Disney+ entered into a multi-year agreement to broadcast the NBA in the Philippines.
This will bring live coverage on Disney+ and ESPN to the country for the first time, as well as ESPN documentaries and live streams of NBA Countdown.
The deal will begin with a doubleheader on Thursday, November 20, with the Houston Rockets against the Cleveland Cavaliers followed by the New York Knicks against the Dallas Mavericks. This is followed by marquee events such as the NBA on Christmas Day, the NBA Draft and the All-Star Celebrity Game.
Disney+ subscribers in the Philippines will be able to live stream one series of the NBA Conference Finals, with the rest and the NBA Finals available after a delay.
“For millions of Filipinos, basketball is not just a sport – it is a passion, a shared language and a powerful source of national pride,” said Vineet Puri, vice president and general manager of 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 agreement, we bring basketball fans in the Philippines closer than ever to the teams and players they love with all 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 throughout the season, and follow their favorite teams and players on the devices and platforms they use most,” added Kelly Cooke, Head of Content and DTC Partnerships at NBA Asia.
Sporty rights deals are becoming increasingly important for 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 vignette.
In an interview with Deadline last weekCarol Choi, Disney’s head of content for APAC, was keen to manage expectations around sports rights deals, but said: “We’re constantly looking at what’s available and where the market is mature enough to incorporate sports into our offering.”
Eric Schrier, head of Disney TV Studios, in Hong Kong for the Disney APAC Showcase, was more optimistic, telling us: “You’ll see us getting into some sports opportunistically in some local territories. We have that capability in live sports, so globally we’re looking at sports in an opportunistic way where it can complement what we’re trying.”
