Ex-Microsoft CEO and current Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is nothing short of a fun interview, as he’s proven everywhere from late-night television to the stage at the GeekWire Sports Tech Summit. On Tuesday, the charismatic NBA boss stopped by Conan O’Brien’s show to talk about everything from Bill Gates to slam dunks to hot dog guns and more. Much of it was delivered with the volume and energy we’ve come to know and love. Does this add up? “I hope this stirs up animosity between the two of you,” O’Brien said as he asked Ballmer about beating his… Read More
As the 2016-17 season kicks off today, the NBA revealed more details about the two weekly shows it will stream exclusively on Twitter. First announced in July, the league will live-stream two new weekly NBA shows on Twitter for both logged-in users and those without an account. The Starters Twitter Show will air each Tuesday at 8 a.m. PT; The Warmup will air each Thursday at 4:30 p.m. PT. Here are show descriptions from the NBA: The Starters Twitter Show — featuring NBA TV’s social-savvy, popular collection of fan-focused voices with a unique take on the game, will be streamed live each Tuesday throughout the… Read More
The NBA wants to make it easier for fans to watch games on the go. The league today announced a new feature for NBA League Pass subscribers who watch live games on their phone or tablet. Called “Mobile View,” the additional streaming option will utilize new cameras installed in each NBA arena and a designated producer to provide a zoomed-in, tighter shot of the stream optimized for smaller screens. For example, here’s the traditional broadcast angle: And here’s “Mobile View”: The NBA teamed up with broadcast partner Turner Sports, via the NBA Digital partnership, for the new offering. NBA League Pass streams live out-of-market… Read More
Virtual reality in sports took another step forward on Thursday as the NBA announced that it will air one game per week this season in VR. The league inked a multi-year deal with NextVR, the Laguna Beach, Calif.-based company that raised $80 million in August and lets fans experience games from totally new, immersive perspectives. Starting with an Oct. 27 game at Sacramento’s new high-tech arena, the NBA will work with NextVR and broadcaster Turner Sports to provide NBA League Pass subscribers with games in virtual reality that will feature dedicated announcers and special graphics built specifically for VR. During game breaks, when normal TV viewers watch… Read More
SAN FRANCISCO — Stephen Curry loves Instagram, supports Hillary Clinton, and wants robotic referees — if only to prevent him from throwing any more mouthguards. Those were a few of the tidbits from Curry’s appearance at TechCrunch Disrupt on Tuesday evening in San Francisco, closing out Day 2 of the annual tech conference with a wide-ranging 30-minute discussion about everything from the election to his various off-the-court projects. Curry was the final speaker to walk on stage Tuesday, but certainly received the loudest applause from the hometown crowd as many from the packed room at Pier 48 rushed near the stage… Read More
