Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the LA Clippers dribbles past JaVale McGee of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of a NBA preseason game at Honda Center on Oct. 6, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Clippers have partnered with sports data analytics firm Second Spectrum to launch Clippers CourtVision, a mobile app that blends augmented reality and artificial intelligence to present a new type of fan viewing experience for Clippers basketball games.
The app is available to FOX Sports Prime Ticket subscribers via the FOX Sports mobile application. Starting this NBA season, fans can use CourtVision to select from three different broadcast modes. These include Coach Mode, which diagrams the plays as they happen via augmented reality, Player Mode, in which realtime shooting percentages hover over each player, and Mascot Mode, which incorporates fan-friendly animations, graphics and special effects.
“It’s long been a dream of mine to use technology to transform the sports-watching experience. Innovation is at my – and the Clippers’ core, and we’re excited to redefine fans’ expectations of what it means to watch sports through this revolutionary new broadcast technology,” said Clippers owner Steve Ballmer in a press release. “The real-time video visualization technology and big data capabilities we’ve designed to power Clippers CourtVision are incredible.”
Ballmer is the former CEO at Microsoft, and also an investor in Second Spectrum. He has been working with Second Spectrum over the past four years to develop this revolutionary broadcast experience. Fans can also choose how they want to listen to the game by selecting broadcast commentary or unfiltered in-arena live sound. CourtVision’s in-game commentator feature uses Second Spectrum AI to generate facts and players’ notes for fans to consume.
“When Steve [Ballmer] first came to us with his desire to transform the sports-watching experience, we knew that we shared a common vision and we would be able to work together to create the most innovative platform yet using Second Spectrum technology,” said Rajiv Maheswaran, CEO and Co-Founder at Second Spectrum. “Clippers CourtVision will be the first step in making sports more customized and interactive with cutting-edge technology. Our software is already used by many of the world’s top leagues and teams. Now fans can have the same access.”
A expanded beta release that offers seven different camera angles throughout the arena will be available to a limited number of Clippers season ticket holders this season. CourtVision is currently only accessible via iOS and Android smartphones running the Fox Sports mobile app, and users must be subscribed to the Fox Sports Prime Ticket channel, which is the exclusive TV home of the Clippers. Per the press release, CourtVision will be available on more devices and come with added functionality for the 2019-20 NBA season.
SportTechie Takeaway
Through a screen casting device such as Apple TV, fans will be able to transfer CourtVision’s broadcast feed to a bigger screen instead of being limited to watching on a phone. Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence are two of the hottest trending elements of technology in sports right now, and the Clippers have created an app that leverages both technologies. Hardcore basketball fans figure to be the audience who will especially enjoy the real-time stats and analytics that CourtVision offers, but the added fun of an augmented reality viewing features could appeal to even the most casual of sports fans.
