2 December 2004, Hong Kong : Basketball fans in Hong Kong can look forward to some of the best hoop action from the United States, after Asia’s number one sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports netted acquisition rights to broadcast a larger number of ‘live’ games of the NBA on PCCW’s now Broadband TV.
Under the agreement, ESPN STAR Sports will broadcast three ‘live’ NBA matches a week on now Broadband TV. STAR Sports will carry ‘live’ coverage of one match each week on the popular Friday morning time belt while ESPN will broadcast two ‘live’ matches back to back each Saturday morning, bringing a total of 46 live matches broadcast on ESPN and 24 on STAR Sports.
In addition, four additional play-off matches will be carried ‘live’, two for Round 1 and two for Round 2.
ESPN STAR Sports’ coverage of the NBA also includes All-Star Game, All-Star Saturday, one Conference Final and the Finals. PCCW will be the only pay TV operator to broadcast the NBA Finals on ESPN.
Said Adam Zecha, Senior Vice-President of Affiliate Sales. ESPN STAR Sports, ‘Basketball fans in Hong Kong can look forward to some of the best NBA action in the 2004/2005 season. In addition to bringing ‘live’ matches during the prime Friday and Saturday morning slots, ESPN STAR Sports’ coverage is supported by a line-up of programming such as ‘NBA Action’ and ‘Inside Stuff’ that cover match highlights, news and information, as well as pre and post match analysis. We are confident that our viewers will enjoy our expanded coverage and the enjoyment of the game we bring to the market.’
The acquisition adds to an already stellar coverage of ‘must-see’ programming including full and largely exclusive coverage of some of the world’s biggest sporting events like the FA Cup, FA Community Shield, Senior and Under 21 England home matches including the World Cup and European Championship qualifiers, the UEFA Champion’s League, home matches of Fiorentina and Messina in the Italian Serie A Championship, Formula One, the Masters, British and US Open golf majors as well as the Australian and Wimbledon tennis Grand Slams.
For further information, please contact:
Stephenie Vasko, ESPN STAR Sports tel: (65) 6488 6126 or email: vaskos@espnstar.com
Cheryl Sim, ESPN STAR Sports tel: (65) 6488 6134 or email: simc@espnstar.com