The final games of the NBA season will be shown live at select Imax theaters in Hong Kong and Taiwan starting June 6. This is the first time Imax China, a branch of the Canadian company Imax Corp., is offering live sports broadcasts. This new venture is part of a first-time agreement with NBA China.
As of the end of December, there were five Imax theaters in Hong Kong, 11 in Taiwan, and one in Macau, each operated by different companies.
Recently, the Boston Celtics won against the Indiana Pacers with a score of 133-128 in overtime during the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals. The winner of this series will go on to play either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Dallas Mavericks, who are competing in the Western Conference Finals.
Daniel Manwaring, the CEO of Imax China, stated that partnering with the NBA is a significant step in diversifying Imax’s range of content. Imax is known for showing blockbuster movies, but now they are including different types of entertainment, like sports and concerts, to attract a wider audience.
For instance, Imax China played a key role in showing Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour across mainland China in December 2023, where Imax venues accounted for 45% of the film’s total box office in the country. There are currently 774 commercial Imax theaters and 16 institutional or museum locations in mainland China.
Imax Corp. has also arranged to show other live global sports events, such as the NHL’s 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs and the 2022 NHL Global Series, which were broadcast in various locations including the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia.
NBA Finals Basketball Games to Screen Live on Imax in Hong Kong, Taiwan https://t.co/zVgjHVlFqJ
— Variety (@Variety) May 22, 2024
Furthermore, in July, Imax will broadcast NBC Television Network’s live coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on over 150 screens in the U.S. This event is notable for being the first Summer Olympic opening ceremony not held in a stadium, but rather as a four-mile-long parade of nearly 100 boats carrying thousands of athletes down the River Seine.
The NBA Finals are scheduled for June 6, 9, 12, and 14, with additional games possible on June 17, 20, and 23, if needed (U.S. Eastern time). Source
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