Chinese state broadcaster ‘resolute’ on NBA blackout

In this Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, photo, Brooklyn Nets’ Theo Pinson, left, drives against Los Angeles Lakers’ Danny Green, right, near a Chinese national flag during a preseason NBA game at the Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, China. When Houston Rocket’s general manager Daryl Morey tweeted last week in support of anti-government protests in Hong Kong, everything changed for NBA fans in China. A new chant flooded Chinese sports forums: “I can live without basketball, but I can’t live without my motherland.” (AP Photo, File)

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said there was no prospect of easing its blackout on NBA matches following a tweet last year by the Houston Rockets’ general manager supporting Hong Kong protests.

The NBA is on hold along with most other sports because of the coronavirus pandemic, but even before that CCTV had kept matches off its schedule since October following Daryl Morey’s support for the pro-democracy demonstrations.

“Regarding rumours (about broadcasting games), we should reiterate we have not had any contact or dialogue with the NBA as of today,” CCTV News wrote on the Twitter-like Weibo on Monday, along with footage of an anchorman making the same statement on air.

“On issues concerning sovereignty, our attitude is severe, resolute, consistent and there is no room for manoeuvre. The NBA should understand this position.”

The backlash in China against Morey’s comments cast a cloud over the NBA’s lucrative broadcasting, merchandising and sponsorship interests in the country, where it has a huge fanbase.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in February that the league expected to lose “several hundred million dollars” in the fallout over Morey’s tweet.

Silver, who defended the “freedom of expression of the NBA community” as the row escalated, said he expected CCTV to resume broadcasts of NBA games, but did not give a timeframe.

Chinese internet giant Tencent has however shown games even as the row rumbled on.