The ABC is back as one of the broadcasters of the WNBL, with two games a week being shown on the main channel and streamed on iview.

The league’s new broadcast deal means that all 56 regular season games, plus the four-game finals series will be shown live across Australia.

Earlier this month, Basketball Australia confirmed that the 2020 WNBL season would be played out of a North Queensland hub.

All eight teams will relocate for the new season, with games to be played in Cairns, Mackay and Townsville.

Starting on November 11, each team will play 14 games before a four-game final series, with the grand final scheduled for December 20.

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The season will be broadcast on a number of channels and platforms.

The ABC — which last broadcast the WNBL on television in 2014 — will simulcast games at 5:00pm AEDT on Saturday and 3:00pm (AEDT) on Sunday on iview and ABC TV.

Fox Sports will show four games a week live on Foxtel and Kayo, with Kayo also streaming the remaining games live.

BA chief executive Jerril Rechter thanked ABC and Foxtel for their support of the league and said the agreement was significant for women’s basketball in Australia.

“Having all 60 games of the 2020 season shown live across Australia will provide a platform to showcase one of the world’s leading basketball leagues featuring Australia’s best established and emerging athletes.

“This high-profile visibility across Australia will help build upon the popularity and growth of women’s basketball and inspire a whole new generation,” Rechter said.

The director of ABC Regional and Local Judith Whelan welcomed the new deal.

“We’re thrilled to welcome back the WNBL to the ABC — the natural home of women’s sport in Australia,” Whelan said.

“We are also delighted that one of this country’s most experienced and passionate basketball commentators, the ABC’s Corbin Middlemas, will be part of this season’s on-air WNBL commentary team.

“The ABC is looking forward to bringing Australian fans two games per week of one of the best women’s basketball competitions in the world.”

BA’s head of women in basketball Lauren Jackson said the deal would allow more Australians to follow the country’s top basketball talent in a pivotal time for the sport.

“The 2020 WNBL season will double as important preparation for the Australian Opals ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 FIBA Basketball World Cup which will be hosted by Sydney,” Jackson said.

“With all the opportunities that this season presents us, being able to broadcast all our games live across the nation was at the top of the list.”

The ABC’s first game for broadcast will be the Melbourne Boomers against the Southside Flyers at 5:00pm AEDT on November 14.



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