NBL secures Nine Network broadcast deal and introduces new officiating transparency

The National Basketball League (NBL) has secured a two-year free-to-air broadcast agreement with the Nine Network, beginning in the NBL27 season. The deal includes two live marquee games on Saturday nights across Nine and 9Now, complementing existing subscription rights with ESPN, Kayo, and Disney+. NBL Group CEO David Stevenson stated the partnership is a growth engine intended to transition the league from a tier-two sport to a tier-one commercial entity alongside the AFL and NRL.

On the operational side, the NBL has introduced weekly basketball operations media conferences following each round. Led by referee general manager Scott Butler, these sessions aim to provide direct explanations regarding on-court officiating and refereeing decisions to the media, moving away from previous methods of issuing statements via social media.