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Leading Chinese video streaming platform Tencent to air Sun Devil Football's game at OSU

Dec 18, 2020

Airing of game in China driven by Chinese fan interest in Arizona State's Jackson He,
the only Chinese-born player in the Football Bowl Subdivision

SAN FRANCISCO – Leading Chinese video streaming platform Tencent, which has over 900 million monthly users, will live stream Sun Devil Football's game at Oregon State on Saturday, according to an announcement by the Pac-12 on Friday. The game is being broadcast by ESPN in the United States and is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. MT (11:30 a.m. in China on Sunday, Dec. 20).
 
The agreement between the Pac-12 and Tencent Video to air the game came about following strong Chinese fan interest in Arizona State walk-on redshirt junior running back Jackson He, the only Chinese-born player in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), who last week scored his first touchdown – and the first touchdown by a Chinese-born player in FBS history – in a win over rival Arizona. He celebrates his heritage on the field by putting his name in Chinese on the back of his jersey.
 

"We are very proud of Jackson He and what he stands for at Arizona State University," said Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson.  "For two seasons he has been the epitome of a student-athlete, a teammate and an outstanding representative of our University.  This platform with Tencent, the Pac-12 Conference and ASU will allow as many as 900 million monthly users in China to share in our passion and enthusiasm for the sport of college football and for Jackson He."
 
Both Tencent and ESPN plan to highlight He during the game as part of their broadcast.
 
The Pac-12 has developed roots and a strong following in China through its Pac-12 Global initiative and annual Pac-12 China Basketball Game, which began in 2015 and last year featured Arizona State and Colorado.