BBL set for Sky return

The British Basketball League is set to agree a deal with Sky Sports that would see the game return to the satellite broadcaster after a decade’s absence.

Talks have reached a final stage on a tie-up that would likely see a weekly game screened from the BBL, starting in the New Year.

Although the funds are not yet finalised to finance the costs, an agreement - backed by a meeting of the league’s board on Monday - is understood to have been reached with a production company with final confirmation of the move expected “within days”.

“The only thing that would delay it would be scheduling,” said the league’s chairman, Paul Blake. “Our anticipation is that something will come off for the back end of the season. Our pitch has been for the last ten weeks of the campaign.”

The BBL has had short-lived deals with the ill-fated ITV Digital and Setanta since departing Sky, a move seen as pivotal in the league’s decline in recent years. The proposed link-up would likely see recorded extended highlights due to logistical difficulties in moving fixtures to mid-week for live transmission.

“It causes major problems from a venue point of view,” Blake confirmed.

The league is also set to relaunch its website in the next week after the two companies involved in a planned summer revamp went into administration.

Sky deal on BBL table

The BBL's board meeting on Monday is slated to discuss a proposed television deal with Sky Sports for the league, Britball understands. 


The move, first revealed last month, would kick in for the second half of the season, if it goes ahead.


A highlights show on Monday evenings is thought to be the most likely slot on the satellite broadcaster.

Sky deal in the works for BBL?

The BBL is in talks with Sky Sports over a deal that could see domestic basketball return to television screens later this season.

League officials have met with the satellite broadcaster and are understood to be at an advanced stage in agreeing a move that would end the BBL’s black-out after a 18 month hiatus.

“We have been in conversations with Sky for a while and I think we are close to getting a deal done before too long,” BBL chairman Paul Blake told Journal Live.

“I don’t want to make too many promises and there is some work to do but there is a good chance we could have some sort of deal in place in time for the second half of this season.”