Nine and the NBL unite to become Australia's home of free-to-air basketball
Nine and the National Basketball League (NBL) will join forces to become the home of free hoops from 2026, in a transformative partnership that brings the pre-eminent Australian men's professional basketball league onto the most watched broadcast network in the nation.
The two-year agreement will see two free-to-air NBL games available every week across the 9Network in a win for Aussie basketball fans.
A selection of marquee games will be broadcast on Channel 9, delivering premium live basketball to the widest possible audience.
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The Sydney Kings celebrate winning the NBL championship. Getty
The partnership builds on the NBL's record-breaking growth across attendance, digital engagement and free-to-air audiences, further strengthening its position as Australia's fastest growing sporting league.
Nine's NBL coverage will sit alongside the WNBL, where top-level Australian basketball joins the 9Network's runway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where the Boomers and Opals will take on the world once again.
Broadcast Highlights for 2026/27 Season:
● Two Marquee Games per week: Saturday Night, Live and Free on the 9Network and 9Now.
● NBL Overtime: Weekly NBL show delivering analysis, highlights and exclusive access.
● 9Now Integration: A dedicated NBL hub featuring highlights, classic games, and catch-up content.
● Wide World of Sports Coverage: Comprehensive news and editorial support across Nine's digital, sports broadcast and publishing platforms.
Bryce Cotton of the 36ers and Kendric Davis of the Sydney Kings during the NBL grand final series. Getty
Nine's Director of Sport Brent Williams, said: "The NBL is without a doubt one of Australia's most engaging and fastest growing sports competitions. The standard of the game has never been higher, passion from the fans has never been stronger and an innovative broadcast approach from all stakeholders makes this a perfect addition to Nine's suite of sport assets. We are thrilled to be entering this partnership and excited about the opportunities that will come from having NBL content on Nine's platforms."
NBL Group CEO David Stevenson said: "This is a significant moment for the NBL and for basketball fans right across Australia. Following a record-breaking season across attendance, digital and Free to Air audiences, this partnership with Nine is about building on that momentum and making our game more accessible than ever before.
"Having two games live and free every week is a major win for fans and a powerful platform to continue growing the game.
"We're incredibly excited to partner with Nine, whose scale and storytelling capability will help bring the energy of the NBL to more homes, create new fans, and elevate the visibility of our clubs and players."
The NBL 2026/2027 season schedule, including specific match-ups and broadcast times, will be released later this year.
