ESPN Africa has signed a multi-year agreement with the NBA to secure exclusive English-language pay-TV rights across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Under the deal, ESPN Africa will broadcast all games of the 2026 NBA Finals, scheduled from June 3 to June 19. The Finals are expected to feature the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks against either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs.
Games will be shown live across the region, with tip-off times around 2:30 AM Central Africa Time.
Beyond the Finals, the agreement includes:
- NBA Sunday Night regular season games
- Full playoff coverage
- Conference Finals and NBA Finals across multiple seasons
Content will be distributed via ESPN’s linear TV channels, and also through Disney+ in South Africa.
The deal comes amid increasing competition for NBA rights in Africa. SportyTV recently acquired free-to-air NBA rights in countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, intensifying market competition.
Meanwhile, Canal+ also holds NBA broadcasting rights in parts of Africa through its regional sports networks.
The NBA’s African connection continues to grow, with a rising number of players of African origin in the league, including:
- Joel Embiid
- Pascal Siakam
- Jonathan Kuminga
- Bismack Biyombo
- Josh Okogie
The report also notes strong growth in NBA playoff viewership in the United States, with record audiences helping drive further international broadcasting interest.