Twitter, Turner Sports Extend Deal for Live and On-Demand NBA Content

The NBA, Twitter, and Turner Sports have announced a multiyear partnership extension that brings more live NBA game and on-demand content to Twitter than ever before. For the second consecutive year, the NBA (through its NBA Digital partnership with Turner Sports) offers a complementary live streaming option for the second halves of at least 20 NBA on TNT games, featuring heavily anticipated regular-season games as well as the All-Star Game and at least 16 playoff games, including the Western Conference Finals.

“As early adopters of the social platform, it is exciting to see the #NBATwitter community grow into one of the largest and most active social media fan bases in the world,” said Sam Farber, NBA Vice President, Digital Media.  “As part of our extended partnership, #NBATwitter will drive interest in live NBA games, inform fans where to watch the action and bring fans closer to the league, teams and players through the NBA on TNT second-screen streaming experience.”

“#NBATwitter is in a league of its own, as one of the most engaged and influential sports communities on Twitter.  We’re excited to deepen our partnership with the NBA by bringing new and improved LIVE game streams, interactive voting polls, as well as the best of the best NBA video content to further ignite #NBATwitter conversation,” said TJ Adeshola, Head of U.S. Sports Partnerships at Twitter.  “This partnership is a perfect match.  Not only does it give fans more of what they want to see, it provides an ideal canvas for marketers to connect with what’s happening in the NBA, on Twitter.”

 2016 NBA Champion and 13-year veteran Channing Frye will serve as analyst for the #NBATwitterLive stream alongside a rotating panel of NBA influencers who will also add commentary live for each game available from the @NBAonTNT Twitter handle.  Each single-player, isolated-camera feed will be voted on by fans from an @NBA poll for the player they want to see featured during the second-screen, live stream experience available in the United States.

This season, the NBA and Twitter launched a series of new on-demand franchises and more live content for fans globally, including player pregame warmups and, for the first time ever, Q&As for the playoffs and Finals.  In addition, fans are now able to vote on their favorite plays, moments, and teams to watch during pregame warmups for select games.  The NBA will continue to provide on-demand content from the @NBA Twitter handle, including video of the best game highlights, behind-the-scenes content and weekly #NBATwitter recaps.

Since joining Twitter in 2009, the NBA has built one of the largest Twitter communities in the world, with more than 437 million followers globally across all league, team and player platforms.