ESS expands partnership with ABL

ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) and ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) have expanded their partnership with the launch of "ABL Friday Basketball" on ESS networks from January 2013 onwards. The new partnership is in line with plans to bolster ABL's coverage and sees new commercial agreements.In addition to the Live broadcast on television, the matches will also be available online and on mobile. Under the new partnership there will also be additional programming on ESPN STAR Sports in the upcoming season that includes the weekly show ‘ABL Crossover', a magazine-style programme.ABL Crossover includes off-court segments with a lifestyle spin as well as game highlights, news and interviews with ABL personalities across the region.The new partnership also includes social media campaigns that raise engagement levels with basketball fans across Asia. ESS will work with the ABL to further build upon its promotional efforts through ESS' on-air networks, digital media assets including regional ESPNSTAR.COM and dedicated sites ESPNSTAR.MY and ESPNSTAR.ID in Malaysia and Indonesia respectively.The ABL will also have additional news coverage on SportsCenter, Score Tonight and on the 24-hour sports news channel, ESPNEWS.Anthony L. Macri, ABL CEO said the ABL has grown from strength to strength since its first year with increasing engagement on its social media platforms. "This is a perfect partnership with ESPN STAR Sports to increasing the ABL's profile in the region," he said.