MUMBAI: National Basketball Association (NBA) and Multi Screen Media (MSM) have announced an extension of their partnership. It will provide up to 14 live NBA games per week on the channel. The partnership was first announced during 2010-11 NBA season. 

With expansion of the partnership, Sony SIX will broadcast up to two regular-season games per day, in addition to NBA All-Star, the playoffs and The Finals.  Sony SIX will also create customized lifestyle-oriented, off-the-court programming from the NBA, Sony entertainment and Bollywood. 

Sony SIX and KIX business head Prasana Krishnan commented, “Our partnership with the NBA has seen basketball become the fastest growing sport in India over the last few years. This clearly indicates that the TV viewing audience for the NBA will continue to rise. The launch of our customized local LIVE NBA wraparound program will also bring sports fans closer to the on-court action.”

NBA India managing director Yannick Colaco asserted, “We are excited to extend our partnership with Sony SIX to continue delivering comprehensive coverage of the NBA to our fans. The popularity of the NBA continues to grow and, through the diversity of NBA programming on Sony SIX, we will continue attracting and engaging with existing and new viewers alike across India.”

Sony SIX will 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 prime time every day of the season.  The weekly highlight shows, hosted by a local anchor, will recap all the happenings around the NBA during the past week. 

For the first time in India, the NBA and Sony SIX will introduce a customized, local live NBA wraparound program every weekend throughout the season, bringing viewers closer to the game.  The program will be hosted by a panel of basketball experts that will provide analysis and insight on all of the latest NBA news.

The NBA and Sony SIX will focus on the development of basketball in India, beginning with the return of NBA Jam on 24 October.  With expansion of the partnership, more NBA players, legends and dance teams will visit India throughout the year.

The coverage of the 2015-16 NBA season by Sony SIX will begin 28 October 2015.