Econet Media to Deliver Live NBA Games and Programming Across TV, Internet and Mobile to Fans in Sub-Saharan Africa -
NBA
AND ECONET MEDIA ANNOUNCE GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE MOST
EXPANSIVE NBA COVERAGE EVER IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
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NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver (left) with Econet Founder and Executive
Chairman Strive
Masiyiwa (right)
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Econet Media Becomes the NBA’s Largest Partner Ever in Africa -
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Econet Media to Deliver Live NBA Games and Programming Across TV,
Internet and Mobile
to
Fans in Sub-Saharan Africa -
JOHANNESBURG
AND NEW YORK –
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Econet, a
multinational, diversified telecommunications group, announced a
multiyear partnership to provide the most expansive NBA coverage ever
across sub-Saharan Africa. The new deal represents the largest ever
for the NBA in Africa and will include NBA content across Econet
Media’s TV, Internet and mobile assets, including the much
anticipated Kwesé viewing platforms and its sports offering, Kwesé
Sports, beginning within the 2016-17 NBA season.
As
the Official Broadcaster of the NBA in sub-Saharan Africa, Econet
Media will provide fans with access to more live NBA games and events
than ever before, including in excess of 500 games each year.
Coverage will include regular-season and playoff NBA games, NBA
All-Star, the NBA Conference Finals, The NBA Finals, the NBA Draft,
regular-season and playoff WNBA games, as well as original NBA TV
programming including NBA Gametime, NBA Inside Stuff, NBA Action,
Hardwood Classic games and more.
Econet
Media will distribute NBA content in English, French and Portuguese
on leading pay television platforms across sub-Saharan Africa,
including Econet Media’s Kwesé Sports channel, on its Internet-,
mobile- and satellite-based platforms. Econet Media will supplement
its distribution with significant free-to-air coverage.
In
addition to live games, Econet Media will produce a slate of original
NBA content to support its coverage of the NBA on Kwesé Sports and
will carry the League’s 24/7 dedicated channel, NBA TV, on the
Kwesé TV platform.
“The
NBA is a premium
sports brand and shares our vision for delivering a premium sports
offering across Africa,” said
Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet.
“The
enthusiasm and popularity of this globally recognized sport is
rapidly
growing across our youthful continent, and we are committed to giving
more people greater access to this exciting game across all
platforms.”
“Econet
Media is the ideal partner to extend our reach in sub-Saharan Africa,
and we are excited to welcome them to the NBA family,” said NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver. “Following the success of our first NBA
game in Africa last summer, we look forward to working with Econet
Media to engage and grow our fanbase across the region.”
“This
historic partnership will deliver the NBA to a region with more than
900 million people and reflects our commitment to partnering with
leading African companies to grow basketball across the continent,”
said NBA
Vice President & Managing Director for Africa Amadou Gallo Fall.
In
addition to its television coverage, Econet Media will provide
significant Internet and mobile distribution of NBA content through
its operation of NBA.com/Africa. The new destination will provide
fans in sub-Saharan Africa with extensive video highlights, news,
stats and scores and original digital content, as well as the NBA’s
first ever official fantasy game in sub-Saharan Africa. Econet Media
will also distribute NBA content to mobile subscribers, including
daily video highlights, behind-the-scenes footage and other original
content featuring NBA players and personalities.
The
NBA has a long history in Africa with a record 10 African players on
opening-night rosters for the 2015-16 NBA season. Through
“NBA Cares,” 61 places where kids and families can live, learn or
play have been created in Africa, and “Basketball without Borders
Africa” has been held 13 times. The league opened an African
headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2010. On
August 1, 2015, Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg hosted NBA Africa
Game 2015, the first NBA game on the continent, in a Team Africa
versus Team World format. For more information on the NBA in Africa,
fans can visit www.NBA.com/Africa;
Facebook.com/NBAAfrica
and Twitter @NBA_Africa.
For
more information on Kwesé Sports, log on to www.kwesesports.com
and like Facebook.com/KweseSports.
About
Econet Media
Econet
Media is a subsidiary company of Econet, a
leading
diversified
telecommunications group with investments and operations across
Africa, Europe, South
America and
the East Asia Pacific Rim. The group was founded by one of Africa’s
leading entrepreneurs Strive Masiyiwa, who serves as Executive
Chairman.
The group’s subsidiaries include mobile wireless operations,
satellite services, the continent’s largest terrestrial fibre
network (Liquid Telecom) and a range of mobile education, health and
financial services products. Kwesé
TV is Econet Media’s soon-to-be-launched pan-African entertainment
platform that includes broadcast, mobile and internet-based viewing
options. For more information about Kwesé
Sports, please log on to www.kwesesports.com.