Verizon NBA deal brings AR content, live games, and originals

Verizon and the NBA have entered a new multi-year partnership that will bring content and live games to Yahoo Sports. This content will include NBA League Pass live games, as well as a daily show with highlights, lifestyle programming, and more. As well, this partnership will kick off the development of AR content, plus "other forms of content" that weren't detailed.

Verizon used to exclusively offer NFL mobile streaming content, but that changes this year. Now, though, Verizon has moved to fill that void with the NBA deal. Verizon content officer Brian Angiolet said, "Verizon is uniquely positioned to partner with the NBA in a first-of-its-kind technology and content partnership..."

The content will be made available through Yahoo Sports, where users will be able to purchase the NBA League Pass in the US. This will provide those customers with out of market League live games, as well as a daily show with NBA "action, storylines, and commentary" highlights; this is exclusive to Verizon's media platforms and Yahoo Sports.

As well, this partnership will see the development of content that differs from the norm, chief among that being augmented reality content. Unfortunately, Verizon doesn't go into any details about those plans. There will also be original lifestyle and sports content that uses the NBA's footage archive.

The NBA's Bill Koenig said:

We are absolutely thrilled to extend and grow our unique relationship with Verizon and its various media platforms. This expanded partnership allows us to tap into Verizon's expansive reach and new technologies to engage our fans through a variety of innovative experiences.

The content will be available "later this season."

SOURCE: Verizon