Several National Basketball Association regular-season games will have a
distinct Spanish-language flavor beginning next season due to the league's new
three-year distribution deal with Telemundo Communications Group Inc., announced
Tuesday.
The deal calls for the Spanish-language service to air 15 regular-season NBA
games live on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, as well as up to 10 Women's
National Basketball Association games beginning with the 2003 season,
representatives from both companies said.
Telemundo and the league will also create a weekly 30-minute youth-oriented
basketball-highlight show.
NBA commissioner David Stern said the deal coincides with the league's
aggressive marketing plan to reach the burgeoning Hispanic market. Last June,
the league provided Spanish-language coverage of the 2002 NBA Finals via
television, radio and the Internet.
'The NBA has undertaken an integrated marketing program directed to the
Hispanic market, [and] this new partnership will be one of the pillars of our
efforts,' he added.
Telemundo joins ESPN, Turner Network Television and broadcast network ABC as
television outlets for NBA regular-season and postseason
games.
