The NBA announced today a new three-year television agreement with Canal+ Group in France, providing its growing French fan base with an unprecedented amount of NBA coverage through the 2005-2006 NBA season. For the first time ever, NBA TV will be available to fans on the CanalSatellite platform.

With the addition of NBA TV, CanalSatellite subscribers will have unprecedented access to the NBA, with one live NBA game per day, as well as daily highlights, ‘all access’ event programming, original and classic programming, and much more. During the 2003-04 NBA season, NBA TV will be made available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on the basic tier of the CanalSatellite platform.

Through the agreement, Canal+, whose relationship with the NBA dates back to the 1986-87 season, will continue to broadcast one live NBA game each Friday night throughout the season as well as incorporate an edited version of an NBA game to their new sport magazine program ‘C du Sport.’ Additionally, Sport +, the dedicated sports channel, will air weekly NBA and WNBA games every week and the weekly basketball magazine program ‘NBA Action.’

‘Since the channel’s early days, French basketball fans have always felt at home with Canal+, and surely Tony Parker was one of the most prominent fans,’ said Michel Denisot, Executive Vice President in charge of Sports, Canal+ Group. ‘I am proud to say that Canal+ contributed significantly to the NBA’s growing popularity in France. I am very happy to bring our long-standing relationship with the NBA to a new level today with an unprecedented offer to our subscribers of Canal+, Sport+ and
CanalSatellite.’

‘We are pleased to expand upon and continue our 18-year partnership with Canal+,’ said Heidi Ueberroth, Executive Vice President of Global Media Properties and Marketing Partnerships for the NBA. ‘With the addition of NBA TV to Canal+, NBA fans in France will have more access to NBA programming than ever before.’

Leading into the 2003-04 NBA season, NBA teams are expected to feature more than 80 international players on their rosters, including Tony Parker of the 2003 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. The 6-2 point guard averaged 15.5 ppg and 5.3 apg during the 2002-03 NBA season and played a decisive role in clinching the championship for his team during the 2003 NBA Finals.

For further information:
Casey Cotton (NBA)
+1 212 407 8805
email: ccotton@nba.com