• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, January 4, 2010

The content amalgam on Versus that goes below the A-list now includes the D-League. The Comcast-owned sports channel with bull riding and NHL games has a deal to air a run of games this winter from the NBA's minor league.

The arrangement with the NBA also includes some shoulder programming.

The network will carry 16 contests (including six playoff games) from the NBA Development League -- with regular-season broadcasts outside of prime time at 11 p.m. EST Saturdays.

Teams in the 9-year-old league play in small markets, from Fort Wayne to Reno to Sioux Falls, but do have players with intriguing story lines trying to make comebacks and return to the NBA. The league's main purpose, however, is for NBA hopefuls.

The D-League will also receive exposure on the league-owned NBA TV this week with a stunt that involves seven games in three days. A slew of league games this winter will also be streamed free on nba.com.

"As we do with all of our partners, we also look forward to super-serving basketball fans by surrounding [the D-League games] ... with many hours of complementary NBA programming," stated Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming for Versus.

That includes 25 hours with profiles of current NBA stars and former players, as well as other classic-style programming.

Looking to jazz up the D-League broadcasts, Versus has rights to place microphones on players and coaches during the games, as well as conduct in-game interviews.