ESPN has signed a new media rights deal with the NBA and WNBA that will cover the 2025-26 season through the 2035-36 season. This agreement cements ESPN as the primary NBA rights holder in Australia and New Zealand. They will exclusively broadcast approximately 240 regular season NBA games, an enhanced package for the First and Second Round of the NBA Playoffs, all NBA Conference Finals, and NBA Finals games.
For the WNBA, ESPN will provide coverage of the regular season, playoffs, including the Semi Final and Finals series. They will also cover the NBA and WNBA All-Star Weekends, as well as the NBA Draft and WNBA Draft. ESPN mentioned the recent growth of the WNBA with players like Caitlin Clark, Ezi Magbegor, Bec Allen, Nyadiew Puoch, Isobel Borlase, and Jaz Shelley.
This deal enables ESPN to enhance its NBA studio coverage with new programming on game nights, giving fans access to player arrivals, interviews, and more. Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand and Head of ESPN, APAC, expressed excitement about the partnership, calling ESPN the “Home for Hoops” in the region.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised ESPN’s role in the growth and coverage of the league over the past 22 years. ESPN and ESPN2 can be accessed on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, and Sky NZ.
