ESPN and the NBA today announced a multi-year agreement to add close to 100 live NBA games to ESPN in the UK and Ireland. In addition to the live games, ESPN networks will air the studio show NBA Fastbreak, the original series NBA Action and all-time great NBA games. ESPN will tip off its NBA coverage on 6 October at 19h30 BST, live from The O2 arena in London, where the Utah Jazz will take on the Chicago Bulls as part of NBA Europe Live 2009 presented by EA SPORTS. In addition to the game in London, viewers will see the second NBA Europe Live game when the Utah Jazz take on Euroleague Basketball’s Real Madrid on 8 October at 19h45 BST in Madrid. ESPN’s full NBA games package has up to three games a week, including a weekly game on Sunday in primetime, the NBA All-Star Game, the Playoffs and The Finals in standard and high definition. The ESPN produced studio show, NBA Fastbreak, will air on both ESPN and ESPN America. NBA Action – the award-winning, original series that gives an inside look at gameday preparation of the league’s star athletes – will also be aired on ESPN. ESPN is available on Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision, Top Up TV, Tiscali and UPC (in Ireland). “We are thrilled to be expanding our global relationship with ESPN and bringing fans increased coverage of the NBA,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, NBA EMEA Managing Director. “Through ESPN’s multiple channels, NBA games and highlights will now be available to a broader audience in the UK and Ireland.” Jeroen Oerlemans, Vice President, TV Channels Europe, Middle East and Africa said, “The NBA is one of the world’s top sports properties, with some of the greatest athletes on the planet. This agreement allows us to deliver all of the action and excitement of the NBA to sports fans in the UK and Ireland. ESPN continues to build a fantastic offering of local and international sport. ” Source: ESPN OTHER NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK (THE BIZ OF BASEBALL) Eric Wedge Fired As Manager of Cleveland Indians This Time It Counts: MLB Postseason TV Ratings Fenway Sports Group Enters Partnership with Athletes' Performance A Look Inside the Sale of the Texas Rangers LWIB: The Pirates and the Revenue-Sharing Debate, Cubs "Non-Sale Sale", Local ESPN.coms and MLB Local Digital Rights Upcoming Biz of Baseball Interview: Emeril Lagasse 5 Things to Consider Heading Into the MLB Playoffs Nationals Lower Much of Their 2010 Ticket Prices New Era Releases Limited Edition Spike Lee Cap With Extension Talk, How Pujols Stacks Up Against Other Stars Bankruptcy Court Approves Sale of Chicago Cubs While Nationals See Attendance Decline, Not Worst for New Stadium (THE BIZ OF FOOTBALL) The New York Jets, David Clowney, and Twitter The Biz of Football Gets Blown Up in Week 3 Verizon FiOS Offering "NFL RedZone" for Free on Oct. 4 "Lagasse's Stadium" Design Sets New Standard for Food and Sports Experience Raiders and Lions to Be Blacked Out in Week 3 Favre: "I just think it’s wrong" on Fine Record 34.8 Million Watch Giants-Cowboys Game on Monday Night Football Interview with Dave Sims, Broadcaster for Westwood One, and the Seattle Mariners Do Networks Make, or Lose Money Broadcasting the NFL? How Much Do NFL Teams Contribute to Political Parties? (THE BIZ OF HOCKEY) Great One? Gretzky Steps Down as Coach of Coyotes Gretzky Absent As Camp Opens, Coyotes Court Case At Issue 10 Issues to Focus on in Phoenix Coyotes Case Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (select his name in the dropdown provided). Follow Maury Brown on Twitter Follow The Biz of Basketball on Twitter Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook