(From left) NBA China CEO David Shoemaker, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Shanghai Media Group President Wang Jianjun and Shanghai Oriental Pearl Media President Zhang Wei pose at the NBA-BesTV partnership press conference in Shanghai on Sunday. (Sun Xiaochen / China Daily)
NBA China and BesTV, a member of the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group, announced on Sunday that they are expanding their partnership to deliver extensive NBA games and programming to fans in China.
The NBA's partnership with the Shanghai Media Group (SMG), the parent company of the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group, dates back to the 1996-97 NBA season.
The announcement was made in Shanghai at the Mercedes-Benz Arena by Madam Wang Jianjun, president of SMG and NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith and nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton were also in attendance to hear the announcement prior to the clash between the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the NBA Global Games China 2016 presented by Master Kong.
As the Official Multimedia Partner of the NBA in China, BesTV and SMG's extensive media platforms will offer nearly 1,300 NBA games to viewers each year.
NBA games and programming will be made available through the NBA Zone subscription service across BesTV's platforms, including via IPTV, set-top boxes, BesTV's mobile app, and BesTV and Funshion-branded smart TVs. Broadcasts and content will also, for the first time, be delivered to televisions via the Xbox games console. Fans will also be able to view NBA games on-demand through these services.
On SMG, fans will be able to access NBA content through GreatSports, SiTV and Dragon Satellite TV via cable, digital cable and satellite television.
"Through BesTV and the Shanghai Media Group's expansive platforms, we will provide NBA fans with even more access to our games and content throughout the year," said Silver. "Most importantly, these efforts will help us continue to grow the game of basketball in China."
Coverage throughout the year on BesTV and SMG will include regular-season and playoff NBA games, the NBA All-Star Game, the NBA Conference Finals, the NBA Finals, the NBA Draft, as well as original NBA programming and highlights.
