2010/11 season sees record sponsor cast - nationwide TV coverage ties in with high audience figures from last year

Beijing, China, 10 December 2010 – Infront Sports & Media and the CBA League are entering their sixth year of successful partnership with today’s launch of the new CBA League season. The 2010/11 season is complemented by a record cast of 19 commercial partners and television coverage on 20 channels across the country, building on last season’s strong audience figures. In total, 17 clubs are competing in what is now one of the most important basketball leagues worldwide.

A premium property
The CBA League is Asia’s leading sports league and the premium property in basketball, China’s most popular team sport. This, the 16th season in the history of the competition, will consist of 272 regular games and 37 Play-Offs, as well as the CBA All-Star Weekend on 18–20 March 2010 at the famous Wukesong Arena in Beijing. The opening game will feature Zhejiang Guangsha Lions and Fujian Xunxing of Hangzhou. The two teams ranked number three and seven in the 2009/10 season.

 

Infront China has been working with the CBA in a joint-venture partnership since May 2005, developing, promoting and marketing every aspect of the League and raising international awareness of Chinese basketball, with great success. The 2009/10 season saw an 80% increase in revenue for the CBA compared to the previous season.

 

For the upcoming season, the growing appeal of the league is reflected in the calibre of the players. There are now 32 foreign players registered to play for CBA clubs, including nine who have previously played in the NBA like Steve Francis (Beijing Ducks), Stephon Marbury (Foshan Nengxing Cuiyi) and Fred Jones (Guangdong Hongyuan Tigers). Among top Chinese players who have previously played in the NBA are Wang Zhizhi (Bayi Army Rockets) and Mengke Bateer (Xinjiang Flying Tigers).

 

Building up on last year’s strong TV figures
This season, 20 television channels will broadcast the CBA games across the country, with CCTV-5 featuring the opening game in Hangzhou and at least one other game from each round live. Other local channels will live broadcast the home games of their regional teams, whilst Netease.com – provider of the CBA League official website – offers live coverage of 120 matches through its digital platform. This level of coverage demonstrates that the CBA League is currently the most popular indigenous sports programming on television in China.

 

This is underlined by the good TV figures from last year. The 2009/10 season achieved total broadcast time of 3,500 hours and a cumulative audience of 436 million. The popular CBA All-Star Game reached the highest level to date, at over 16 million and the CBA Finals added a further cumulative audience of 31.5 million. 

 

Strongest sponsorship support ever
The new season has a record total of 19 sponsors, both international and domestic brands. Never before has the CBA League enjoyed such strong interest from sponsors, demonstrating the growing prestige and value of the platform. In addition to those brands with a long-standing partnership with the League, such as Anta, new companies like Konica Minolta have also climbed on board this year.

 

The sponsor line-up includes four Official Partners – Anta (sports apparel), UPS (express & logistics), NetEase (internet products & services) and 360buy.com (e-business) – and six Official Sponsors. These are Nike (official ball), TCL (electronics), Konica Minolta (office equipment), Ningbo Qishuai Electrical Applicance, Dubon Insurance and PAK (electrical devices). Nine Official Providers round off the portfolio, including Tissot (watches), Zengzhi Jeans (garment), Jiangsu Jinling Sports Equipment, Fujian SBS Zipper Science and Technology (garment), Skins Compression Garments, Oriental Qisheng Technology Ltd. (electronics & technology), Hua Shan Mineral Water (beverages), San Gou (beverages) and Wan Hao (LED lighting).

 

Ma Guoli, Managing Director Infront China, said: “Players, clubs, coaches and the CBA as governing body have all worked together and – step by step – developed the League into the leading sports property in China today. Its popularity is unparalleled and the commercial success of the Infront/CBA partnership goes from strength to strength. The commitment of 19 international and domestic brands clearly demonstrates that the CBA League is considered the best sponsorship platform in China right now.”

 

Teams of the 2010/11 CBA League
The 17 teams competing in the 2010/11 CBA League include last season’s champion Guangdong Hongyuan Tigers as well as the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, the Shanghai Dongfang Sharks, the Liaoning Panpan Dinosaurs, the Jiangsu Nangang Dragons, Fujian Xunxing, the Bayi Army Rockets, the Shandong Gold Lions, Zhejiang Chouzhou, Dongguan New Century, the Tianjin Ronggang Gold Lions, the Jilin Northeast Tigers, the Shanxi Zhongyu Dragons, the Beijing Shougang Ducks, Tsingtao Double Star and Foshan Nengxing Cuiyi.

 

For more information please contact:

 

Jörg Polzer
Associate Director, Corporate Communications
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
press infrontsports.com
www.infrontsports.com

Jenny Yu
Associate Director, Communication
Infront Sports & Media (China) Co. Ltd.
Tel: +8610 8889 0816
Fax: +86 10 8889 0808/0809
jenny.yu infrontasia.com
www.infrontasia.com