NBA: Rakuten distributor of "NBA League Pass" in Japan and marketing partner from 2017-18

Rakuten, a Japanese group specialising in internet services, e-commerce, finance, and digital content, has acquired the exclusive distribution, in Japan, of the broadcasting rights for all live NBA games, on 09/10/2017. Rakuten has also become a "global marketing partner" of the North American professional basketball league.

The partnership, the exact duration of which has not been communicated, will span several years, according to the NBA. US media have reported an amount of $225m (€191.6m on 11/10/2017) that Rakuten will pay to the NBA over the period of the contract. The agreement "marks the NBA’s most comprehensive media partnership in Japan and Rakuten’s first with a North American sports league," said the NBA.

As part of the agreement, Rakuten will distribute "NBA League Pass", a live subscription package of the NBA, exclusive to Rakuten customers, via NBA.com and the NBA App , as well as on Rakuten TV, the Japanese group's VoD platform. Rakuten will also offer a subscription to Rakuten TV which will allow subscribers to watch nine NBA games per week: one per day from Monday…