Australia’s NBL breaks from BA

nbl

Australia’s National Basketball League is set to break away from its current merger with Basketball Australia. This “de-merger” will put NBL clubs in control of commercial and organizational matters in the league. This move called “Returning the League,” which was one of the options presented in the “White Paper” framework for the strategic growth of the NBL, was the most welcomed by the members. This move can take effect as immediate as the 2013-14 basketball season.

Basketball Australia chief executive officer Kristina Keneally said that:

“In 2008, Basketball Australia took on the governance and management of the NBL at a critical time, when attendances were in significant decline and the League was not on free-to-air television.”

Keneally also highlighted in a separate statement how the original merger has helped NBL grow to where it is today.

“Since the NBL joined Basketball Australia as Members in 2008, the League has gone from strength to strength.

“The NBL is back on free-to-air TV with Network Ten; fans now enjoy for the first time in the League’s history access to every game live and on-demand through the NBL.TV digital platform; and the Sydney Kings have returned to the competition.”

“However, Basketball Australia introduced the NBL White Paper earlier this year recognising that the status quo was not an option for the League; that further growth and change is required to achieve financial sustainability for the NBL,” Ms Keneally said.

The likelihood is the new NBL board would comprise high-profile business leaders and investors, with input from the clubs.

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