Basketball

VTVcab CEO Bùi Huy Năm (right) and VBA CEO Trần Chu Sa sign a contract to develop basketball in Việt Nam. Photo of organisers

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Television Cable Corporation (VTVcab) and the Việt Nam Basketball Association (VBA) on March 1 signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation contract in Hà Nội.

Their three-year deal is expected to push the development of basketball in the country to reach a higher level internationally.

"VTVcab being a strategic partner is a remarkable beginning for the stable business development of VBA. This will be a milestone marking the next phase of VBA's transformation in its mission to lead national basketball," said Trần Chu Sa, VBA CEO.

"We will work together to popularise the sport widely in the community. Through this cooperation, we will not only enhance the value and influence of professional basketball but also bring good business results for both partners," he said.

On the VTVcab side, CEO Bùi Huy Năm was confident that the cooperation would bring basketball to all people while creating a strong base for national professional basketball. It will help Việt Nam make its name in the world of hoops.

Accordingly, VTVcab will take part in the organising activities of the tournaments by VBA. As one of the national leading television channels, VTVcab will work with VBA to broadcast matches, and produce programmes and reality shows about basketball.

VTVcab plans to carry out the OTT service for basketball programmes in the near future. Through its different network platforms and high-quality programmes, VTVcab expects to lure more attention, especially from young ones, to B-ball. 

With the participation of VTVcab, supporters who could not attend games in person will feel like they are at the court.

According to orgamisers, VBA matches will be produced from a variety of camera angles that will make a difference and provide top-notch entertainment according to the highest standards of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Technologies such as AR and Libero will be applied when producing programmes. News will be updated regularly. Talk shows, analysis, comments and match predictions will be organised; highlights, minigames and match reports will be conducted and supporters will have a chance to interact with the programmes through apps.

Also on March 1, VBA also announced that SpaceSpeakers Group will be its partner in the field of music.

SpaceSpeakers Group will provide copyrighted music for all programmes. The company's well-known artists and rappers will bring vibrant performances to the competition venues.

The VBA season will begin with the three-leg VBA 3x3 Prime event which will be held in three cities starting in the middle of this month.

The first one is on March 18-19 at Hà Nội's Hoàn Kiếm Lake with the participation of 12 men's pro teams.

The second one is from March 24-26 in Nha Trang. The participants are 12 men's teams and eight women's squads.

The last one is in HCM City on March 31-April 2 seeing 12 men's teams and 16 U-20 sides.

In May, the eighth VBA season will be organised for five months in five cities. 

"We have made changes with a view to improve the quality of organising activities and matches and give supporters unique experiences to watch VBA games," said CEO Sa. VNS