Disney+ has struck a multi-year deal to stream the NBA in the Philippines.
This will bring live coverage to Disney+ and ESPN in the country for the first time, along with ESPN documentaries and live broadcasts of NBA Countdown.
The deal kicks off with a doubleheader on Thursday (November 20), with the Houston Rockets at the Cleveland Cavaliers followed by the New York Knicks at the Dallas Mavericks. Following that will be marquee events such as NBA on Christmas Day, the NBA Draft and the All-Star Celebrity Game.
Disney+ subs in the Philippines will be able to stream one NBA Conference Finals series live, with the others and the NBA Finals available after a delay.
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“For millions of Filipinos, basketball isn’t just a sport – it’s a passion, a shared language and a powerful source of national pride,” said Vineet Puri, Vice President and General Manager, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia. “The NBA is deeply woven into the fabric of Filipino life, inspiring generations of fans and uniting local communities.
“Through this unique deal, we are bringing basketball fans in the Philippines closer than ever to the teams and players they love with all the NBA-focused programming while enjoying the best in global entertainment all on Disney+.”
“Our collaboration with Disney+ Philippines makes it easier than ever for our passionate fans across the country to access the NBA, experience iconic moments from throughout the season and follow their favorite teams and players on the devices and platforms they use most,” added Kelly Cooke, Head of Content Partnerships and DTC at NBA Asia.
Sports rights deals are becoming increasingly important to local streaming services. In Asia-Pacific, Disney+ has primarily focused on securing rights in Australia and New Zealand, where the service has an ESPN+ sports tile.
In an interview with Deadline last week, Disney’s APAC content chief Carol Choi was keen to manage expectation on sports rights deals, but did say: “We are constantly looking at what’s available and where the market is mature enough to integrate sports into our offering.”
Disney TV Studios boss Eric Schrier, in Hong Kong for the Disney APAC Showcase, was more bullish, telling us: “You’ll see us opportunistically get into some sports in some local territories. We have that capability in live sports, so on a global basis, we’re looking at sport in an opportunistic way where it can complement what we’re trying.”