Senior Vice President, International Media Distribution & Business Operations
National Basketball Association
As Senior Vice President for International Media Distribution & Business Operations, Matt Brabants plays a central role in fueling the league’s international growth, overseeing media distribution, and programming development for the NBA, WNBA, and USA Basketball. Under his direction, NBA games and programming are televised to 215 countries and territories in 47 languages.

During his tenure at the NBA, Brabants has expanded the NBA’s international television presence and oversaw the addition of many first-time league partnerships with well-established media companies. His groundbreaking partnerships include ESPN’s first NBA agreement in the United Kingdom and new or expanded alliances with NTV Plus (Russia), Ten Sports and MSM (India), ESPN Star Sports (Asia), Turner Latin America, Solar Entertainment (Philippines), Dogan TV (Turkey), and SABC (South Africa). In 2011, he finalized an agreement to deliver the first live 3D broadcast of NBA games to more than 100 cinemas around the world. In 2009, he oversaw the launch of the NBA’s first reality television show in China, The NBA Dance Passion. He was also instrumental in the development and launch of the first full-time NBA TV channel outside the United States in 2001. Brabants also manages the NBA's international coverage at all events, including NBA All-Star and The Finals, working closely with all onsite media.

Prior to his promotion to Senior Vice President in January 2011, Brabants was Vice President of the league’s International Media Distribution Department, where he was responsible for overseeing international programming, production, and business operations. Brabants launched his career at the NBA as part of the then-newly adopted management training program and has held a variety of positions over his 15-year tenure at the league.

He is on the board of the Edmund J. Brabants Memorial Fund, a charitable foundation in honor of his deceased father that is dedicated to providing scholarships to educate and support tomorrow’s leaders.

Brabants graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a bachelor’s degree in television, radio, and film management. He and his wife reside in Westchester, N.Y. with their two daughters.

1/2012