SBS to air Boomers vs Team USA exhibition games in landmark Australian basketball broadcast deal

Benyam Kidane

SBS to air Boomers vs Team USA exhibition games in landmark Australian basketball broadcast deal image

Australian basketball fans will be able to watch the Boomers' two exhibition games against Team USA on free-to-air television, following the announcement of a landmark broadcast deal.

All seven pre-FIBA World Cup international games featuring Australia, Team USA, Canada and New Zealand will be exclusively available to watch on SBS VICELAND and can be streamed live and free via SBS On Demand.

The deal comes as part of the National Basketball League's (NBL) two-year agreement with SBS and ESPN, which will bring prime time basketball into living rooms around the country, with ESPN set to air 59 games including all games after 7:30pm, while SBS VICELAND will broadcast 67 games live, free and in HD, with most airing at 5.30pm on Saturday and at 3:00pm and 5:00pm on Sunday.

“This broadcast agreement is a huge leap forward in the coverage of the NBL and basketball across Australia," NBL owner and executive chairman Larry Kestelman said.

“ESPN and SBS will now become the destination of basketball in Australia as basketball continues to surge in popularity.

“Next month’s International series will give the NBL a huge springboard into what promises the biggest season ever as Melbourne United and our newest team South East Melbourne Phoenix face off in the first ever Throwdown at Melbourne Arena on October 3 on ESPN."

International Basketball Series Schedule
DateGameArena
August 16Australian Boomers vs. Canada BasketballRAC Arena, Perth, Australia
August 17Australian Boomers vs. Canada BasketballRAC Arena, Perth, Australia
August 20Canada Basketball vs. New Zealand Tall BlacksQuaycentre, Sydney, Australia
August 21Canada Basketball vs. New Zealand Tall BlacksQuaycentre, Sydney, Australia
August 22USA Basketball vs. Australian BoomersMarvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
August 24USA Basketball vs. Australian BoomersMarvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
August 26USA Basketball vs. Canada BasketballQudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
 

Benyam Kidane

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor and has been covering the league for The Sporting News since 2016. In his spare time you can find him watching Allen Iverson highlights on repeat.