New partnership starts in current season for EuroCup, 2022-23 for EuroLeague. The games of Lokomotiv in the 2021-22 EuroCup and selected games of Russian teams in the 2022-23 EuroLeague to be shown on a free-to-air basis.
Euroleague Basketball and Okko sign exclusive broadcast deal in Russia
Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce that Okko has been awarded exclusive broadcasting rights in Russia for live and on-demand sports streaming services covering Europe’s two premier men’s basketball competitions.
Okko will have the right to broadcast all EuroCup games in the 2021-22 season and will have the same right for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague starting in 2022-23. Okko will offer the live games of Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar during the 2021-22 EuroCup and a selection of live games of Russian teams during the 2022-23 EuroLeague, both on a free-to-air basis. Russian fans will be able to watch all 2022-23 EuroLeague games, too, as Okko will make them available on a delayed basis shortly after the end of each game day, also on a free-to-air basis. Okko will continue broadcasting both competitions until the end of the 2024-25 season, which will mark the 25th anniversary of Euroleague Basketball.
"With Russian clubs at the forefront in Euroleague Basketball, we're delighted to offer the country's fans a broadcasting partner of Okko's status through which to follow the games. They can be confident that in Russia, the very best in European club basketball is in good hands with Okko," Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Marketing and Communication Senior Director at Euroleague Basketball, stated.
Okko was founded in 2013 as part of Rambler Group, the top Russian media holding with more than 168 million monthly users on all their different portals. Euroleague Basketball competitions will join other top sport properties already being aired on Okko TV – MMA, Spanish football “La Liga”, English football “Premiere League" or selected ATP and all WTA tournaments, among others – as well as thousands of films and TV series.
“Having launched basketball broadcasts on Okko this November, we are taking the next step and proudly announcing the EuroLeague, the most spectacular European basketball tournament. I have no doubt that this is great news for all sport fans, who will have an opportunity to watch the EuroLeague in full volume and high quality. I believe the supporters of Russian teams will be especially happy,” Oleg Manzha, Okko Sport CEO, stated.
Russia has a pivotal role in the soaring popularity of the EuroLeague and EuroCup, with Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow lifting the EuroLeague trophy in 2006, 2008, 2016 and 2019 while the 7DAYS EuroCup has crowned four different Russian champions since its inception: Dynamo Moscow (2006), UNICS Kazan (2011), Khimki Moscow Region (2012, 2015) and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar (2013).