NBA NEWS - NBA to provide most extensive NBA coverage ever in the Baltics

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NBA and TV3 Group expand partnership to provide most extensive NBA coverage ever in the Baltics - Beginning in 2023, the expanded partnership will also feature comprehensive coverage of the WNBA, including regular-season games, the WNBA Playoffs and the WNBA Finals - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

LONDON

Sunday June 5, 2022

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and TV3 Group, a leading media group in the Baltics and the NBA’s official broadcast partner in the region, today announced a multiyear expansion of their existing broadcast partnership that will see TV3 Sport air more than 240 live NBA games each season, marking the most extensive NBA coverage ever in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Beginning in 2023, the expanded partnership will also feature comprehensive coverage of the WNBA, including regular-season games, the WNBA Playoff and the WNBA Finals.

Through the partnership, TV3 Group will air up to eight live games each week of the NBA regular season, including at least one game each week on its free-to-air channels TV3 and TV6, marquee NBA events such as NBA All-Star, the NBA Playoffs, the Conference Finals and the Finals, as well as classic NBA games. Fans in the Baltics will also be able to watch weekend games in primetime as part of the league’s “NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K22” European primetime initiative, which this season saw weekend games every Saturday and Sunday starting from 8.00 p.m. Baltic time.

Additionally, NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service, is now available at a discounted price to subscribers of TV3 Group’s new generation television “Go3,” allowing fans in the Baltics to watch every NBA game live and on-demand on their computers, mobile phones and tablets.

“We are delighted to continue our exclusive partnership with the NBA,” said TV3 Group CEO Christian Anting. “We deeply appreciate the trust that the NBA, one of the most prestigious sports brands in the world, has given TV3 Group and we feel honored to be part of the global NBA family. Together we will bring the biggest ever NBA coverage to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Basketball fans will enjoy even more live NBA games with the local Baltic NBA superstars. Starting as of the coming season fans will also be able to enjoy the most comprehensive coverage of the WNBA, including live games on national television.”

“Expanding our partnership with TV3 Group in the Baltics is an important milestone in our broader efforts to grow the NBA and WNBA in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, countries that have a rich basketball history and strong player presence in our leagues,” said NBA Europe and Middle East Vice President, Global Media Distribution Elsa Memmi. “TV3 Group’s unparalleled footprint will provide our passionate fans with the most extensive NBA and WNBA coverage ever in the region.”

For more information about the NBA, fans in the Baltics can visit @NBA on Facebook and follow @NBA on Twitter and @NBAEurope on Instagram. Fans can also download the NBA App for news, updates, scores, stats and videos.

About TV3 Group TV3 Group, the leading media group in Baltics, is a portfolio company of Bite Group and Providence Equity Partners, a global premium asset management company. TV3 Group owns and operates the leading commercial free-to-air channels in Baltics, the largest DTH and OTT televisions, premium film and sport channels, as well as a portfolio of leading commercial radio channels.

TV3 Group’s and NBA multiyear expansion of their existing broadcast partnership ensures that Baltic viewers will continue to watch elite sports broadcasts from NBA, NCAA, Euroleague, EuroCup, Liga ACB, Basketball Champions League, Betsafe-LKL, FIBA National Teams competitions, UFC, ATP Tennis, WRC, ERC, Moto GP, MXGP and Extreme E, among others.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

June 5, 1977 The phenomenon known as Blazermania reached a peak as Bill Walton blocked eight shots, a record for an NBA Finals game (since tied by three players), and Portland beat Philadelphia 109-107 in Game 6 to win its only NBA Championship.

June 5, 1991 Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls drove the lane against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the 1991 NBA Finals. As he moved past Byron Scott with the ball in his right hand, Jordan took off for the basket intending to dunk. The Lakers’ Sam Perkins came over to try to contest the shot, but Jordan switched the ball into his left hand while in midair and gently flipped it in off the glass. The vintage Jordan effort helped the Bulls beat the Lakers 107-86 en route to their first title. Chicago set a Finals record for team shooting percentage at .617 (50-for-81). Bulls guard John Paxson also tied a Finals record by shooting 1.000 (8-for-8) from the field, tying Scott Wedman, who was 11-for-11 for Boston in Game 1 of the 1985 Finals against the Lakers.

June 5, 1992 Portland defeated Chicago 115-104 in overtime in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Danny Ainge was a key factor for Portland in OT, tying a Finals record set by John Havlicek (1974) and Bill Laimbeer (1990) by scoring nine of the Blazers’ 18 points in the extra session.

June 5, 1994 New York, led by Patrick Ewing’s 24 points and 22 rebounds, defeated Indiana 94-90 at Madison Square Garden in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, sending the Knicks to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973.

June 5, 1996 Global television coverage of the 1996 NBA Finals between Chicago and Seattle reaches a record 169 countries on six continents in 40 different languages. The Bulls' 107-90 win in Game 1 at the United Center earns a 16.8 rating and a 31 share on NBC and is viewed in a record 16,111,200 homes.