Mediaset Gets Spanish Broadcast Rights to 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, and Mediaset España have reached an agreement for Mediaset to broadcast the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup to be staged in Spain, as well as the EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia and the EuroBasket 2015 in Ukraine. 

This agreement gives Spanish fans the opportunity to see their national team compete in the world’s biggest basketball tournaments over the next three years.

As the two-time reigning European champions, the Spanish national team is qualified for EuroBasket 2013 and will aim to win a third consecutive continental title in September.

As hosts of the first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup, Spain are automatically qualified for FIBA’s flagship event in 2014. The Olympic and World champions USA are the only other team to have already booked a place for this competition.

“Mediaset Sport is excited about bringing these great basketball tournaments into the Spanish homes. Basketball is a sport with a large following and a great future potential in Spain. This is the first time that Mediaset España includes national team basketball in its Sports offer and we are proud of doing it now, when the national team is at its best. The FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain will be the major sports event and a huge basketball celebration throughout the country,” said Ghislain Barrois, Head of Rights Acquisition of Mediaset España.

FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann endorsed the partnership with Mediaset España.

“It is a great pleasure for us to announce this signed agreement with Mediaset España – a leading broadcaster in Spain – especially in view of the fact that the first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup will be played in Spain in 2014,” he said.

“This will enable all Spaniards to follow the performance of their national basketball team, which has already given them so many reasons to celebrate in recent years.

“This broadcast agreement also complements the strong results achieved on the joint sponsorship programme between FIBA and FEB.”