LeSports HK nets $1bn NBA rights deal

Chinese online video-streaming giant LeSports HK has announced a five-year partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to provide exclusive NBA coverage in Hong Kong and Macau, following the exclusive FIFA football matches coverage between 2016 and 2018 it has won early this year.The new deal will allow LeSports HK to broadcast NBA content across smart TV, over-the-top set-top boxes and mobile devices effective 26 October, 2016. Coverage includes regular-season and playoff NBA games, NBA All-Star, the NBA Conference Finals, the NBA Finals, the NBA Draft, as well as original NBA programming like NBA Inside Stuff, Inside the NBA, Hardwood Classic games and more.LeSports HK acting CEO Yu Ching Lai said the cooperation with the NBA is a significant step in LeSports HK’s efforts to bring major international sports content to audience.Lai implied that the price was more than 10 digits, meaning more than HK$1 billion.Now TV, who has partnered with NBA for the past six years, said it had submitted a "highly competitive" price, but ultimately failed to make the right play.