Sports streaming continues to heat up, as the NBA joins the fray with its redesigned NBA mobile app, touting enhanced personalization features and fresh league content.
The free app, built in partnership with the NBA’s cloud partner Microsoft, offers users curated recommendations for content such as NBA original series, behind-the-scenes features from teams, archival footage from NBA Finals games, NBA’s international games and much more.
As users search for content, they’ll see vertical videos (like those on social media) displaying real-time highlights of all NBA games in progress.
The NBA is also integrating NBA League Pass and NBA TV – its direct-to-consumer subscription services – into the app, providing a more aggregated user experience.
NBA League Pass comes in both a standard and premium tier, costing $14.99 per month ($99.99 per season) and $19.99 monthly ($129.99 per season), respectively. Subscribers to either plan can get NBA TV – normally $6.99 monthly or $29.99 annually – at no extra cost.
“Launching our new NBA App and digital platform is a major milestone as we continue to build and strengthen our direct-to-consumer offerings,” stated Chris Benyarko, EVP of direct-to-consumer at the NBA. “We are thrilled to deliver a reimagined product that will enhance and personalize the way NBA fans engage with the league on a daily basis.”
The app has been in the works for over two years. The NBA has said it’s leveraging Microsoft’s technology to allow basketball fans to fully immerse themselves in all aspects of the game.
Further boosting engagement, the league has launched NBA ID, a free to join global membership program. Members will get access to exclusive content like ticket promotions, teams’ pregame shows, prizes through fantasy game sweepstakes and more.
Users who already subscribe to NBA League Pass – or those who play NBA’s Pick’Em – have the option to link their account with NBA ID.
The NBA’s redesigned app comes a couple of months after the NFL debuted NFL+, a subscription-based streaming service featuring live local and primetime regular season and postseason matches via phones and tablets.
Select NBA games are now available on Bally Sports+, a DTC regional sports network streaming service that officially launched Monday.