In a strategic move to broaden the reach of Spain’s premier basketball competition, Movistar Plus+ has announced a new agreement with sports streaming service DAZN to expand the accessibility of the Liga ACB. This latest expansion of Movistar Plus Liga ACB coverage ensures that two games per matchday will now be available to all Movistar Plus+ subscribers, regardless of their specific package tier.
The deal arrives at a critical juncture for the league, known as Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, as teams enter the final stretch of the regular season. By leveraging the infrastructure of DAZN, the Telefonica-owned pay-TV operator is returning a level of accessibility to its general subscriber base after having lost the primary domestic broadcast rights to DAZN last July according to Sportcal.
For basketball fans in Spain, In other words a significant reduction in the barriers to watching top-tier domestic action. While the full suite of games remains behind specific sports packages or direct DAZN subscriptions, the new arrangement utilizes the main Movistar Plus+ and Vamos por M+ channels to bring high-stakes matchups to a wider audience during the most decisive phase of the season.
Expanding Access to Spain’s Top-Tier Basketball
The partnership is designed to maximize visibility as the league pushes toward the Playoffs. Under the new terms, all clients with a Movistar Plus+ subscription can access two select matches every weekend as confirmed by Movistar Plus+. These games will be broadcast on channels accessible to all abonados: Movistar Plus+ (dial 7) and Vamos por M+ (dial 8).
This arrangement complements the existing coverage options available in the Spanish market. For those seeking comprehensive access, the distribution of Liga Endesa rights remains multifaceted:
- DAZN: Offers all Liga Endesa matches live and on-demand via its Premium and basketball packages.
- Movistar Plus+ (Sports Package): Customers with the sports package continue to have full access to the league via DAZN Basketball channels on their decoders and the Movistar Plus+ app.
- Orange TV: Customers with the “todo el fútbol” (all football) package can access the complete Liga Endesa coverage through DAZN Basketball channels and the DAZN application.
- TV3 / 3Cat: In Catalonia, one match per matchday is broadcast every Sunday morning in open air via TV3 and the 3Cat digital platform per ACB.com.
How to Watch: Upcoming Matchday Details
The implementation of this new coverage model begins immediately, coinciding with matchday 26 of the Liga Endesa. The schedule for the upcoming Sunday, April 12, highlights the types of high-profile clashes that will now be available to all Movistar subscribers.
Fans can tune in to the following fixtures on Sunday, April 12:
- Unicaja vs. Valencia Basket: 12:30h on Movistar Plus+, dial 7.
- Kosner Baskonia vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria: 18:00h on Vamos por M+, dial 8.
These specific broadcasts are strategically timed to capture the “decisive moment” of the season, as both matchups carry significant playoff implications for the teams involved.
The Stakes: Playoff Race and League Standings
The timing of this shift in Movistar Plus Liga ACB coverage is vital because the league table is currently witnessing a fierce battle for positioning. Real Madrid, led by Sergio Scariolo, continues to dominate the standings with 23 victories as reported by Movistar Plus+.
While Real Madrid holds a comfortable lead, the race for the subsequent playoff seeds is tightly contested. Valencia Basket currently holds the second position, trailing the leaders by four wins. Meanwhile, UCAM Murcia has emerged as a primary revelation of the season, consolidating its position with 18 wins.
| Team | Status/Wins | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 23 Wins | League Leader |
| Valencia Basket | 2nd Place | Primary Challenger |
| UCAM Murcia | 18 Wins | Season Revelation |
| Kosner Baskonia | 18 Wins | Playoff Contender |
| Barça | 17 Wins | Playoff Contender |
| Asisa Joventut | 16 Wins | Playoff Contender |
| La Laguna Tenerife | 15 Wins | Playoff Contender |
| Unicaja | Playoff Contender | Fighting for Top 8 |
| MoraBanc Andorra | Relegation Zone | Fighting for Permanence |
| Covirán Granada | Relegation Zone | Fighting for Permanence |
A Broader Basketball Portfolio for Movistar
This agreement allows Movistar Plus+ to maintain its status as a comprehensive destination for basketball fans, effectively filling the gap left by the loss of exclusive Liga Endesa rights. By partnering with DAZN, the operator ensures that its subscribers do not lose touch with the domestic game while continuing to offer a wide array of international competitions.
Beyond the Liga ACB, Movistar’s current basketball offering remains robust, featuring the pan-European men’s and women’s EuroLeague, events organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the North American NBA per Sportcal. This diversified portfolio allows the operator to cater to both the local Spanish enthusiast and the global basketball follower.
The move reflects a broader trend in sports broadcasting where “hybrid” models—combining exclusive streaming rights with wider linear television distribution—are becoming more common to maximize viewership and sponsorship value during critical tournament phases.
The next confirmed checkpoint for fans is the upcoming matchday on Sunday, April 12, which will serve as the first practical application of this expanded coverage for the general Movistar Plus+ subscriber base.
Do you think these broadcasting changes make it easier to follow the Liga Endesa? Share your thoughts in the comments below or share this update with fellow basketball fans.