Sportradar AG, a Sports data intelligence specialist, has reportedly signed a deal with the NBA. The pact secures the data and analytics company the right to distribute more statistics and information from the top basketball league and other brands to sportsbooks around the globe.

According to a report from Yahoo! News last week, the new 8-year alliance will commence from the start of the 2023/24 NBA season. The said agreement will allow the Nasdaq-listed enterprise to supply data from the NBA and as well as games in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the developmental G League. 

The source detailed that this fresh deal builds upon a relationship dating back some five years. It will encompass overseas streaming rights on an exclusive basis in addition to the expanded distribution of player tracking information, which is becoming increasingly important for media and betting market coverage.

Sportradar AG – NBA Deal

In exchange and Yahoo! News reported that the expanded partnership would see the NBA receive an unspecified amount of cash over the next decade in addition to a 3% stake in Sportradar AG, potentially worth as much as $1 billion. All of this purportedly means that the Swiss firm currently has a market cap of $6.4 billion while holding exclusive domestic and international data rights with the NBA and the National Hockey League (NHL).

Carsten Koerl, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Sportradar AG, reported the NBA currently sits second behind just the National Football League (NFL) when it comes to where most Americans choose to spend their wagering cash. 

Yahoo! Sports went further in explaining that sportsbooks in Nevada processed gridiron bets worth $2.26 billion last year while basketball action brought in a very respectable $2.02 billion.

While the NFL remains the top sports league in the United States, its popularity pales compared to that of the NBA outside of the United States. The NBA boasts a strong and growing fan base in Asia and Europe. 

Koerl noted that the men’s professional basketball league has approximately 2.2 billion enthusiasts across the planet and regularly holds exhibitions and regular-season contests at venues located outside of the United States and Canada, courtesy of its NBA Global Games initiative.

Koerl stated that “Basketball is the largest United States sport in the world by popularity. As a market leader, we are best positioned with the technological expertise and industry relationships to help the NBA entertain fans globally.”

About Sportradar

Established in 2001, Sportradar AG reportedly moreover holds comprehensive data deals with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) alongside exclusive overseas rights with Major League Baseball (MLB). 

It can purportedly also count a trio of NBA franchise owners in Michael Jordan, Mark Cuban, and Ted Leonsis among its list of investors while this former legend moreover does double time as a special advisor to the St Gallen-headquartered company its list of investors while this former legend moreover does double time as a special advisor to the St Gallen-headquartered company.