MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) and the NBA Monday announced that beginning the 2017-18 NBA season, NBA games will be broadcast live with Hindi commentary every weekend on Sony TEN 3 and Sony TEN 3 HD, a package of close to 100 NBA games, including the Regular Season and Playoffs.
The games will continue to be simulcast with English commentary on SONY SIX and SONY SIX HD.
The initiative is aimed at engaging a wider set of fans with Hindi as their primary language.
The Hindi commentary will be presented by an expert panel of commentators which will include celebrity NBA fans. The commentators have undergone rigorous training to fine tune their abilities in presenting NBA games, which included personalized training by long-time Indiana Pacers’ play-by-play announcer Chris Denari.
The league has also associated with popular NBA and basketball influencers such as Bollywood actor and VJ Rannvijay Singha, popular culture stand-up comedian Gursimran Khamba to be guest commentators on a regular basis.
“We are committed in channeling our efforts towards expanding NBA’s fan base in the country and strengthening our reach,” said Rajesh Kaul, president, Sports and Distribution Business, SPN. “We have seen a consistent increase in viewership over the years for NBA and to keep up this momentum we are continuing our initiative of the Hindi language commentary. A special panel of expert commentators has been engaged to deliver expert analysis in Hindi for each play.”
“Along with our partners, Sony Pictures Network, we are excited to offer Hindi in-game commentary through the 2017-18 season,” said Yannick Colaco, managing director, NBA India. “As a part of our commitment to popularize the game of basketball in India, we will continue to offer more localized programming to engage with a wider audience.”
14 games were aired with Hindi commentary as a trial on Ten 1 last season, and were reportedly viewed by 8.9 million people in the country.
The network will also continue to broadcast daily and weekly NBA highlight shows and integrate daily content from NBA TV, including team previews and recap shows. The daily 30-minute highlight programs will be broadcast in primetime every day of the season. The weekly highlight show – NBA WEEKLY, hosted by a local anchor, will recap all the happenings around the NBA during the past week. The NBA and sports cluster of SPN will also continue the customized, local live NBA wraparound show NBA AROUND THE HOOP every weekend throughout the season to bring viewers closer to the game. The program will be hosted by a panel of basketball experts that will provide analysis and insight on all the latest NBA news.
SPN’s Hindi in-game commentary tips off on SONY TEN 3 & SONY TEN 3 HD, along with the Live wraparound show Around the Hoop, every weekend, starting 21st & 22nd October.
