue with live Sunday night games for the rest of the regular season, including double-headers most weekends, followed by live NBA Playoff games, the entire Eastern Conference Finals, and every game of the NBA Finals in June.

The agreement strengthens an already extensive Sky Sports schedule for 2013, which also includes the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, two Ashes series, Barclays Premier League and UEFA Champions League football, Heineken Cup rugby, the Solheim Cup and every race of the Formula 1 calendar.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, comments: “This agreement provides even more live content for our customers to watch at home or on the move. The NBA has a strong fan base in the UK and the sold-out game at the O2 promises to be a great sporting spectacle. We follow NBA London Live 2013 with primetime Sunday night games for the remainder of the regular-season and the drama of the post-season including every game of the NBA Finals.”

Dan Markham, NBA vice president of media distribution and emerging markets, adds: “We are thrilled to partner with Sky Sports and make extensive NBA coverage – including Sunday double-headers in primetime – accessible to fans on television and across a range of devices. We look forward to bringing more exciting moments from the NBA season to fans in the UK on Sky Sports.”