David Stern, Jim Boeheim, Vernon Davis Invest In Live Streaming Platform SportsCastr.Live
(Courtesy of Kevin April)
Former NBA Commissioner David Stern won’t submit to using the word “disruption” when it comes to the latest technology company that he has invested in and is also advising.
With the newly-launched live streaming platform SportsCastr.Live, which includes other investors like Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis and Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim, Stern utilized the term evolution instead, giving any sports fan the opportunity to become a play-by-play broadcaster.
SportsCastr.Live, which is led by Chief Executive Officer Kevin April, mirrors the likes of Facebook Live or Periscope from a live streaming perspective, but allows users to give their own opinion or call, which also includes on-air motion graphics in addition to a scoreboard featuring NBA, NFL, men’s college basketball and football, among others. Additionally, augmented reality features and other refined elements will make it appear like a “network-quality broadcast,” according to Stern.
“Going from over the air to cable, we weren’t using the disruption word back in 1979, but it was disruptive as hell,” Stern told SportTechie. “Going from cable to satellite was pretty neat and disruptive but we called it evolution. Going from satellite to digital was the next step, and it was the evolution of digital. I don’t use the ‘d’ word that much, but it’s a lot of fun to be involved with new technologies like this and speak to the fans who are looking for ways to enjoy the game with their friends.”
Added Davis in a statement on SportsCastr.Live following his re-signing with the team: “This platform is a real game-changer, and I’m so excited to be involved. I love it already, and it’s only going to get better.”
(Courtesy of SportsCastr.Live)
Stern said that SportsCastr.Live is positioned “right in the sweet spot of personalized communal viewing.”
“Anything that involves communal viewing is of great interest to me because sports is the ultimate communal experience,” he said. “People gather in arenas with 20,000 strangers for the communal experience to cheer on their team to victory. Anything that moves in that direction is going to be well received.”
An investor in wearable technology company ShotTracker and sports content platform Overtime, among other startups, Stern suggested in the future how the platform could potentially incorporate actual game play footage but that would naturally require negotiating rights deals with leagues and media properties, a much bigger undertaking. For now, though, fans can pretend as though they’re Joe Buck or Marv Albert as they interact with one another.
“This is more social watching. You can watch the game with your friend who is doing the play-by-play and others can comment and join in with respect to the game itself. That is ultimately neat and cool. I think it’s going to have a lot of uptick because what sports gives you is a way to come together and to convene,” Stern said.
Other investors include Donald Schupak, former Managing Partner of the ABA’s Spirits of St. Louis, Andrew Schupak, SGI MB Chief Executive Officer and Eric Bechtel, IdeaQuest Founder.
