Intel Corp. and the NBA have partnered to develop and
distribute interactive NBA content, including enhanced
broadband programming and interactive game broadcasts. The
initial products to be developed will enable users to access
daily customized NBA and WNBA highlights and archival
footage through NBA.com, WNBA.com and the leagues' team Web
sites. The NBA will join Intel and Excalibur Technologies
to form a new company, Convera Corporation. The NBA will
receive a 10% equity stake in Convera and NBA Commissioner
David Stern will join the company's BOD. Convera's services
will include content protection, indexing and search of
digital material, and other technologies necessary for the
secure delivery of content online (NBA).
PART OF STERN'S VISION: In L.A., Greg Johnson writes
the alliance "is an outgrowth" of Stern's "ongoing push to
make NBA content available worldwide." Stern: "You imagine
it and we'll deliver it." Nielsen//Net Ratings Dir of
Interactive Media Strategies T.S. Kelly said, "The key is
now to get as much of your content out before as many people
as possible through as many avenues as possible" (L.A.
TIMES, 9/14). USA TODAY's Chris Jenkins writes the NBA
"expects the new partnership to help it expand the sites'
video presence and position [itself] for the future."
Jupiter Communications analyst Christopher Todd calls the
deal a "solid steppingstone" for making Web video more
watchable in the future. But Todd says the "near-term
benefits are going to be minimal" (USA TODAY, 9/14).
BLOOMBERG NEWS' Michael Buteau: "In addition to general game
highlights, fans will eventually be able to access such
things as archives of every slam dunk." Intel Senior VP &
GM of Interactive Media Services Ron Whittier: "It delivers
the promise of interactive sports." Stern said he was not
sure how users will be charged for the services: "We're more
interested in rushing to define the market than the economic
model. We're not sure where this whole digital TV, Internet
world is going, but we want to be ready when we get there"
(BLOOMBERG, 9/14). Stern added that "initially, the content
created will be limited to distribution on home computers as
enhancement to television broadcasts, but that could evolve
to include interactive television programming." The NBA is
Convera's first announced client, but "the company plans to
expand its offerings to other leagues" (DAILY VARIETY,
9/14). The AP's Peter Svensson writes the partnership is a
move by the NBA to "expand its Internet presence without
harming its relationship with TV networks" (AP, 9/14).
STERN NOT TAKING STOCK JUST YET: In other NBA news,
Stern said that he will "recommend against making the
league's entertainment division an independent company," as
the climate "isn't right for a stock sale" in NBAE. Stern:
"That's not something I'm going to be recommending to the
owners in October" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/14).
