No money to spring for the NBA package this season? If you’re looking to watch the games live online, you’re mostly out of luck. This year, subscribers to NBA League Pass through their cable operator are the only ones with access to the league’s broadband package.
The limited number of live events offered outside the NBA’s broadband package comes as a result of renegotiated TV contracts with ESPN and TNT. The new contract running through the 2015-2016 season will include streaming of games through ESPN360, to Verizon VCast cell phones and includes delivery to platforms that don’t yet even exist.
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As part of their agreement, TNT has partnered with the NBA to share content. TNT Overtime offers expanded commentary on NBA.com in addition to their weekly Thursday night doubleheader.
Though live options are limited, the NBA has significantly expanded non-game content syndication, offering more content in more places than ever before. The NBA’s digital media team creates highlight reels from every game in addition to thirty minute shows recapping the previous night’s action and latest fantasy news, all available on AOL YouTube and Yahoo!.
For all the video produced for NBA.com, there is one feature that sets it apart from the other pro sports league sites. Their highlight mixer allows anyone to take NBA content, mash it up and put it to music to share with friends. Giving fans a way to create their own embeddable, highlight mix tapes is a great move…when it works. I can’t seem to get my highlights reel to show up above. If I figure it out, I’ll be sure to update. In the meantime, click here to watch. It’s set to “Time is Running Out” by Papa Roach and it rocks.
Ben Homer is a contributing writer from Online Video Watch.
