The Venetian Macao to sponsor the NBA All-Star 2007 broadcast in China

For the second consecutive year, the NBA and CCTV will produce a customized feed of the All-Star Game for fans in China that will air live Monday, February 19th at 9:00AM on CCTV 5.

"Partnering with the NBA and CCTV is a great opportunity for us to bring more of this exciting professional sport to China," said William P. Weidner, president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands. "With the opening of our 15,000-seat arena at The Venetian Macao later this year, we will undertake an ambitious effort to bring an array of professional sports, world-class entertainment, and international prominence to Macao and the entire region."

Weidner said when coupled with the sponsorship of the first-ever Cotai Strip Cup match played in Macao in November 2006 between the NBA Development League’s Albuquerque Thunderbirds and the Chinese National Men’s Team, The Venetian Macao’s involvement with the NBA All-Star Game is another example of the company’s promise to become a dominant and vital resource for entertainment in Asia. He also said the telecast represents the company’s opening salvo in an aggressive marketing campaign that will highlight the unprecedented resort offerings The Venetian Macao will bring to the region when it opens this summer.

This year’s feed, presented by The Venetian Macao, will highlight CCTV’s 20th Anniversary as an NBA partner and feature interviews with NBA players and legends originating from select locations within The Venetian Las Vegas for an "All-Access" segment of CCTV’s All-Star halftime coverage. A live halftime interview with NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers will also be included.

The 20th Anniversary celebration coincides with the start of Chinese New Year. To honor this special holiday, CCTV will air NBA All-Star Saturday Night on tape delay so that it will broadcast on Sunday afternoon, the first day of the New Year, giving fans in Asia the opportunity to enjoy the events with their friends and family.

Additionally, The Venetian Las Vegas and the NBA will co-host CCTV’s 20th Anniversary Gala after All-Star Saturday Night where NBA Commissioner David Stern and CCTV’s Chief Controller of Sports Jiang Heping will commemorate this special milestone and celebrate the future of the NBA in China. NBA Legends Scottie Pippen, Walt Frazier, Tim Hardaway and George Gervin will also be in attendance. Highlights from the gala will be available for viewing by fans on NBA.com/china.

"The NBA and CCTV have played an integral role in the increasing popularity of basketball in China," said Heidi Ueberroth, NBA president, Global Marketing Partnerships and International Business. "Now with The Venetian Macao a valuable part of our alliance we are excited about the new avenues open to us in an effort to increase the sport’s popularity and we look forward to more partnership opportunities with them in the future."