The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Tencent, a global digital company founded in Shenzhen in 1998, have announced a nine-year partnership that includes, digital media rights and Tencent hosting FIBA website in China. Tencent is China’s most used internet service, which includes its leading internet platforms that have created the largest internet community in China. FIBA has started this partnership, “to further the the promotion and development of basketball in China,” according to FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann.
With the partnership, FIBA wants basketball fans in China to see all the events and the extra programming that they produce. In the past China hasn’t had all the programming and this partnership could further the growth of basketball in China and FIBA’s physical and digital reach. Tencent has a lot a past experience with sports and broadcasting, as it is the official partner of the NBA in China since last year, and they plan to, “deliver rich content and premium game watching as well as interactive experience through PC, mobile and OTT platforms.” said Caitlyn Chen, corporate Vice President of Tencent.
This agreement comes at the start of the FIBA’s new competition system, set to begin in 2017. The system, much like the FIFA competition system, includes a World Cup every four years, qualification rounds, possibility for Olympic qualifications, and 32 teams from around the globe. The first World Cup will occur in 2019.
FIBA preparing for action and solidifying key partnerships: https://t.co/RFCdGVomCi
— GSAnalytics (@GlobalLytics) May 19, 2016