Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors fights for a rebound with Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals. (Photo by Carlos Osorio – Pool/Getty Images)
Throughout the 2018/19 NBA season, NBA League Pass subscribers will be able to purchase the fourth quarter of single games. Viewing would start in the final quarter and last until the game’s conclusion. This new feature will cost fans $1.99 per game.
In December, the feature will expand to give fans the option of buying a single game at a reduced price at the beginning of any quarter, according to an NBA press release. The base price to stream an entire single game will remain at $6.99 for the 2018/19 season.
Multiple fan-first features are being developed by the NBA and Turner Sports to make NBA League Pass more customizable for the upcoming season. The new offering also gives fans the ability to purchase 10 minutes of real-time action of any game. Details and pricing regarding the 10-minute option will be announced at a later date, according to the press release.
“Our partnership with the NBA continues to center on the development of innovative, fan-first products that deliver premium content through an array of touch points and drive consumption across all platforms,” said David Levy, President of Turner, in the press release. “These game-changing initiatives will provide fans with immediate access to live NBA action in more ways than ever before. From live games on TNT and NBA TV to these compelling options for NBA League Pass subscribers, fans will be able to customize the experience to best align with their viewing preferences.”
NBA League Pass is available via Turner’s B/R Live streaming service, the NBA mobile App, and NBA.com. The premium option costs $249.99 while NBA Team Pass costs $119.99.
SportTechie Takeaway
These new features being added to NBA League Pass appear to follow most media strategies that are aimed at millennials: offer shorter viewing options. The NFL RedZone channel that is provided by NFL Network is similar in that it gives fans the option of only tuning into the key moments, not necessarily the whole game. The NCAA experimented with a similar live streaming feature called Fast Break during the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
