A crucial three-game test series between basketball rivals New Zealand and Australia – with the victor guaranteed a place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics – will screen live and free-to-air on Māori Television next month (August).

The NZ Tall Blacks and the Boomers will contest the 2007 FIBA Oceania Men’s Championship in Melbourne on Monday August 20; Sydney on Wednesday August 22; and Brisbane on Friday August 24.

Māori Television’s coverage – TALL BLACKS ’07 – will include a build-up programme with studio presenters Te Arahi Maipi and Tania Tupu followed by live court action with guest commentators Jenny-May Coffin and Jeff Green.

Māori Television chief executive Jim Mather says the Oceania championship looms as possibly the most keenly anticipated contest in the history of New Zealand and Australian basketball.

No-one ever expected the Tall Blacks to beat their neighbours in the historic 2001 series win that catapulted the Kiwi men to the FIBA World Championships in Indianapolis. Their semi-final finish there paved the way for the trans-Tasman rivals to both contest the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2006 World Championships.

But with the Beijing Olympics looming next year, there is only room for one team to progress direct out of Oceania. The losers of next month’s qualifying series will get another chance but will have to take on several of the world's best teams in a repechage tournament in Europe – possibly a tougher assignment than the Olympics themselves.

In July last year, Māori Television scored a major broadcasting coup when it screened the deciding game in the Trans-Tasman series between the Tall Blacks and the Boomers. Australia lost on points count-back to the Kiwis after a 2-2 series result.

Now the channel has also secured all 15 home games of the Harvey Norman NZ Breakers as they take on the might of the Australian National Basketball League in the 2007-2008 season. The channel will broadcast the Breakers’ Thursday night home games in the ANBL championship from September 20 to February 7.

Mr Mather says the Oceania championship coverage in August is a further extension of the channel’s relationship with the code of basketball.

“Over the past 10 years, the Tall Blacks have represented New Zealand proudly in a truly competitive, international sport and we are confident they will continue that tradition against the Australians next month.

“Broadcasting New Zealand sport free-to-air – for all Kiwis – is a key strategy for Māori Television to attract more viewers and to build wider audience appeal. We are extremely proud to welcome the national men’s basketball team to our stable of signature sports.”

Tune in to the Olympic qualifying series against Australia when TALL BLACKS ’07 screens on Māori Television on Monday August 20 at 9.00 PM; Wednesday August 22 at 9.00 PM; and Friday August 24 at 9.30 PM.