The National Basketball Association announced its tie up with a content creation and communications firm to operate a customised NBA’s official digital destination in the country, NBA.com in India on Wednesday.
As part of the tie-up with “120 Media Collective”, geo-targeted NBA.com would have a special section on Sim Bhullar, the first player of Indian descent to play in the NBA, and Satnam Singh - the first Indian player to be drafted into the NBA.
The announcement was made at a media conference at Mumbai by the NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum, in the presence of 120 Media Collective Founder and CEO, Roopak Saluja, and NBA India Managing Director, Yannick Colaco.
India is a very important market for us. With a population of 1.2 billion people it has a huge number of youth.Mark Tatum
“Our focus has been on building the game with a number of grass-root events. This is the first digital venture in the country now,” said Colaco.
NBA.com in India would feature personalised settings for fans to follow their favourite NBA teams and players, an NBA Fit corner with instructional basketball content, and “Supreme Courts” showcasing the best basketball courts across the country.
Through the digital destination, fans would also be able to access NBA League Pass, the league’s digital package offering a full season of ‘live’ NBA games and a rich archive of NBA content.
The popularity of basketball in India has never been stronger, and our newly re-designed digital destination will provide Indian fans with instant access to NBA news and content. We are committed to the growth of basketball in India, and we will continue working with our partners to introduce new ways for fans to experience the NBA.Mark Tatum
Along with the customised NBA.com in India, the league features 19 international online destinations and the digital destination in India will continue to introduce new features in the coming months, it was stated in a media release.
The League opened its office in Mumbai in 2011 and as part of its commitment to grow basketball in India, the League has hosted touring basketball events, grassroots development and talent search programmes.
Since 2006, more than 30 current and former NBA and WNBA players have also visited India, including Satnam Singh, Sim Bhullar, Muggsy Bogues, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Pau Gasol, Robert Horry, Dwight Howard, Briann January, Jason Richardson and Brian Shaw, the release added.
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