The broadcast rights agreement for the Swedish Basketball League (SBL Herr) has been extended and will run through the 2028-2029 season, according to a press release from Bonnier News on Thursday. The extension continues the partnership with media companies NTM and Bonnier, which, according to the press release, have previously held the rights to the Swedish basketball league, including both men's and women's divisions, though it is unclear if the women's league is included in the new deal. As part of the arrangement, Norrköping Dolphins men's matches will be broadcast on NTM's website for at least three more years, a practice in place since autumn 2023, when all Dolphins matches became available on the platform, according to the press release.
The announcement comes amid the ongoing SM finals series between the Norrköping Dolphins and Borås Basket, where Norrköping leads 2-0 after two home wins, Borås Tidning reported. The third match is scheduled for Thursday evening in Borås, with the home team looking to avoid a sweep, the newspaper added. Several details remain undisclosed, including financial terms, the extent of exclusivity, and whether other broadcasters will be involved.
Extra fun to get a new multi-year agreement in place while the basketball temperature in town is at its hottest, considering the SM finals series that Borås Basket is currently in the midst of.
The coverage of matches from other SBL Herr teams beyond the Dolphins has also not been detailed. The extended broadcast rights are expected to provide stability for the league and its teams, with further announcements likely to clarify the full scope of the agreement.
SBL Herr and the league's clubs want to both develop and evolve every day, which has meant we have taken great steps together. We see continued great development potential in Swedish basketball and look forward to continuing the cooperation and being able to offer Swedish basketball fans a high-quality live sports experience.