iflix launches linear sports channel
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Rebecca Hawkes
| 18 March 2019

Digital video service iflix is launching ZSports, a linear sports channel trailed as the ‘Home of American Sports in Asia’, in seven markets this month.

ZSports will feature live coverage of the NCAA Division 1 Basketball Championships where 68 American collegiate teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament over three weeks to become national champion.

Available in Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, ZSports will show most games live, including the ‘Final Four’ from 20 March, and will repeat broadcast select games.

As well as this NCAA Division 1 ‘March Madness’, ZSports promises over 1,000 hours of live sporting events each year, including football, the National Hockey League’s regular season, playoffs and Stanley Cup, X Games and motorsports, as well as local and regional sporting tournaments.

“March Madness is one of America’s biggest sporting events, a staple on any sports calendar, and we’re excited to give fans across the region virtual front row seats to tomorrow’s NBA stars, today,” said Craig Galvin, global head of content, iflix.

“iflix is proud to welcome ZSports to the company’s growing premium sports offering in our commitment to providing our audiences the best and broadest range of world-class competitions,” he added.

Howard Jiang, CEO of ZSports, said: “Partnering with iflix is a major milestone for us and increases our channel reach to millions of users on the fastest growing entertainment platform in Southeast Asia, pleasing hardcore and sports fans alike.”

iflix claims to now reach one billion consumers throughout Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, offering both free and premium video streaming services.