Softbank Group Corp. Enters Top Partnership Deal With B. League

The B. League, Japan's professional basketball league, revealed on Thursday that Softbank Group Corp. "has become the circuit’s top partner," starting with the inaugural '16-17 season, according to JAPAN NEWS HEADLINES. The terms of the contract between Softbank and the league were not disclosed, but a report said that "the company agreed to invest" around 12B yen ($106M) in the next four years. Softbank, however, will not just provide financial resources, but "it will largely be involved in league operations in its own field -- information technology." Softbank "would stream all first and second division games, on computers, tablets and smartphones" on a subscription basis. Fans will not necessarily have to be Softbank users. Although Softbank will have exclusive broadcast rights, it will share them with TV stations "if they are supportive of promoting the game" (JAPAN NEWS HEADLINES, 3/10).