Basketball On The Internet.

PATRICK Delany was 100 per cent spot on with today’s massive announcement by FOX SPORTS that interest in basketball in Oz has soared due to our NBA successes and the quality of the NBL and WNBL competitions.

The FOX SPORTS chief executive officer clearly is a believer, his pay-TV network about to broadcast both our national competitions but additionally revealing events such as the FIBA World Cups – for the Opals next year and the Boomers in 2019 – and their qualifiers all will be on our TV screens.

And live.

FOX already showed the Opals’ Silver Medal campaign at the FIBA Asia Cup from India last month and the Boomers will be in action on our screens from Lebanon on Tuesday.

“Basketball in Australia is booming thanks to the success of Australia’s NBA stars and our home-grown competitions, the NBL and WNBL, which will both be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS,” Delany (right) said.

“The Boomers and Opals are enjoying unprecedented success, and both teams are shaping up to be genuine medal contenders at the upcoming World Cups.

“The next couple of years are crucial for our national teams, as they prepare to take on the world’s best in a range of tournaments as part of FIBA’s new competition system, and FOX SPORTS will be the only place to follow their progress live.

“This deal reaffirms FOX SPORTS’ commitment to providing a platform for Australian athletes and exposure for one of Australia’s most popular sports.”

In a week where the NBL revealed three of its clubs would in October be part of the preseason schedule of NBA franchises, this is further massive positive news.

“We are thrilled to team up with FOX SPORTS in bringing the very best of national team basketball to fans right across Australia,” FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee member Patrick Baumann (pictured) said.

“The close followers of the Boomers and Opals now know there is one place where they can watch and follow the games of their favourite players and teams.”

Additional competitions FOX SPORTS subscribers now can watch live include the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments as well as the FIBA Continental Cups Qualifiers.

It all continues on Tuesday night on FOX 507 with the FIBA Asia Cup for men in Lebanon.

The Boomers’ schedule is: (all times AEST):

August 8: v Japan at 11pm
August 10: v Hong Kong at 11pm
August 12: v Chinese Taipei at 11pm
August 17: *Quarter-Finals
August 19: *Semi-Finals
August 20: *Bronze and Gold medal games
(*Times to come)