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Disrupting the digital horizon in APAC with Malaysia Basketball Association - Podcast

30.07.20

by Editorial Staff

The third episode of Field to Fan looks east to APAC and what’s on the horizon for sport and media operators amid massive digital disruption

30.07.20

by Editorial Staff

The third episode of Field to Fan looks east to APAC and what’s on the horizon for sport and media operators amid massive digital disruption

“In Malaysia, there are the four ‘F’s’ - food, family, finance and free,” says Ben Ibrahim. And it’s this last F that the Head of Comms and Stakeholder Manager is seeking to tackle in the national mindset when it comes to expectations around sports consumption.

In the latest episode of ‘Field to Fan’, host Jason Bradwell sits down with the former TV Anchor and field reporter to uncover how the Malaysia Basketball Association is leveraging digital to build - and more importantly, monetize - its fan base amongst a new generation of sports lovers in the country.

In the second half of the episode, Jason speaks to Michael D’Oliveiro, Commercial Director, APAC | Video Experiences at Deltatre, who shares his thoughts on Android TV and its growing relevance in the region with new opportunities arising because of the pandemic.

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Highlights

  • [08:01] On perception of sport in Malaysia: “...it’s not a sporting nation. It wants to be a sporting nation... it's a social thing that we come together once a week, maybe once a month and play.”
  • [10:42] On local vs. international tournaments: “...[the ratings of] the Suzuki Cup, which is a Southeast Asian tournament, were five times the number of the Premier League.”
  • [16:20] On how MABA has used digital during COVD: “...[we’ve been] doing a lot of throwback videos and reflections. As they say, reflection is a hallmark of a champion... this has been a nice time to reflect what we achieved over the last two years.”
  • [20:13] On the importance of understanding the local audience: “...it's good to say that, OK, this is the way they do it in America. But at the end of the day, we’re not trying to replicate the NBA. We can take the best things out of the NBA, bring it to our part of the world, and then position it with Malaysian values”
  • [29:51] On shifting payment preferences: “...[in APAC] they're actually seeing TVOD increase because people are staying home. People are saving some money that otherwise would have been spent on activities outside."
  • [40:22] On why telcos should explore Android TV: “...they have originally had a vested interest in building the pipe, but now they filled that pipe. They need more now – they need a platform to bridge the technology gap with the consumer.”

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