A mobile payments firm based in Birmingham has teamed up with star basketball league the NBA.
Around 300 million consumers will be able to purchase the American league’s premium NBA League Pass subscription service through their mobile phone bill, without needing a credit card, from next season.
The multi–year partnership will service fans across more than 20 networks in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, South Africa and Spain.
NBA League Pass provides the most comprehensive live and on-demand access to an entire season of NBA games in high-definition with live stats, alternative audio and multiple viewing options. Subscribers will have access to League Pass’ Next-Generation game viewing enhancements, including new camera angles, multiple in-language streams, celebrity influencer commentary, in-depth analytics and statistical graphics, and social media integration.
PM Connect will also use targeted mobile marketing to convert new and existing NBA fans into paying subscribers via DCB.
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Bastien Lacheny, Associate Vice President, Media Distribution for NBA EME, said: “NBA League Pass is all about giving our fans the best possible viewing experience, anytime, anyplace.
“As more basketball fans enjoy content streamed directly to their mobile devices, we are keen to meet their needs and provide them with a mobile payment option best suited to their viewing habits.
“By adding direct carrier billing to the suite of subscription payment types on offer, fans will be able to enjoy an enhanced transactional experience.”
The partnership builds both on PM Connect’s continued growth, with the firm now reaching 1 billion consumers in over 40 territories, and its long-standing focus on bringing major sports brands into the mobile ecosystem – connecting them to new audiences.
Christopher Purdie, Chief Commercial Officer at PM Connect, said: “PM Connect’s mobile-first approach will be a key piece in the puzzle to provide payment options for all NBA League Pass subscribers.
“Our partnership will help connect NBA League Pass to audiences in some of its biggest territories outside of the U.S., demonstrating the growth opportunity mobile presents for forward-thinking brands.”
“With the OTT market skyrocketing globally, it’s paramount that fans have every payment option available to them. By leveraging our MNO connections, we can help the NBA make its content more accessible to fans in multiple countries.
“We will also identify and reach the content-hungry fans who may not have enjoyed NBA League Pass yet, creating new audience segments for the brand.”
PM Connect has a workforce of over 60 employees across four continents. The company’s client list now includes sporting giants WWE, Eurosport and NBA – driving growth across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa.