Basketball: NZ Herald to live stream NZ NBL in 2017

Shou Nisbet handles the ball for the Canterbury Rams against the Southland Sharks. Photo / Photosport

NZME has joined forces with Basketball New Zealand and Maori Television in a new media partnership that will broadcast the 2017 season of the New Zealand NBL.

NZME will continue to build on the success of the 2016 live streaming in 2017. At least two games a week will be livestreamed on The New Zealand Herald website, as well as all games during the Final Four weekend.

Maori Television will televise free to air live coverage of a NBL game every Sunday afternoon at 3pm, for the duration of the competition, and live coverage of the Final Four weekend comprising of the Semi Finals and Final. Maori Television will also show delayed coverage of a second game every week on a Saturday afternoon during the season.

Chief Executive of Basketball New Zealand, Iain Potter, says this unique media partnership recognises the growth of basketball in New Zealand, as more participants and fans are tuning their televisions and devices to the game.

"It's an exciting agreement to have two strong media partners with big audiences recognising that their viewers are increasingly tuning into basketball. It's sensational for the NBL and Basketball New Zealand, as our players, teams and brands are building on the increasing upsurge of Kiwi fanaticism in basketball." says Potter.

Head of Sport Trevor McKewen says NZME are proud to be live streaming basketball to make it more accessible to New Zealanders.

"Streaming the games through The New Zealand Herald website allows Kiwis to tune into the games wherever they are, on whatever device they choose. NZME is excited to be partnering with Basketball New Zealand and bring the sport to New Zealanders up and down the country," says McKewen.

Maori Television's Head of Content, Mike Rehu, says they are equally proud to be getting in behind the ground swell of support for basketball.

"We are excited to be ramping up our collaboration with Basketball New Zealand and the NBL. We know basketball is growing in popularity with our rangatahi (youth) audience and we are happy to provide the fans with a league that weaves a mix of youthful exuberance with a proud legacy."

The 2017 season will run for 14 weeks and finish with the Final Four weekend, 15-17 June. The opening game will tip off on Thursday, 16 March, between perennial powerhouses the Nelson Giants and the Southland Sharks.