ESPN, the major US sports broadcaster, has secured domestic rights to the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Under the agreement with FIBA, the international basketball federation, all 92 games from the tournament will be available on ESPN platforms, including the ESPN2 linear channel and ESPN+ streaming service.
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Six fixtures will air exclusively on ESPN2, including three in the first round featuring Team USA. All the other 86 games will be carried by ESPN+ while also being available on FIBA's official streaming service, Courtside 1891.
Additionally, all World Cup matches will also be available on the ESPN App.
The forthcoming men’s World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, will take place between August 25 and September 10.
FIBA will produce a dedicated US broadcast feed for the linear games on ESPN featuring specialist US commentators and US-dedicated content and analysis “to deliver a highly engaging broadcast experience for fans in the US.”
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By GlobalDataESPN also held rights to the 2019 World Cup in China as part of a five-year deal to show FIBA national team competitions.
The new deal represents an extension of the relationship between FIBA and ESPN, under which the broadcaster has shown regular major national team events since 2009.
Most recently, ESPN provided coverage of the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
Team USA will be seeking to win their sixth title at the 2023 event. The team, which last won the competition in 2014, will start their campaign in Manila, Philippines, when they take on New Zealand on August 26.
Ashley O'Connor, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions, said: "ESPN is excited to once again partner with FIBA and showcase this global event as well as all of the tremendous international talent.
"We're proud to serve basketball fans with live event coverage of the sport on a year-round basis."
Frank Leenders, FIBA media and marketing services' director general, added: "This is excellent news for basketball fans in the USA. We are excited to join hands again with ESPN with this partnership that will showcase all 92 games of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
“This will bring with it more new synergies that will make basketball more accessible and enjoyable for fans leading up to our biggest event that is to be co-hosted for the first time across three countries this August and September."
ESPN already holds World Cup rights in Australia through an exclusive four-year deal struck with FIBA last year.
Image: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
