FIBA signs multi-year deal with Twitch to become Amazon streamer’s first international sporting federation partner

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced a multi-year deal with Amazon’s live streaming platform Twitch in an agreement described as ‘groundbreaking’.

The deal is the first that Twitch has agreed with an international sporting federation, with FIBA broadcasting around 600 hours of live basketball games to its own Twitch channel for free. 

In addition, FIBA will utilise Twitch’s interactive tools and features, with fans allowed to produce FIBA-related content on their own Twitch channels. FIBA has agreed to let creators use official footage, becoming one of the few rights-holders in global sports to do so.

FIBA said that this deal will serve as the foundation of a network of creators in each of its major markets including the US, France, Italy, Spain and Australia.

The live games, which will be streamed both on FIBA’s Twitch channel and on the channels of its creators’ network, will include all FIBA 3×3 competitions, the EuroLeague Women and selected youth tournaments.

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said: “FIBA is delighted to announce this unique collaboration with Twitch, a live streaming service that is used by millions of people globally each day. This innovative agreement will further strengthen our strategic objective to enlarge the FIBA family by offering year-round basketball action to more fans, on an interactive service.” 

 Damian Burns, SVP EMEA, Twitch, said: “Twitch is a community of superfans where the most passionate come together to participate in and shape their own entertainment – live. FIBA is an innovation-driven organisation and is passionate about bringing fans together in new interactive ways around livestreaming. This makes FIBA the perfect fit for Twitch. We are excited to see FIBA reach new and existing audiences across the globe with truly innovative content that makes the most of the tools and resources Twitch has to offer.”