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NBA and ByteDance announces global partnership to deliver customised mobile-friendly content
MUMBAI: The National Basketball Association (NBA) and ByteDance, a technology company operating a range of content platforms around the world, announced a new multiyear partnership that will deliver customized, short-form mobile content to ByteDance’s hundreds of millions of global users beginning on 27 November 2018.
Through the partnership, ByteDance will leverage its artificial intelligence technology, which enables intelligent discovery, to deliver NBA content to fans in China through its Douyin, Toutiao and Xigua Video platforms.
The extensive NBA content available in China will include daily NBA game highlights, behind-the-scenes videos, photos and news throughout the regular season, NBA All-Star, the NBA Playoffs and The Finals.
NBA president global content and media distribution Bill Koenig said, “The NBA is thrilled to partner with ByteDance, one of the most innovative companies in the world and an industry leader in customized short-form content. This new partnership will help meet the demand that ByteDance’s hundreds of millions of users have for the NBA by intelligently integrating league content across ByteDance’s many platforms.”
NBA content will be available globally through TikTok, a leading destination for short-form mobile videos in the world. TikTok users in the U.S., as well as Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, will have access to select NBA content, including unique highlights that capture the fun and excitement of the game, and also locally relevant and localized in-language NBA content.
ByteDance senior VP-corp development Liu Zhen said, “NBA content is very popular and highly sought after by our users. ByteDance has a strong international footprint of global platforms that empower creation and interaction, which allow users to present and consume the world's creativity, knowledge and moments that matter in everyday life. This makes ByteDance a great partner for NBA. Powered by artificial intelligence technology that enables intelligent discovery, our platforms TikTok, Douyin, Toutiao and Xigua Video are extremely well-positioned to meet the demands of users seeking to consume and interact with sports content on mobile platforms in a smart and efficient way.”
In China, NBA content is available on ByteDance’s platforms through the official accounts of the NBA and all 30 NBA teams, making Douyin, Toutiao and Xigua Video the Official Intelligent Distribution Content Platform of NBA China. Fans globally can also use NBA-themed filters to share their passion and creative expression through videos on Douyin and TikTok.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
