Basketball: NBA offers fans the option to buy just the final quarter of out-of-market games for $3

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James smiles at NBA media day. Photo / AP

Basketball fans have been offered the chance to just buy the final quarter of a NBA match this season.

Fans will be able to purchase a single out-of-market game from the end of the third quarter to the conclusion of the game for US$1.99 (NZ$3).

The deal has been organised by the NBA and Turner Broadcasting, who jointly manage the broadcast and digital coverage of the NBA.

"It's a big moment, but it's also a small first step," NBA commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN. "There are limitations in the technology right now, but we're working as quickly as possible so that, at some point in the near future, fans can choose to buy any part of any game."

By December, the league plans to give fans the option of buying viewing rights by the start of each quarter for a yet-to-be-disclosed price.

"We imagine a situation where a fan has dinner at 8 o'clock and only has 30 minutes and can choose to buy a half-hour of a game," Silver said.

The league also plans on eventually selling packages of 10 minutes of real-time game action.

The price for a full game on NBA.com or on the NBA app, costs NZ$9.99 for Kiwi fans. It's unclear whether the final quarter offer will be made available in New Zealand.

The larger NBA League Pass options include the whole season of games for $324.99 or $42.99 a month. Fans can also buy League Pass for a specific team for $1184.99 or by the month for $21.99.