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NBA and NuSports Team Up to Unveil Live Video Webcasts and Video-on-Demand of NBA Games in China; Live NBA Games, Classic Contests, NBA Action and Top 10 Plays of the Day Now Available on NuSports.cnBEIJING --(Business Wire)-- Feb. 8, 2006 -- NuSports has teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to unveil live video webcasts and video-on-demand (VOD) of NBA games in China, as part of a new relationship that will feature top NBA programming on NuSports' Web site, www.nusports.cn, for the remainder of the 2005-06 NBA season. The announcement further expands the NBA's overall coverage in China, which currently consists of 24 broadcast partners. NBA fans in China will have access to 42 live webcasts and VOD of NBA games from the current season, including 30 regular season and 12 Playoff games, along with 20 NBA classic games on NuSports' Web site. The live NBA games will be called in Mandarin by experienced NBA broadcasters and will remain on the site for 24 hours for fans to view on-demand. NBA Action, a half-hour weekly program featuring top NBA video highlights of the week, Top 10 Plays of the Day and live webcasts of 2006 WNBA games will also be available for fans to view through NuSports. The live webcasts, and all NBA broadband video content on the Web site, will be available to users in China for free. Along with the NBA live webcasts and programming, NuSports will also debut a free on-line NBA fantasy game in China, allowing fans to be a General Manager and create their own NBA teams. Real-time statistics, statistical leaders, scores, player statistics, transactions and injury reports will be provided in conjunction with the fantasy game. "We are delighted to work with NuSports to make live NBA action and programming available to fans in China through this important and growing platform," said Scott Levy, Senior Vice President, International Television and Marketing Partnerships, NBA. "As technology gives us more opportunities to connect with our fan base around the world, our partnership with NuSports will help bring the NBA experience to more fans in China at their convenience." "With the rapidly growing number of broadband users in China, our collaboration will certainly deliver the best NBA programming to even more fans in China," said Chang Li Cheng, CEO of NuCom Media Group International. "Through our website, fans in China can now enjoy their favorite basketball league in a whole new way." Overall, more than half of the NBA's 30 teams will be featured in the live webcasts including the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. For a complete schedule of the live video webcasts of NBA games fans can go to www.nusports.cn or NBA.com/china. NuSports will also work with the NBA on selected programs and activities this coming summer to continue to grow the game of basketball and bring positive influences to communities across China through the NBA Cares program. Through NBA Cares, the league players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than 1 million hours of hands-on volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 places where kids can learn and play over the next five years. NBA.com was the first professional sports league in the U.S. to offer language-specific international Web destinations for fans, including the launch of NBA.com/China in November 2002. The NBA continues to gain popularity in China as 30 million viewers' watch NBA programming via 24 television outlets including national TV station China Central Television, merchandise is sold in over 20,000 retail outlets throughout the country and the NBA has signed five new marketing partners in China since 2005-2006. About NuSports With a sports broadband platform www.NuSports.cn launched in Dec,2005, NuSports provides a 24-7 online video streaming service which consists of top interactive live game webcasting, collection of game highlights, virtual online sports games and other services to satisfy all sports fans' desire. Acknowledging the developing trend concerning broadband, internet technology, and 3G market, NuSports offers the value-added services based on multimedia (broadband, IPTV, mobile network, and 3G streaming media) and strives to emerge as the leader in the following fields: licensing and managing digital sports content, providing broadband sports content, interactive sports commercial platform, and fee-based community. About the NBA The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2005-06 season, the NBA will distribute 44,000 hours of programming to 215 countries and territories in 43 languages. The league's worldwide reach can also be seen with 82 international players on NBA rosters. Domestically, the NBA will broadcast 142 games on national television this season on ABC, TNT, ESPN and ESPN2, and is on pace to eclipse attendance records for the third consecutive season. As the NBA continues to gain global popularity, the leagues international business continues to thrive. NBA programming currently reaches 3.1 billion viewers worldwide, merchandise is sold in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents, NBA.com gets more than half of its visitors from outside the United States and the league has a record 19 global and country-specific marketing partners. As fans witness tremendous performances on the court, some of the NBA's most significant efforts occur off the court. This past year, the league launched its most ambitious community outreach endeavor, NBA Cares. Over a five-year span, players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than one million hours of volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 educational and athletic facilities where children can learn and play. For more information on the NBA, visit NBA.com. |
