Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has renewed its rights for the National Basketball Association in a multi-year deal which will expand the level of the league’s coverage in China.
CCTV, which has shown the league in China since 1987, will continue to show live, delayed and highlights coverage on the CCTV-5 channel, and other NBA programming. Live games will be shown each week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Further games will be shown on tape-delay in primetime.
The matches covered will be from the regular season, playoffs, and will include live coverage of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, the NBA Finals and NBA All-Star events including the All-Star Game, State Farm NBA All-Star Saturday Night and the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge.
CCTV-5 and the NBA will also jointly create a new weekly NBA-themed programme made exclusive for the Chinese market, featuring match analysis and other reports. The show will be aired in a primetime slot.
CCTV’s coverage will include the regular season and play-offs, the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, the NBA Finals and NBA All-Star events including the All-Star Game, State Farm NBA All-Star Saturday Night and the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge.