Where to watch the NBL for free: Live stream, free-to-air channel, key games schedule for 2024-25 season

Jonathan Burnett

Where to watch the NBL for free: Live stream, free-to-air channel, key games schedule for 2024-25 season image

The new NBL season is already up and running in late 2024 as Australia's best basketball players take on another action-packed few months of action in one of the nation's most wide-reaching professional leagues.

Tasmania Jackjumpers, entering just their fourth season as an NBL franchise, are the surprise defending title holders from 2023-24, having defeated regular-season champions Melbourne United 3-2 in the end-of-year Grand Final Series.

Season 2024 saw the Brisbane Bullets victorious in the Blitz competition, while the New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks have started the campaign at a strong pace. Both the Jackjumpers and Melbourne United will be keen to close those gaps as soon as possible, with matches almost every day before the Finals roll around in February.

The Sporting News looks at the key fixture details from the new NBL season in Australia, and how you can follow each and every match via your TV, live streaming service and free-to-air channel in 2024.

NBL free live stream in Australia

Kayo Sports and Foxtel are providing both live and catch-up coverage of ESPN's broadcasting of every single match across all 20 rounds of this season's NBL action, as well as the Blitz and end-of-year finals series. New users to Kayo can currently sign up to a FREE trial

For a free live stream, however, NBL fans can also tune into Channel 10's own live streaming service, 10 Play, for free (exclusively on Sundays) to catch the action from Sunday's regular 2:30 p.m. AEST/AEDT and 4:30 p.m. AEST/AEDT matches.

NBL TV channel in Australia

  • TV Channel: ESPN / Channel 10 (free-to-air)

ESPN isn't just the home of the NBA in North America, it's also the go-to TV channel for basketball fans down under to catch all the action from this year's NBL season.

Free-to-air TV coverage of Sunday's two matches at 2:30 p.m. AEST/AEDT and 4:30 p.m. AEST/AEDT is also available on Channel 10.

2024–25 NBL: key fixtures this season

Each of the 10 teams in this year's NBL competition will play a total of 28 matches, with the Blitz leading into 20 rounds before the Finals series begins in the new year. The Blitz and rounds 1 through 3 have already been played in the 2024 season.

Here's a full rundown of just some of the biggest games to keep an eye on in each of the remaining regular-season rounds.

MatchDateRound
Illawarra vs. TasmaniaSaturday, October 12, 20244
Melbourne vs. S.E. Melbourne PhoenixSunday, October 20, 20245
Sydney vs. New Zealand BreakersSunday, October 27, 20246
Cairns vs. BrisbaneSaturday, November 2, 20247
Melbourne vs. PerthSaturday, November 9, 20248
Illawarra vs. SydneySaturday, November 16, 20249
Melbourne vs. SydneySunday, December 1, 202410
Adelaide vs. PerthSunday, December 8, 202411
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix vs. Melbourne Sunday, December 15, 202412
Tasmania vs. New Zealand BreakersWednesday, December 25, 202413
Sydney vs. AdelaideMonday, December 30, 202414
Adelaide vs. MelbourneSaturday, January 4, 202515
Sydney vs. MelbourneThursday, January 9, 202516
Brisbane vs. CairnsFriday, January 17, 202517
Brisbane vs. MelbourneSunday, January 26, 202518
Melbourne vs. TasmaniaSaturday, February 1, 202519
Perth vs. AdelaideFriday, February 7, 202520

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Jonathan Burnett

Jonathan Burnett Photo

Jonathan is a freelance content producer and commentator for Sporting News UK, with a focus on international rugby tournaments like the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup. He also works as a commentator for StatsPerform’s football network, covering matches across Europe including the Champions League, 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2023 Women's World Cup. He’s a regular contributor to the history and statistics website Rugby League Project.

Jonny graduated from Leeds University with a journalism degree in 2021 and was Head of Media at Widnes Vikings RLFC in 2023. A self-confessed nerd of rugby league, union and football (soccer). Jonathan’s coverage across several sports can be found on the TSN site.