The National Basketball Association (NBA) has expanded its partnership with Verizon Media’s Yahoo Sports, as the 2019-20 season resumes.

An existing multi-year content deal has been enhanced to make Yahoo Sports the official marketing partner for the NBA. The deal will see Yahoo’s platforms carry branded NBA promotions, Yahoo Sports branding featured during televised games, and activations at major events. 

Yahoo Sport’s sister company, RYOT, has also been made a partner, and will produce NBA League Pass VR (Virtual Reality) games live, taking over from Apple-owned NextVR. These will be distributed in immersive video format via the Facebook-owned Oculus Venues, on Oculus Quest and Oculus Go headsets.

NBA League Pass VR games are also expected to feature new betting and fantasy overlays in the near future, while Yahoo will be upgrading its fantasy basketball site, adding more betting-focused content, like previews and recaps. 

Yahoo has also been confirmed as presenting partner of the NBA’s playoff pick’em bracket challenges, and will continue to hold fantasy and betting content production rights for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), and NBA G-League. 

AYO.NEWS says:

With the NBA season having resumed yesterday in Orlando, Florida, amidst the backdrop of a worsening COVID-19 crisis, it seems unlikely live audiences will be returning any time soon. This has left many concerned about games lacking atmosphere and turning viewers and bettors off, so the potential offered by VR could prove very useful in boosting engagement levels. 

Staying with the NBA, earlier this month Florida-based esports organisation Misfits Gaming Group (MGG) expanded its partnership with NBA teams Miami HEAT and Orlando Magic. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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