NBA China, Tencent Launch NBA League Pass in China

NBA China and Tencent Holdings Limited announced the launch of the first-ever NBA LEAGUE PASS in China. The premier live game subscription package, featuring all live NBA games, marks the first time fans in China will have access to the full slate of live NBA games through personal computers and mobile devices.

Available on Tencent Sports, NBA LEAGUE PASS will offer the ultimate viewing experience by providing fans with, initially, two subscription options including the access to all preseason and regular-season NBA games, NBA All-Star, the NBA Playoffs, The Finals, and NBA Summer League, and the single game purchase for fans to watch an NBA game on-demand.

NBA LEAGUE PASS expands Tencent’s live game offering beyond the current 600 games, original NBA programming and game highlights available each year to hundreds of millions of daily Tencent users.

“We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Tencent by launching NBA LEAGUE PASS on digital and mobile platforms for the first time in China,” says NBA China CEO David Shoemaker.  “This new offering is the perfect complement to the existing NBA content on Tencent platforms and is a great way to enhance the fan experience throughout China.”

“Tencent is very excited to introduce NBA LEAGUE PASS to mainland China for the first time and we are looking forward to bringing the full NBA season to our subscribers,” says S.Y. Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of Tencent and President of Tencent’s Online Media Group.  “In the new season, Tencent will continue to provide fans with enjoyable experience through its advanced technology and high-quality products.”

For the 2016-17 season, access to every NBA live game is priced at RMB 1,080 (U.S. $164) and fans can purchase single games for RMB 15 (U.S. $2.20).

In addition to the above NBA LEAGUE PASS, Tencent will also provide fans with a TEAM PASS offering within Tencent Sports Service at RMB 360 (U.S. $55), which includes all the games for one NBA team.

NBA China and Tencent launched a five-year expansion of their partnership in January 2015, creating the league’s largest international partnership and making Tencent the Exclusive Official Digital Broadcasting Partner in China.  Under this partnership, Tencent live streamed a record 600 games during the 2015-16 season while providing a wide range of NBA programming.

In April 2016, NBA China and Tencent also launched the league’s first NBA App in China to deliver the best Chinese-language fan mobile experience to millions of fans in the country.