TORONTO, 17TH NOVEMBER, 2017 - Leading live-streaming sports service DAZN announced today a five-year partnership deal with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in Canada.

The agreement, which will run from 2017-2021, will see DAZN broadcast every Team Canada game from all FIBA's Men's and Women's tournaments, as well as the Federation's showcase events, the Women's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2018 and the Men's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

The agreement comes into effect immediately, with DAZN set to broadcast the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualification fixtures, including Team Canada's games against Bahamas on November 24, 2017 and the Dominican Republic on November 27, 2017. This will be followed by a series of further World Cup Qualification events in 2018, as well as the Women's World Cup and both Men's and Women's U17 World Championship events, before the Men's World Cup in 2019.

Following the news of the agreement, DAZN's Managing Director for Rights and Strategic Development, Alex Rice, said: "We're absolutely thrilled to have entered into this partnership with FIBA and offer Canadian basketball fans unrivaled access to all Team Canada matches over the next five years."

Frank Leenders, Director General of FIBA Media and Marketing Services (FMMS), said: "It is a great pleasure to team up with DAZN in bringing the very best of men's and women's national team and world basketball to fans all across Canada. DAZN provides the perfect way to consume sports for the future generation."

Michele O'Keefe, Canada Basketball President and CEO, said: "We are extremely excited about DAZN's partnership with FIBA and the opportunity to continue growing the sport of basketball in Canada. We look forward to working with DAZN in telling our athletes' stories and putting on a good show for all the fans of Team Canada across the country."

The agreement was brokered by FIBA Media, the strategic partnership between FIBA and Perform, which is responsible for securing multi-year agreements related to FIBA's new calendar of events.

Canada's pursuit of a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 berth begins with the Americas Qualifiers where 16 teams will compete for seven World Cup spots. Canada will face Bahamas, Dominican Republic and the United States Virgin Islands in Group D. Each team will face the other three teams on a home and away basis over the first three windows with two games being played in each window.

Canada's first game will be played in Halifax, NS on Friday November 24 at 8:15 p.m. AST versus Bahamas, LIVE on DAZN.

As announced today by Canada Basketball, the roster for Team Canada's opening game is as follows:
Joel Anthony, Anthony Bennett, Grandy Glaze, Olivier Hanlan, Brady Heslip, Kaza Kajami-Keane, Owen Klassen, Dyshawn Pierre, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Phil Scrubb, Thomas Scrubb, Marc Trasolini.

Following the November games, Canada will travel to the United States Virgin Islands on February 22, 2018 and Bahamas on February 25, 2018. Canada returns home for the third and final first-round window, where they will face the Dominican Republic on June 29, 2018, and United States Virgin Islands on July 2 to conclude the first-round games.

For Team Canada's full tournament schedule, please click here .

DAZN launched in Canada in July 2017 with a host of sporting rights. DAZN is the only place that NFL fans can watch every LIVE game of the 2017 season --  including pre-season, regular season, the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Ahead of next month's hotly anticipated El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, DAZN also offers top European Soccer leagues La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1, as well as Autumn Rugby Internationals, Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, WTA Tennis and MotoGP.

Courtesy DAZN

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