ESPN secures FIBA Basketball World Cup

Basketball federation FIBA and ESPN have struck a rights agreement for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, with all 92 games to be made available on ESPN platforms in the US, including ESPN2 and ESPN+.

The event tips off on August 25, and continues through to September 10. Six games will air exclusively on ESPN2, including three in the first round featuring Team USA. All other 86 games will be carried by ESPN+ while also being available on FIBA’s official streaming service, Courtside 1891.

FIBA will produce a dedicated US broadcast feed for the linear games on ESPN featuring specialist US commentators and US-dedicated content and analysis.

Most recently, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 saw ESPN distribute the entire Women’s World Cup. Six games were aired exclusively in the US on ESPN2 and ESPNU, which was the most Women’s World Cup games to ever air on live television in the USA, resulting in viewership tripling across the country.

Additionally all FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 games will also be available on the ESPN App.

“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,” said Ashley O’Connor, ESPN senior director, programming and acquisitions.

Frank Leenders, FIBA media and marketing services director general, said: “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.”