UKTV slam-dunks new basketball deal

NEWS BRIEF: Cabsat broadcaster UKTV has secured exclusive linear rights to basketball games from the FIBA World Championship 2006 on its UKTV G2 channel in the UK and Eire, along with non-exclusive, non-linear rights for the network’s broadband basketball site.

The linear broadcasts will also be supported by red button applications to drive take-up of uktvslam.tv, where highlights of every game will be broadcast free on a trial basis along with one full game every day of the tournament, with a view to a full subscription service being launched later this year.

Channel head Steve North said: ” We expect a significant proportion of our linear viewers to take up this opportunity to view additional games and highlights on uktvslam.tv.”