A new streaming service unveiled by the LA Clippers this morning reflects the philosopy of the franchise’s chairman, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, about the role the NBA and its teams should play in shaping the digital viewing experience. “We need to define the future of watching basketball,” Ballmer said in an interview with GeekWire. “We’ll always do a better job of that than any distribution partner. Whether we distribute directly or through an ESPN or a TNT or an Amazon, or whoever gets into the business of distributing these things, the experience that makes this the best basketball possible… Read More
It was a bit of a throwback scene here in Seattle on Monday evening: Steve Ballmer revving up the crowd at the top of his lungs, and NBA hoops back on the hardwood. The former Microsoft CEO had Climate Pledge Arena roaring as he took the microphone at midcourt just before a preseason game between the Los Angeles Clippers, which Ballmer owns, and the Portland Trail Blazers. “I am so excited to have a game in my hometown of Seattle!” Ballmer yelled, pumping his fist and pacing around in his trademark energetic fashion. The game represented the first NBA action… Read More
The NBA called out its partnership with Microsoft as it unveiled a redesigned app on Tuesday. The new app has content recommendation and personalization features “powered by Microsoft Azure and Azure AI,” according to a news release. The app will have live streaming of games for NBA League Pass subscribers with higher video quality and lower streaming latency, according to the league. It also includes access to hundreds of past games from the “NBA vault,” as well as other video content. There is a new membership program called NBA ID. The partnership with Microsoft, first announced in 2020, “will help… Read More
Amazon is already seeing some fruits from its massive investment in live NFL streaming. The company reported the “biggest three hours for U.S. Prime signups ever” during last week’s Thursday Night Football game, according to an internal memo sent by Amazon exec Jay Marine, obtained by GeekWire. The Chargers vs. Chiefs game was the first of Amazon’s reported $11 billion, 11-year exclusive streaming rights deal with the NFL. Amazon aired Thursday Night Football games for the past several years but this was the first exclusive stream, meaning the only place to watch the game was via Amazon. That requires fans,… Read More
Amazon took center stage in the sports universe Thursday as the tech giant streamed its first exclusive NFL game — and for the most part, it passed the test. The game streamed without any major hiccups or outages. Some fans reported glitches and poor sound quality, but Amazon’s streaming technology seemed to hold up overall, a baseline requirement for any live sports game being aired on the internet. Amazon’s high-profile NFL deal — which will cost a reported $11 billion over the next 11 years — is part of the company’s bid to grow its content library, bolster its advertising arm,… Read More
