Bell announces new partnership with the National Basketball Association

Bell announces new partnership with the National Basketball Association




-- With the NBA, Raptors and Canada Basketball, Bell is committed
to basketball's growth and development at the amateur and
professional levels
-- Bell to become presenting partner of NBA Canada Series and NBA
All-Star Balloting


MONTREAL, Oct. 9, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Canada today announced a new
multi-year strategic partnership with the National Basketball
Association (NBA) that further enhances Bell's position as the official
communications partner for basketball in Canada.



"Bell is excited to partner with the National Basketball Association as
part of our broad commitment to basketball in Canada, which includes
our recently announced partnership with the Raptors, Canada's NBA team,
and Bell's support for Canada Basketball and our country's national
teams," said Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility and Residential
Services, and Chief Brand Officer at Bell. "Bell is taking the lead in
driving the growth of one of the most popular and fastest-growing youth
participation team sports in Canada."


Official Partner of the NBA

As an Official Partner of the NBA, Bell will leverage its mobile network
and services leadership to deliver more for Canadian basketball fans:



-- Bell will be the presenting sponsor of the NBA Canada Series
pre-season game platform beginning with the upcoming match-up
between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics on
October 20 at Bell Centre in Montréal.
-- Bell customers will be able to watch new weekly NBA content on
their smartphones and tablets during both the regular season
and in the Playoffs, including player special profiles, rookie
features and unique courtside content.
-- Bell Mobile TV will feature new nightly NBA highlights from
approximately 1,300 NBA games starting at the beginning of the
regular season and continuing through the NBA Finals.
-- Bell will be the presenting sponsor of the NBA All-Star
Balloting platform in Canada, which gives fans the opportunity
to vote daily for their favorite players to become starters for
the NBA All-Star Game, and will include a contest for two fans
to attend 2014 NBA All-Star in New Orleans.


"With their strong commitment to basketball, Bell is an ideal partner to
help continue the momentum and grow the game in Canada," said Dan
Mackenzie, Vice President and General Manager, NBA Canada. "Through
this partnership, we will be able to bring fans more exciting events
and programming throughout the season."


The Toronto Raptors

As a Platinum Sponsor of the Raptors, Bell is working with Canada's NBA
team on a range of branding, communications and community investment
initiatives. In celebration of its partnership with the Raptors, Bell
offered fans more than 15,000 complimentary tickets - including 3,200
distributed to community and grassroots basketball associations across
the Greater Toronto Area - for the Raptors' first home pre-season game
at the Air Canada Centre tonight versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.


Canada Basketball

Bell is a Premier Sponsor of Canada Basketball, supporting our national
men's and women's senior basketball teams as they compete in
international competition, including Summer Olympic Games and FIBA
(International Basketball Federation) Championships. Canada Basketball
is a not-for-profit organization recognized by FIBA and the Government
of Canada as the sole governing body of amateur basketball in the
country.



"Youth across Canada are playing more basketball in more places than
ever before. With Canada Basketball, the Raptors and the NBA as our
partners, Bell is enabling the continued growth and development of the
sport at every level across Canada," said Loring Phinney, Bell's Vice
President of Corporate Marketing.


About Bell

Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers and
business customers with leading TV, Internet, wireless, home phone and
business communications solutions. Bell Media is Canada's premier
multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital
media. Bell is wholly owned by Montréal's BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE).
For more information, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.



The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is a national charitable
program that promotes Canadian mental health across Canada with the
Bell Let's Talk Day anti-stigma campaign and significant funding for
community care, research and workplace best practices. To learn more,
please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.




SOURCE Bell Canada

Bell Canada

CONTACT: Media inquiries:

Albert Lee
Bell Communications
1-855-614-6604
albert.lee@bell.ca
@Bell_News Carolyn Abbass
Paradigm Public Relations
416-203-2223 ext. 221
cabbass@paradigmpr.ca



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