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| NBA and Smart launch NBA’s official digital destination in the Philippines |
Game highlights, stats, standings, scores, schedules, and more will be available on the online NBA destination for Filipino fans. NBA.com/Philippines will also provide regional material, such as recaps and commentary from its team of sports analysts and basketball personalities and a weekly podcast dubbed "NBA Hype Squad," which will include conversations presented by local influencers about the latest league coverage. Smart will provide its prepaid and postpaid customers with access to editorial material on NBA.com/Philippines without incurring data costs as part of its promotions.
“As we continue to broaden our digital presence in the Philippines, we're excited to partner with Smart and relaunch NBA.com/Philippines,” said Ramez Sheikh, NBA Asia Head of Global Marketing and Media Delivery. “With quick access to NBA news and original content, fans will be able to communicate with their favorite teams and stars via our updated destination.”
Smart President and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said, "This is a massive achievement not just for Smart, but also for Filipino fans who now have a dedicated new outlet to watch their idols, keep up to date on sports, and connect with fans who share the same love for hardcourt play." “NBA.com/Philippines expands our NBA offers for Smart subscribers, exemplifying our “It's all here” marketing tagline and demonstrating our dedication to bringing the world's premier basketball league closer to fans around the Philippines.”
Subscribing to NBA League Pass, which is available in monthly and 3-Game Option bundles for Php 485 and Php 85, respectively, allows smart users to watch the 2020-21 NBA season. NBA League Pass is the most advanced live and on-demand access to an entire season of NBA games in high-definition with live stats and additional camera angles, like NBA Smartphone View, which gives a closer look at the action tailored for mobile streaming.
Smart prepaid customers can also watch the NBA TV Philippines live stream by subscribing to one of Smart's data bundles by dialing *123#, picking GIGA VIDEO 99, and registering their phone number and ticket number on NBA.Smart. GIGA VIDEO gives you 1 GB of data per week to view videos on NBA League Pass, YouTube, and Cignal Play, as well as 2 GB of additional data.
NBA Partners with Cignal and Smart; TV5 and ONE Sports Channels to Televise NBA Games (7/27/20)
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has inked a multi-year partnership with Cignal TV, Inc. (Cignal) and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) to deliver NBA games and programming in the Philippines through different mediums, such as free-to-air channels, satellite television, and over-the-top streaming.
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| NBA Partners with Cignal and Smart; TV5 and ONE Sports Channels to Televise NBA Games |
“The NBA restart is set against a uniquely challenging moment in time for our fans in the Philippines, who are among the most passionate and dedicated NBA supporters in the world,” said NBA Asia Managing Director Scott Levy. “We are excited to partner with Cignal and Smart to bring NBA games to a nationwide audience, and we hope to play a role in lifting the spirits of Filipinos by bringing our fans together through their shared love of the game.”
“We at Cignal TV are extremely thrilled to bring the world’s biggest basketball league back to every Filipino home,” said Cignal TV President and CEO Robert Galang. “Our partnership with the NBA is a huge milestone in our mission to bring the best content to our viewers and subscribers. With three channels broadcasting the games, Filipinos now have the chance to experience the NBA live on free TV channels TV5 and ONE Sports, and on Cignal TV’s NBA TV Philippines in high definition. The game we all love is now truly home.”
“As some of the world’s biggest basketball fans, the hunger for live basketball action is in our DNA,” said Smart President and CEO Alfredo Panlilio. “This is why we at Smart could not contain our excitement as we partner with the NBA to bring the world’s premier basketball league to the fingertips of Filipinos. This reinforces our commitment to bring amazing experiences through technology made simple by Smart.”
Starting this coming July 31, Friday, the TV5 and ONE Sports channels will broadcast live NBA games for the first time, including four games weekly. These national free-to-air channels will also broadcast select seeding and playoff games through the first and second rounds. The whole Conference Finals will be televised between two channels, while the NBA Finals will be exclusively aired on TV5.
Also Read: Philippines Top 4 Most Improved in Video Experience, Smart Offers Better Video Experience - OpenSignal
Meanwhile, pay-TV provider Cignal will launch the localized version of the NBA TV, simply dubbed as NBA TV Philippines, which will be the NBA's dedicated 24/7 channel locally. It will feature live games as well as original content in high definition.
On the other hand, Smart will continue to distribute NBA League Pass and will introduce a new over-the-top streaming platform where they will live stream NBA TV Philippines exclusively for their subscribers. In addition, Smart will relaunch NBA.com/Philippines later this year.