NBA's Relaunched League Pass Broadband Doubles '08-09 Footprint

NBA Digital has relaunched its League Pass Broadband out-of-market game package for the ’09-10 season with distribution to more than 200 countries, roughly double last year’s footprint, as well as newly added DVR-type functionality to the video. Other features will include a full season of games archived for on-demand viewing and simultaneous multi-game viewing. Domestically, the package will cost $149.95 for every game, or $99.95 for games involving a user’s choice of seven teams, though early season discounts for both levels are currently being offered. Internationally, pricing will range from $99.95-149.95. Prior to last season, the broadband version of League Pass had only been available by purchasing the League Pass TV package. The online games remain included as part of that offering (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).

CROSSOVER DRIBBLE: MEDIA LIFE MAGAZINE's Diego Vasquez noted the NBA has signed "several well-known print journalists as contributors" for NBA.com, and NBA Digital Senior VP & GM Bryan Perez said, "As we see the challenges in the traditional print industry, we want to make sure the sport is still covered by the best and the brightest." Perez added, "They won't just be on NBA.com, but also on NBA TV and programs like 'The Beat' and the studio show 'Game Time,' and so we truly take cross-platform to heart. In many ways that's a great opportunity for people out of the print industry to not only find a new home, but new outlets for their craft." Meanwhile, Perez said the "way the assets align on a cross-platform basis is the model of the future" for NBA Digital. He added, "What we're working hard on now is understanding how content is consumed and how we deploy it across the channels to make sure we make the most of every distribution platform" (MEDIALIFEMAGAZINE.com, 10/26).