ITV

Tag: Yao Ming

  • ESS’ goes through hoops in Taiwan

    ESS’ goes through hoops in Taiwan

    MUMBAI: While it may not be a big sport in India basketball is certainly drawing in fans in large numbers in Taiwan.

    Recognising this ESPN Star Sports (ESS) has netted an agreement with the Taiwan’s Super Basketball League committee to broadcast and market the League’s second season, which begins in December.

    The committee includes the Taiwan Sports Council, the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) and the seven teams that form the Super Basketball League (SBL).

    Under the agreement, ESS will provide coverage and marketing of SBL matches, including related programming for the Taiwan audience that incorporate innovative graphics and interactive elements.

    ESS Greater China MD Kathy Sun said, “We are pleased to work with the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association and the seven basketball teams to market and broadcast the League again, after the success of the first season. Through our partnership with them, we hope to help promote tremendous growth in this sport in Taiwan and lift its development to a higher level.”

    The popularity of basketball in Asia has been boosted by the success of Chinese players overseas like Yao Ming and Wang Zhi Zhi. ESS claims that in Taiwan, an estimated 8.6 million cable viewers tuned in to ESPN and Star Sports to catch the excitement and drama of the NBA last year.

  • ESS acquires NBA telecast rights till 2006

    ESS acquires NBA telecast rights till 2006

    SINGAPORE: ESPN Star Sports, has announced that it has acquired live cable and satellite broadcast rights to NBA for the next four consecutive seasons, the first of which began last week.

    The channels will carry two live games a week during the regular season, the star-studded All-Star Weekend and three live games per week during playoffs. In addition ESPN will carry the entire Western Conference finals of this season as well as the NBA Finals. This agreement covers India, most of Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea. The NBA is also available in China on Star Sports. In the Philippines, there will be two live NBA playoff games each week through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

    An official release informs that with more Asians playing basketball in the NBA, specifically Chinese players, NBA action is gaining ground in Asia. With Mainland Chinese players Wang Zhizhi of the LA Clippers, Mengke Bateer of the San Antonio Spurs, and most recently, top draft pick Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets set to make waves in the NBA, the fan base in the region is expected to expand considerably as more and more Asians get into the game.

    The NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers, with superstars Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, will be looking for a fourth consecutive Championship title, while Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Nets led by Jason Kidd and Chris Webber’s Sacramento Kings will be among a host of teams looking to dethrone them.