China company Tencent block Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers broadcasts

One of the biggest streaming companies in the world have banned live coverage of Aussie superstar Ben Simmons’ NBA team.

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on December 5, 2019 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Patrick Smith/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Chinese streaming giant Tencent has stopped live broadcasts of games of Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia 76ers in an apparent protest at their new president Daryl Morey, who sparked a row by voicing support for Hong Kong protesters last year.

Tencent has been offering text updates only for Sixers games as well as those involving the Houston Rockets, Morey’s former employer. It also refused to screen Rockets games last season.

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State broadcaster CCTV, which holds China’s exclusive TV rights for the NBA, has not aired any games since the season opened on December 23.

Tencent’s refusal to stream Sixers and Rockets games, and CCTV’s continued blackout, extends a year-long stand-off in the NBA’s biggest international market that has cost it hundreds of millions of dollars.

Morey, then the Rockets’ general manager, tweeted “Fight for Freedom, stand with Hong Kong” in October 2019, referring to the pro-democracy protests that Beijing calls separatist and seditious.

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Up the floor.@tobias31 → @BenSimmons25

📺 @NBCSPhilly pic.twitter.com/0YpAJ92XMH

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 28, 2020

When the NBA backed Morey’s right to free speech, CCTV responded by pulling broadcasts, although it made a “goodwill” gesture by airing Game 5 from the NBA Finals series in October.

Tencent has continued streaming games, but only text updates were available for the Sixers’ season-opening win over the Washington Wizards on December 23.

Two other Sixers games over the weekend — against the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers — also had text updates.

Rockets games remain text-only this season, despite the popularity in China of Yao Ming’s former team.

🔥 BEARDING 🔥

🏀 34PTS
🏀 8AST
🏀 6REB pic.twitter.com/Yl1VKVZ8GF

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 29, 2020

Morey, who joined the 76ers in early November, told ESPN last week that he once feared his tweet supporting Hong Kong activists could end his NBA career.

However, he said he remained “very comfortable with what I did” even though he didn’t anticipate the outrage he would face from China.

Separately, the NBA fined Morey $A65,000 for tampering on Monday for a tweet praising Rockets star James Harden, who has indicated he would accept a deal to join the 76ers.