NBL and Nine unite to become Australia’s home of free-to-air hoops

The Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) and Nine 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 current number one ranked network in the nation.

The two-year agreement will see two free-to-air NBL games available every week across the 9Network, including Finals games, 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.

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 the 2026-27 season:

• Two Marquee Games per week: Saturday Night, Live on the 9Network and 9Now.
• NBL Finals Series: Watch games live.
• 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 and sports broadcast platforms.

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, this partnership with Nine is about building on that momentum and making our game more accessible than ever before.

“Having two games broadcasted live 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.

“We also want to sincerely thank Network 10 for their outstanding partnership and commitment to the NBL over recent seasons. Their support has played a pivotal role in driving the league’s biggest ever growth across attendance, digital engagement and free-to-air audiences.”

The NBL27 season schedule, including specific match-ups and broadcast times, will be released later this year.