e.tv has signed a new multi-year deal to add sports coverage of America's National Basketball Association (NBA) to its channel as well as on its Openview free-to-air satellite service.
The new NBA coverage deal comes after the implosion of Econet pay-TV division, Kwesé and its Kwesé Free Sports channel that abruptly went dark in July 2019 and was subsequently removed from Openview.
Through Kwesé and Kwesé Free Sports South African saw some NBA coverage on South African community TV stations like SowetoTV thanks to sub-licensing deals which ended because of the debt-riddled Econet's financial problems.
NBA coverage on e.tv will start this Saturday and Sunday 9 and 10 November on e.tv and Openview with the broadcast of the game between San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics that will be broadcast live on e.tv at midnight, with a repeat on Sunday at 17:00 on Openview's News & Sport channel.
Two NBA games will be broadcast per week on News & Sport (Openview 120), including one live game and one shown on a delayed basis.
"South Africa has an insatiable sporting appetite, and our partnership with the NBA will most certainly appeal to that," says Marlon Davids, e.tv managing director.
"Over the past few years, we have been implementing strategic growth plans that will ensure that our sports content offering across our platforms is worthwhile for our viewers. We are ecstatic about this announcement and we greatly look forward to a fruitful run with the NBA."
Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA Africa managing director and Basketball Africa league president, says "We have always strived to make the game of basketball more accessible to our fans through participation in our sport and exposure, and we are thrilled to partner with e.tv in South Africa".
"We have seen growing interest and look forward to reaching more fans in South Africa through live games and additional programming."
