After yearlong hiatus, China will air Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat in NBA Finals Game 5 on CCTV
Chris BumbacaA year ago, China's state-run television station CCTV announced it would no longer broadcast NBA games after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted sympathy for protesters in Hong Kong.聽
Significant losses in revenue followed for the league, which has the added weight of the economic fallout due to the coronavirus to confront as well. But CCTV said in a post on its website Friday that it would air Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat.聽聽
The Lakers, leading the series 3-1, can win its 17th title in team history. It would be the fourth for LeBron James.聽
"During the recent Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, the NBA sent their well wishes to fans in China," CCTV said in a statement, obtained by ESPN. "We also took note of the league has been continuously delivering goodwill (to China), particularly making positive contributions to Chinese people's fight against COVID-19 pandemic."
According to ESPN, the NBA donated $1 million to China in coronavirus relief on top of medical supplies.聽
At the All-Star Game this year,聽commissioner Adam Silver, who supported Morey's comments while defending the NBA's business relationship with the country, said the league lost more than $300 million in revenue due to Chinese companies boycotting the league.聽
The NBA named Michael Ma its new head of Chinese operations in May. He is the son of CCTV Sports founder, Ma Guoli. At the time of his hiring, CCTV did not budge, saying it聽was "reiterating its consistent stance on national sovereignty."聽聽
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.聽
