From Reuters (link)
The National Basketball Association on Monday said it has agreed to a marketing partnership with Chinese appliance maker Haier, part of the basketball league’s push to promote the sport in China.
NBA Commissioner David Stern described the deal as a multiyear agreement but declined to provide specific time or financial details. The structure of the agreement, including whether it will involve sponsorship of NBA games, is still being worked out, he said.
Current plans call for the NBA to use its broadcasts, events and Web site to promote Haier in the United States, where it remains largely unknown but expects to launch a new line of high-definition TV sets this summer.+
