NBA G League Announces Partnership with Tubi; Is Fox Changing Its Mind About Pursuing the NBA?
Tubi is launching the new NBA G League TV channel this week, and live games on the service start Friday, Nov. 10.
Tubi is getting more live sports… and soon! The free ad-supported streaming service owned by Fox has announced a new deal with the NBA’s G League to offer more than 75 live G League games per season, starting on Friday, Nov. 10.
- G League games on Tubi will be available on the new “NBA G League TV” channel.
- In addition to regular season games, Tubi will offer exclusive G League playoff games, original programming, and more.
- Tubi’s first G League game will feature the G League Ignite vs. the Ontario Clippers on Friday, Nov. 10.
NBA G League Coverage on Tubi Begins This Week
The new deal between the NBA G League and Tubi runs for multiple seasons, and includes the creation of a new free ad-supported TV (FAST) channel on Tubi called “NBA G League TV.” This channel will be available for two days each week — Friday and Saturday— and will be the home of all G League coverage on the service. Users will find NBA G League TV on Tubi Game Days.
“We are thrilled to team up with the NBA G League for over 75 exciting match-ups and unbelievable moments from the game’s breakout emerging players,” Tubi Chief Content Officer Adam Lewinson said. “Bringing together the G League’s next generation of stars and our young and highly engaged audience is another dynamic step in our sports content strategy.”
In addition to the 75+ regular season G League games that will be available on Tubi each season as part of the deal, the steamer will get access to G League Ignite and G League playoff games, all of which will be Tubi exclusives. NBA G League TV will also feature highlights, behind-the-scenes content, original shows, and more.
“We are excited to further expand access and deepen engagement with our fans through this partnership with Tubi,” said NBA G League Chief Operating Officer Portia Archer. “The G League is filled with tomorrow’s NBA stars and we can’t wait for Tubi’s audience to experience the elite competition and exceptional talent in our league.”
Does Deal Indicate Further Interest in NBA by Fox?
The agreement between Tubi and the NBA’s G League makes for something of an about-face for the streaming platform. After all, it was just last December that Fox chief financial officer Steve Tomsic said that Tubi’s business model wasn't a great fit for the addition of live sports.
That change in tune calls attention to another Fox executive, this time CEO Lachlan Murdoch. Murdoch said in May that his company had no interest in pursuing the NBA’s rights when its current broadcast contract with ESPN and TNT expires following the 2024-25 season. But in light of Tubi’s new G League deal, is that still the case?
If Fox has changed its mind about going after the NBA’s broadcast rights, there is certainly an opening. Reports indicate that the league wants a hefty raise in its next rights deal, and that ESPN and TNT each want a smaller package of games in the next contract. To achieve those seemingly disparate goals, the NBA is ready to spread its rights across more outlets, and NBC has reportedly expressed interest in bidding on a third package of the league’s TV rights.
On the other hand, securing a package of NBA games would likely be far more expensive than the new deal between Tubi and the G League. The company also currently sees itself in a great position as a distributor of live sports, and isn’t likely to throw its hat into the ring for an expensive product like the NBA, despite its new agreement to distribute the NBA G League on Tubi.
What is the Preliminary Schedule for NBA G League Games on Tubi in the 2023-24 Season?
Below are some of Tubi’s marquee G League matchups for the 2023-24 season. Please note the schedule may not be the complete lineup of G League games available on Tubi this season, and that it is subject to change.
| Date | Matchup |
|---|---|
| Friday, Nov. 17 | Santa Cruz Warriors vs G League Ignite |
| Saturday, Dec.12 | Windy City Bulls vs Wisconsin Herd |
| Friday, Jan. 19 | G League Ignite vs Mexico City Capitanes |
| Saturday, Feb. 10 | Delaware Blue Coats vs Austin Spurs |
| Friday, March 29 | South Bay Lakers vs Mexico City Capitanes |
| April 2024 | First Round and Conference Semifinals of the NBA G League Playoffs |
Tubi
Tubi is a free video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 200,000+ movies and TV episodes - more than any other streaming service. Its ad breaks are shorter and less frequent than most free services. Fox executives have called their service “TV on steroids.”