MIES, Switzerland — In a major move for basketball fans across Europe, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have signed a four-year partnership to offer unprecedented free-to-air access to men’s and women’s national team events. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, will take effect in November 2025 and covers the platforms of 19 EBU Members, bringing live basketball action to millions of viewers.
The deal includes public service television, radio, and digital platforms in Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Fans will be able to watch their national teams compete in major FIBA events, with broadcasts extending to key Group Stage, Quarter Final, and Semi Final matches, as well as the Final.
“Basketball’s popularity continues to grow globally, and this partnership underscores that,” said Frank Leenders, FIBA’s Director General for Media and Marketing Services. “The expertise and reach of the European Broadcasting Union provide a quality platform to boost basketball in Europe with even more games and more exciting action for existing fans and new audiences.”
The EBU Members will broadcast every game involving their national teams live and free, covering high-profile tournaments such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, FIBA EuroBasket 2029, Olympic qualifying tournaments, and the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers. In addition, these broadcasters will deliver expert coverage of home games throughout the qualification stages.
“This is a significant step in making basketball more accessible,” said Adrian Fikentscher, EBU’s Director of Acquisitions, Sales, and Partnerships. “Our strong partnership with FIBA opens an exciting new chapter for basketball and its athletes. With the support of EBU Members, we are committed to ensuring basketball reaches the audiences it deserves.”
The agreement, negotiated by FIBA Media, highlights the increasing importance of national team basketball in Europe. With a proven track record of drawing large audiences for prime-time television, FIBA and the EBU are set to extend and enhance the sport’s visibility across the continent.
FIBA is the world governing body for basketball, representing 212 national basketball federations globally. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole authority in basketball, FIBA is dedicated to promoting and developing the sport worldwide. For more information, visit fiba.basketball.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the leading alliance of public service media, with 113 Member organizations across 56 countries and 31 Associates globally. Broadcasting in 153 languages, EBU Members reach over one billion people worldwide through television, radio, and digital platforms.
