Raptors fans getting hype for the eastern conference finals are in luck — Vancouver-based BroadbandTV, in partnership with the NBA, have announced a new community for video creators focused on basketball and basketball culture.
The community, called NBA Playmakers, will allow the BroadbandTV creator community and NBA fans the opportunity to produce basketball-related content to share across the Playmakers network, which includes YouTube and the NBA’s digital assets. Content creators will be offered access to select NBA footage, NBA games and special events, access to NBA production facilities and merchandise.
“Sports is a passion-driven content vertical that offers exciting opportunities for video creators, media companies, brands, and advertisers; it’s a market with massive potential,” said BroadbandTV founder & CEO Shahrzad Rafati. “NBA Playmakers brings all of the constituents together to deliver a powerful ecosystem that millennials care about. We’re empowering creators to build the future of sports entertainment by partnering with one of the most renowned sports leagues in the world, and arming them with the content, tools and solutions they need to be successful.”
As part of the launch, NBA Playmakers will feature a group of YouTube creators producing digital versions of the league’s playoffs campaign, Every Second Counts. The official television spot premiered prior to the start of the playoffs, and the creator-produced versions will debut on the NBA’s social media assets during the NBA finals.
Videos from the BBTV community have the chance to be featured on the NBA’s Playmakers YouTube channel launching later this year. BBTV currently reaches 15.1 billion monthly impressions across its network, and was named the third largest video property in the world.
The NBA says that NBA Playmakers is a key component of the NBA’s wider youth engagement strategy. “Creating and sharing videos with others are part of being a digitally engaged fan,” said NBA vice president of Global Media Distribution Jeff Marsilio. “Our new venture with industry leader BBTV will further embrace this growing community of creators and aims to inspire original basketball content that will connect with our fans around the world.”
