JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – ESPN Africa has secured exclusive multiyear English pay TV broadcast rights to the NBA Finals across sub-Saharan Africa, strengthening the channel’s world-class basketball offering and bringing fans even closer to one of the biggest sporting spectacles on the planet.
The rights package also includes coverage of additional NBA Sunday Night regular season games each season, both Conference Finals each year, as well as exclusive rights to the NBA Finals.
The 2026 NBA Finals will be played between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in the customary best-of-seven format.
All games will air live across ESPN (Azam 120, DStv 218, StarTimes 248, Wananchi / Zuku TV 712, ZAP 31) and ESPN2 (Azam 121, DStv 219, StarTimes 249, Wananchi / Zuku TV 713, ZAP 32), as well as on Disney+ in South Africa.
In addition to the live broadcasts, repeat airings are scheduled during the day, giving fans maximum flexibility and multiple opportunities to catch the action.
“The NBA is one of the biggest and most celebrated sports properties in the world, with an incredibly passionate fan base across Africa,” stated Kyle De Klerk, Director of Sports at The Walt Disney Company Africa
“We are thrilled to bring audiences exclusive access to the NBA Finals over the next three seasons, alongside the Conference Finals and Sunday Night games. From superstar players and unforgettable rivalries to dramatic playoff moments, this is world-class basketball entertainment at its very best.”
The 2026 NBA Finals are scheduled to run from Wednesday, 3 June to Friday, 19 June should the series go to a decisive Game 7. All games will tip off at 02:30 CAT, with ESPN bringing African audiences every dramatic moment as it happens, live, from the United States.
The addition of the NBA Finals rights further expands ESPN Africa’s growing basketball portfolio alongside its broad range of premier international sporting content.
