The 2018-19 NBA season marked a banner year for the NBA in the Philippines, as the league saw growth across broadcast viewership, NBA League Pass subscriptions, social media consumption, and more.
“As we near the culmination of this incredible NBA season, the NBA’s remarkable growth in the Philippines speaks to the league’s impact and relevance to the country’s millions of passionate NBA fans,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson. “The NBA’s commitment to innovation has provided Filipinos with a multitude of ways to experience the energy and excitement of the game. With the continued support of our partners, we look forward to building on this season’s success and taking the league’s popularity in the Philippines to even greater heights in the years to come.”
Below are the highlights from the 2018-19 NBA season in the Philippines:
Regular-Season Viewership:
-
5.4 – The most-watched regular-season game in the Philippines during the 2018-19 season reached a peak audience of 5.4 million viewers on ABS-CBN.
-
Through April 2019, average audience for live NBA games was up 15% and 87% year-over-year across ABS-CBN S + A and Basketball TV, respectively, reaching its highest mark since the 2016-17 season.
-
21 – Through April 2019, average audience of live, delayed and on-demand broadcasts of NBA games was up 21% year-over-year across ABS-CBN S + A, Basketball TV and FOX Sports, reaching the highest average audience since the 2016-17 season.
NBA League Pass Growth:
-
84 – Through March 2019, NBA League Pass subscribers in the Philippines increased 84% year-over-year, marking the largest year-over-year growth since 2012-13 season. To date, the Philippines ranks fourth in NBA League Pass subscribers among markets outside the U.S. and China and second in Asia-Pacific.
Social Media:
-
10.6 – The NBA’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts have more than 10.6 million combined followers from the Philippines, the most of any country outside of the U.S.
-
5.5 – Viewers from the Philippines to the NBA’s global YouTube Channel watched 5.5 million hours of content during the 2018-19 season, the most of any country outside of the U.S.
-
3.7 – Followers of the NBA Philippines Facebook page increased 15% year-over-year, making it the largest regional NBA Facebook page at over 3.7 million fans.
Marketing Partnerships and Events:
-
14 – Following the announcement of Vivo as Official Smartphone of the NBA in the Philippines, this season the league has a record 14 partners in the country.
-
2 – The Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska achieved its highest participation numbers ever in 2019 – more than 59,000 players and coaches – and has reached more than two million players, parents and coaches across more than 190 cities and municipalities since 2007.
Merchandise:
-
62 – NBA merchandise sales from the Philippines on NBAStore.com have increased 62% year-over-year.
The NBA Finals 2019 tip off in the Philippines on Friday, May 31 on ABS-CBN, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV.