December 14, 2011 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced a comprehensive multiyear marketing partnership that will make Sprint the Official Wireless Service Partner of the NBA.
As part of the partnership Sprint will reach the broad and passionate fan base of the NBA through a wide array of assets, including marquee league events, television and digital exposure, and customized NBA mobile content for its customers.
A key element of the Sprint – NBA partnership is the development of a new custom app called “Sprint NBA Mobile” which will be the most comprehensive app in the marketplace for NBA fans. The app will include access to in-game and post-game video highlights, news, scores, stats, live home and away radio broadcasts, in addition to providing direct access to live ESPN NBA Games via Sprint TV’s ESPN Channel. “Sprint NBA Mobile” will be available on Android phones exclusively to Sprint customers by the tip-off of the season and will be offered at no additional cost with unlimited usage with an Everything Data Plan. The “Sprint NBA Mobile” app will also be updated with additional elements throughout the course of the season.
“Only Sprint delivers the NBA without limits to fans with truly unlimited plans, so fans can watch and listen to live games from their phones or check scores and stats as much as they want without worry,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO.
“NBA fans are leading an increasingly mobile lifestyle, which makes Sprint an ideal partner to help them connect with our game at anytime, from anywhere,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “We look forward to working with Sprint to provide fans unlimited access to the NBA, beginning with the launch of the new, jointly developed Sprint NBA Mobile application.”
Fans looking to get even more NBA live action will be able to purchase NBA LEAGUE PASS MOBILE through the Sprint NBA Mobile app at an exclusive 20 percent discount off the subscription fee for Sprint customers only. NBA LEAGUE PASS MOBILE will offer up to 40 out-of-market games per week.
Sprint will also unveil a marketing campaign to support the partnership with broadcast and digital elements that show how Sprint’s Unlimited data plan provides its customers access to the NBA through the Sprint NBA Mobile app.
Sprint will serve as the presenting partner of digital promotion for Christmas Day games and will also be the presenting partner of the NBA All-Star Balloting program, which allows fans globally to vote to determine the starters for the NBA All-Star Game. It will also be the title partner of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and the NBA All-Star Pre-Game Concert, held before the NBA All-Star Game. Sprint will be an associate partner of NBA All-Star Jam Session, and the presenting partner of the NBA All-Star E-Recycling event, an electronic waste collection and recycling event. In addition to Sprint’s involvement with NBA All-Star activities, it will also be an associate partner of the NBA Draft and the presenting partner of NBA Green Week.
