BEIJING AND NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) is honoring its Chinese fans by hosting its largest international tribute ever when NBA Chinese Year Celebration 2013 tips off from Feb. 7-14.

The league will usher in the Year of the Snake with a record 23 live games televised and streamed in China over eight consecutive days.  Five NBA teams will host in-arena Chinese New Year-themed celebrations and two additional teams will have signage recognizing the holiday.

The inaugural NBA Chinese New Year Celebration, which was created last year and featured 21 live games and two in-arena celebrations, reached 96 million viewers across TV and digital. This year, the program has expanded with more games, events and teams participating.

“Chinese New Year is the most important festival for our fans in China, and we are happy to once again celebrate with them and their families,” said David Shoemaker, CEO of NBA China. “Thanks to the support of our great partners, we are celebrating the Year of the Snake with more NBA programming than ever before and a comprehensive array of Chinese New Year-themed fan activities in China and the U.S.”

This year’s expanded schedule will feature live games and coverage of in-arena celebrations on CCTV 5, BTV, CBN – Ningxia Satellite TV, GDTV, Fujian TV, Sina, Tencent, ESS Taiwan, Elta Taiwan, Videoland Taiwan and Now TV Hong Kong. Fans in China will be treated to three double-headers on CCTV 5 on Feb. 12, 13 and 14, headlined by a rematch of the 2012 NBA Finals when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Miami Heat on Feb. 14.

“We are pleased to deliver more NBA games to our viewers in this week-long Chinese New Year programming line-up, as millions of families spend quality time together during the Spring Festival,” said Jiang Heping, CCTV 5 Head of Sports.

NBA China marketing partners Harbin Beer and PEAK Sports are co-presenting partners of NBA Chinese New Year Celebration 2013 and will have a strong presence on broadcast and in-arena.  Additionally, PEAK will unveil an NBA China New Year’s Celebration-themed television commercial in China featuring endorsers Shane Battier (Miami Heat), Carl Landry (Golden State Warriors), Patrick Patterson (Houston Rockets) and Andrew Goudelock (NBA Development League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce).  Harbin Beer will launch NBA Chinese New Year-themed cans in China.

NBA Legend Peja Stojakovic, born in the Year of the Snake, will tip off the festivities on Feb. 8 by hosting a viewing party in Beijing for the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers game. In addition, through an online promotion, one lucky Chinese fan will win the chance to host Stojakovic for a traditional Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner with family and friends.

The in-arena celebrations tip off on Feb. 8 in Washington, Beijing’s sister city, when the Washington Wizards host the Brooklyn Nets. The other teams hosting in-arena celebrations include the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and the Toronto Raptors. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers will also have in-arena signage recognizing the holiday.

Fans in attendance of the in-arena celebrations will experience a variety of elements and activities that pay tribute to Chinese culture, including food, live performances and entertainment. All 24 NBA teams playing on Feb. 8 will wear specially designed Chinese New Year shooting shirts from adidas, the league’s official on court apparel outfitter.  The limited-edition shirts will be available for fans worldwide at NBAStore.com and in China at nba.TMall.com.

On Feb. 12, when the Golden State Warriors host the Houston Rockets, NBA Entertainment will produce a live feed dedicated to capturing the in-arena celebrations, events, and activities which will air on CCTV.  The in-game enhancements on the feed will highlight Harbin Beer.

Throughout the week, the NBA will conduct a series of online and social media promotions to engage its millions of fans. Fans will be able to participate in daily contests on the NBA official microblogs on Sina and Tencent for the chance to win NBA prizes.

NBA CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION 2013 TV AND DIGITAL SCHEDULE

 DATE                         VISITOR                   HOME                        EASTERN TIME

CCTV 5                                

Feb. 7                          L.A. Lakers                 Boston                         8:00 PM

Feb. 8                          Brooklyn                     Washington                 7:00 PM

Feb. 9                          Golden State               Dallas                          8:30 PM

Feb. 10                        Houston                      Sacramento                 9:00 PM

Feb. 11                        San Antonio                Chicago                       8:00 PM

Feb. 12                        Portland                      Miami                          7:30 PM

Feb. 12                        Houston                      Golden State               10:30 PM

Feb. 13                        Chicago                       Boston                         7:30 PM

Feb. 13                        Houston                      L.A. Clippers              10:30 PM

Feb. 14                        L.A. Clippers              L.A. Lakers                 10:30 PM

Feb. 14                        Miami                          Oklahoma City            Delayed

BTV and FUJIAN TV                                            

Feb. 8                          L.A. Clippers              Miami                          8:00 PM

Feb. 9                          Utah                            Sacramento                 10:00 PM

Feb. 10                        Oklahoma City            Phoenix                       8:00 PM

Feb. 12                        Phoenix                       L.A. Lakers                 10:30 PM

Feb. 13                        Utah                            Minnesota                   8:00 PM

GDTV                                               

Feb. 8                          L.A. Clippers              Miami                          8:00 PM

Feb. 9                          Utah                            Sacramento                 10:00 PM

Feb. 10                        Oklahoma City            Phoenix                       9:00 PM

Feb. 13                        Phoenix                       L.A. Lakers                 10:30 PM

Feb. 13                        Utah                            Minnesota                   8:00 PM

Feb. 14                        L.A. Clippers              L.A. Lakers                 10:30 PM

SINA                                                                                     

Feb. 8                          L.A. Clippers              Miami                          8:00 PM

Feb. 10                        Houston                      Sacramento                 9:00 PM

Feb. 12                        Phoenix                       L.A. Lakers                 10:30 PM

Feb. 13                        Houston                      L.A. Clippers              1O:30 PM

Feb. 14                        L.A. Clippers              L.A. Lakers                 10:30 PM

TENCENT                                                                           

Feb. 8                          Portland                      Houston                      8:00 PM

Feb. 10                        Oklahoma City            Phoenix                       8:00 PM

ELTA, TAIWAN

Feb. 8                          LA Clippers                Miami                          8:00 PM

Feb. 10                        Utah                            Sacramento                 10:00 PM

Feb. 10                        LA Lakers                   Miami                          3:30 PM

Feb. 11                        Brooklyn                     Indiana                                    7:00 PM

Feb. 12                        Houston                      Golden State               10:30 PM

Feb. 13                        Chicago                       Boston                         7:30 PM

Feb. 14                        Miami                          Oklahoma City            8:00 PM

ESS, TAIWAN

Feb. 7                          L.A. Lakers                 Boston                         8:00 PM

Feb. 8                          Portland                      Houston                      8:00 PM

Feb. 13                        Houston                      L.A. Clippers              10:30 PM

Feb. 14                        L.A. Clippers              L.A. Lakers                 10:30 PM

VIDEOLAND, TAIWAN

Feb. 9                          Denver                                    Cleveland                    7:30 PM

Feb. 9                          Golden State               Dallas                          8:30 PM

Feb. 10                        LA Lakers                   Miami                          3:30 PM

Feb. 10                        Houston                      Sacramento                 9:00 PM

Feb. 11                        San Antonio                Chicago                       8:00 PM

NOW TV, HONG KONG

Feb. 8                          LA Clippers                Miami                          8:00 PM

Feb. 8                          Chicago                       Utah                            10:30 PM

Feb. 9                          Detroit                         Milwaukee                  8:30 PM

Feb. 12                        Denver                                    Toronto                       7:00 PM

Feb. 13                        Houston                      L.A. Clippers              10:30 PM

Feb. 14                        Miami                          Oklahoma City            8:00 PM

Feb. 14                        L.A. Clippers              L.A. Lakers                 10:30 PM