India’s first Professional Basketball League on Ten Sports
March 21, 2016
Ten Sports Network, South Asia’s leading sports broadcaster, has partnered with United Basketball Alliance (UBA) to bring India’s first Professional Basketball League to Ten Sports Network. Season 1 of the league was played in Hyderabad in July and saw participation from India’s best basketball players. A grand opening for Season 2 of the UBA was held in Pune and broadcast LIVE on Ten Sports Network channels. The league will span over a month, kicking off in Pune and then moving to Hyderabad for the playoffs and the semi-finals. The league will culminate with a best of 3 games final from 1st to 3rd April at the Gachibowli stadium in Hyderabad.
Ten Sports has partnered UBA to broadcast 5 seasons of the League. Season 2 will have a minimum of 36 LIVE matches with International quality HD production. Broadcast veterans Paul Crane and Victor Howell will lead the broadcast coverage for Season 2 on Ten Sports. Announcing the deal, Mr. Rajesh Sethi, Global CEO of Ten Sports said: “We are delighted to partner with UBA for India’s first Professional Basketball League. I am confident that UBA will change the face of Indian professional Basketball forever. There is a lot of participation in Basketball among younger audiences and through the UBA, Ten Sports will offer the best of Indian Baskbetball to our viewers. With increased opportunity to take up the sport professionally and with the training camps, we will see more talent coming through the ranks which will enhance the quality of play. Ten Sports will offer the best of programming on UBA through LIVE broadcasts, studio and wrap-around shows and other educational content.”
The UBA Pro League sees participation from eight franchisees – Bengaluru Beast, Chennai Slam, Delhi Capitals, Haryana Gold, Hyderabad Sky, Mumbai Challengers, Pune Peshwas and Punjab Steelers. Chennai Slam was the winner of Season 1 defeating Pune Peshwas in the final. Nine top players from Season 1 were taken to the USA for a training camp where they trained among present and former NBA stars. “The players were trained just as pro athletes train in the US, every day with very little time off. The first week they struggled, but in the second week, their strength and ability saw significant increases. We know with continued programs, the players can reach elite levels,” says Jody Basye, US Coaching Sr. Manager. A documentary titled ‘Inside the UBA’ on the rigorous training camp and the life of these to be stars was filmed and airing on Ten Sports Network channels. The UBA plans to make these training camps for the best players an annual affair and provide them the much-needed exposure to improve the standard of the game in India.
UBA Season 1 saw celebrities including Abhishek Bachchan, Evelyn Sharma attend matches while Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Telangana State’s Honorable Sports Minister, T. Padma Rao were also special guests. UBA will continue working towards involving celebrities in the game and the league. Tommy Fisher, President of Fisher Industries and CEO of UBA said: “The response of Bollywood, local and central government agencies has been extremely positive. In the weeks, months and years ahead, we plan on working hand in hand to help develop basketball as a superior sport and form of entertainment in India.”
Matches are broadcast LIVE on Ten Action and Ten HD on 2 slots – 16:30 hours and 19:00 hours. Primetime coverage on Ten Sports Network channels will ensure maximum coverage and reach for the UBA Pro League.