NBA to stream live local games

by dsx460 on Aug 20, 2008 12:37 AM PDT

This is awesome! Hopefully they get this done before November. It would completely solve the Comcast situation and the people who can't watch the blazer games. The NBA hopes to gain agreements with the regional sports networks and have it in place this season. I seriously hope this deal gets done before the season starts.. no more comcast BS then..

Article:

The National Basketball Association plans to break a new barrier for U.S. sports leagues by streaming live games to local markets on the Web.

According to a story published Monday by the Sports Business Journal, the NBA plans to negotiate contracts for its member teams so they can stream live games to targeted local online audiences this fall. Bill Koenig, executive vice president of business affairs, told the industry publication: "We hope to have a model in place this season. Our opening up of the rights will certainly be done."

The rights Koenig referred to have been a sticky issue since the advent of streaming video and the rush of sports fans to the Internet. Cable operators and regional sports networks hold various exclusive rights to broadcast live games via network TV, cable, radio, and satellite; and they haven't wanted to see the Internet cannibalize their prime-time business by allowing anyone to access games on demand.

The NBA, according to the story, has authorized its teams to introduce live local streaming on their Web sites for the fall season. Details are still unclear; but in theory, Boston residents would be able to watch the Boston Celtics game on the team's Web site.

The NBA reportedly plans to use geo-targeting technology to block out-of-market visitors to the site, so those people would still need to watch it on a national cable station.

The NBA is reportedly still working out the details on whether games would be streamed for free, with advertisements, or even on which sites they would be shown. It is also dealing with rights issues and potential pushback from regional sports networks.

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Death to Comcast!!

I hope the streams are as good as what NBC is providing for the olympics.

by sagebru5h on Aug 20, 2008 12:54 AM PDT reply actions

I just hope they will have commentary as well

unlike the Oly feeds. That would be ASTOUNDING as I just decided to drop C*ckcast and go internet video only with Verizon HSI and was wondering what to do about blazer games this fall. This may solve all my problems!!

by SpyderRyder on Aug 20, 2008 1:19 AM PDT up reply actions

verizon fios has CSN

Not sure is that is the service you got.

by usmcr3049 on Aug 20, 2008 7:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I am not lucky to have fios

so I only have the Verizon DSL NOT the Fios as much as I would love a pipe that big into my office for like $40/mo.

by SpyderRyder on Aug 20, 2008 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions

SUCK IT COMCAST

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on Aug 20, 2008 2:06 AM PDT reply actions

I want to know if I can see a game wherever I am as long as I have

internet access. Soon I’ll have no fixed address, so it’s important.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Aug 20, 2008 2:20 AM PDT reply actions

I hope it is not confined to just Portland residents

Don’t forget the rest of Oregon.

by TallTimber on Aug 20, 2008 6:09 AM PDT reply actions

As cool as this is

I still hope Comcast gets a deal done. I’d much rather be watching the games in the comfort of my living room, in HD, than in my office, on my computer.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Aug 20, 2008 6:58 AM PDT reply actions

+1,000,000

As cool as it would be to see online, I would NEVER choose to watch a game online over my couch and plasma tv. As a matter of fact, I would definitely DVR a game if I couldn’t watch it live over watching live on my computer. But, this is a good option for those who have no other options, so I’m certainly all for it.

myspace.com/marktwainindians

by mark twain on Aug 20, 2008 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions

This likely isn't going to help Blazer fans

comcast and their rights to games wll get in the way of this happening anytime soon, i guarentee it. If games were to be streamed online, it would most likely be though a comcast website and they will definately have restrictions on who can and can’t get the games.

This is a step building for the future, it won’t happen anytime soon.

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Aug 20, 2008 12:50 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah I also thought

that Comcast had some sort of agreement.

by CaptainSexyJacob on Aug 20, 2008 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Could this force Comcast?

If this deal were to get done and people had the option of watching it online, do you suppose it may force Comcast to work harder on a deal with Dish and Direct TV? As some of us have said, I think the vase majority of us would still choose to watch it in HD on our television screen over a web stream. But if Comcast knows they’re at a risk of people having a REAL option to boycott them unless they move to do something, perhaps it’ll light a little fire under them to be more reasonable.

by ChrisB803 on Aug 20, 2008 2:25 PM PDT reply actions

International broadcasts?

Im a portlander currently living in Santiago Chile. One of my biggest reservations about making this move was that i would probably not get any NBA, let alone Blazer, coverage down here. Does anyone know if any NBA coverage is broadcast on the web internationally. I thought stern was about growing the league to an intl audiance, if this is so where are the games david?

by rallyhattime on Aug 21, 2008 9:01 AM PDT reply actions