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The NBA Continues to Embrace Digital Age with Major Site Redesign

October 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Fans of the National Basketball League are marking off the days until the season officially begins, and the NBA has been working hard at preparing a new digital approach to providing both die hard and casual fans an enhanced digital experience.

The NBA Digital is developing, along with partner Turner Sports, a new TV studio as well as updating and enhancing its presence and capabilities in both the mobile and online segments of the market, seeking to build on last year’s strong growth experience by NBA Digital.

The web page at NBA.Com is receiving an upgrade that will build on the video and social media features that it has but will be working to emphasis them more to make it a more all inclusive felling for users who can use it as a base to experience what their team has done or share with others via social media. There will be six video channels straight from the home page that fans can use and it also provides the ability to customize their website navigation according to their prioritized features.

Video will also be an important feature for the revamped mobile sites as they will also include expanded access to video as well as a new real-time ticker that will provide a running flow of league news.

The TV studio will broadcast 24-hours a day and have a number of feature programs including like “Game Time,” “Fan Night,” “The Jump,” “The Beat” and “Fantasy Insider” as well as a hardwood half-court for demonstrations.

It seems to me that both the NBA and MLB really grasp the need for good social media and mobile access, the NFL not so much. Still they have all made giant steps towards enfranchising mobile and remote fans at a pace faster than their collective initial moves to embrace the Internet, and this is a good thing.

Filed Under: Basketball, Facebook, Live sports via mobile, Major League Baseball, NBA, NFL, Turner Sports Tagged With: ,

ESPN Continues Move into International Sports with FIBA Deal

October 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We have covered a good deal of ESPN’s growing coverage of international soccer but it has now signed a new deal that will have it covering a sport that has been witnessing strong growth internationally for some time-Basketball.

The broadcast giant has signed a multiyear, multi platform deal with FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, which will enable the network to present a variety of games and championships.

The scope of the deal is big, with all of the games broadcast over one ESPN property or another with Internet and mobile broadcasts included. The deal will cover the rights to approximately 400 games from six tournaments played between 2013-2015.

ESPN said that it will have telecasts in both English and Spanish, and that all Team USA and Gold Medal Games will air live on ESPN or ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes. The network plans on televise every game of the tournaments across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes.

The agreement covers the FIBA Americas Championships (2013, 2015), the EuroBaskets (2013, 2015), the FIBA Basketball World Cup (2014) and the FIBA World Championship for Women (2014).

It will be interesting to see how well the games do, viewership wide. FIBA uses slightly different rules than the NBA, and I think that many hoops fans are only aware of different international leagues when a star NBA player threatens to play for one.

FIBA is the international body governing 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world and is recognized as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) it has been butting heads with the NBA of late.

During the most recent Summer Olympics the NBA floated a proposal that there be an enhanced World Cup of Basketball, much like in soccer. There is currently one now but the according to some reports the new one would be run by the NBA, which would also harvest most of the profits.

The NBA, which gets no profit from the Olympics, paired the proposal with the idea that the NBA stops sending players to the Olympics. SO far this does not seem to be gaining much traction. On the flip side FIBA is now pushing to add 3 on three basketball to the Olympics.

Filed Under: Basketball, ESPN, ESPN3, FIBA, NBA, Olympics Tagged With: , ,

2Bet2 Focuses on Social Betting on Games

October 9, 2012 by 2 Comments

2Bet2

Socialized betting is undergoing an interesting change, migrating from the office water cooler, if one actually exists, and onto social media sites such as Facebook and Google +, and one of the recent entrants into that field is 2Bet2, bringing out its Facebook offering around the start of the year.

It has many of the features that are currently coming on line in rival sports apps using odds to set the line on bets and winners can get awards that allow them to advance and open up new opportunities. You can bet against friend or the house and do so on events that are played around the globe.

There is real time game and odds updates and along with seeing how your bets are doing you have a chat ability that permits congratulating, taunting, or anything in between, among players. All major sports are covered including both NFL and NCAA Football, both NBA and NCAA basketball, Hockey, Baseball, 25 different European Football leagues, Rugby Union/League, Cricket, Tennis and Golf.

2Bet2 has plenty of competition in the social betting world both with mobile app developers moving over onto social media and developers focusing initially on social media as the platform of choice. Players such as SideBet have added social media access.

There is a growing list of competitors in this space I believe that fantasy sports sites will also look towards online gambling if and when it gets the ok. Look at players including Rotowire, Grabfan, Pickmoto to name just a few. Even casinos are getting into the mix.

As these traditional gaming establishments embrace online platforms, they are creating a seamless blend of classic casino experiences with modern digital convenience. Players can now access a wide range of casino games from the comfort of their homes, engaging in activities that were once reserved for physical locations.

This integration has not only expanded the reach of casinos but also attracted a new demographic of players who prefer the flexibility and accessibility of online gaming. One of the key players in this transition is secretcasinotips.com, offering insights and strategies for both novice and experienced gamblers. By providing valuable content, this platform helps players navigate the evolving online casino environment, ensuring they can make informed decisions and enhance their gaming experiences.

With the convergence of social media, mobile apps, and online gambling, casinos are poised to capitalize on the growing trend, creating a comprehensive and engaging ecosystem for players worldwide. This evolution signifies a new era for the casino industry, where the boundaries between physical and virtual gaming continue to blur.

It seems that there is a good deal of hope in app developers that sometime in the future there will be an easing of on-line betting rules in the US that will allow the gambling of real money. Early players in this space will be well positioned to take advantage of any such change.

As the casino industry continues to evolve with the integration of social media, mobile apps, and online gambling, platforms like SlotsMonster are at the forefront of this transformation. It stands out by offering a vast array of gaming options that cater to a wide range of preferences. From video slots that feature captivating graphics and innovative gameplay to classic slots that evoke the nostalgia of traditional casinos, the platform ensures there’s something for everyone.

In addition to these popular slot games, SlotMonster also provides a diverse selection of scratch cards, table games, and video poker, offering a comprehensive suite of options for players seeking variety and excitement. This broad range of offerings is complemented by their commitment to delivering a seamless and immersive gaming experience. By continually expanding its game library and incorporating cutting-edge technology, SlotMonster not only meets the current demands of online gamblers but also positions itself to thrive in the evolving landscape of the casino industry.

As regulations around online betting potentially become more favorable in the future, SlotsMonster is well-equipped to capitalize on these changes, providing players with an engaging and dynamic platform that bridges the gap between virtual and physical gaming experiences.

It would be important to be established because if and when it is legalized the moneyed Las Vegas casinos and other entities are likely to quickly enter a market that is estimated at multiple billions of dollars.

While an industry group, the American Gaming Association has said that it seems unlikely that there will be any changes to online gambling this year, although there has been a bill put before congress by members of both parties. According to American Gaming, online gambling is legal in 85 countries and an estimated $35 billion is gambled each year.

Filed Under: Apps, Baseball, Betting, English Premier Soccer League, Facebook, Google, Major League Baseball, NBA, NCAA Football, NCAA.com, NFL, RotoWire, Soccer Tagged With: , ,

Pickmoto Moves NFL app to iPad, Preps for NBA Season

October 2, 2012 by 2 Comments

Pickmoto, a startup app developer seeking to firmly establish itself in the growing market for social betting has expanded its offerings by adding a version for the iPad. Currently the app runs on iPhones, with an Android version “coming soon.”

The latest move is a welcomed one because while the app works well on a smartphone, a tablet simply provides additional viewing space and so makes that app easier to view and simpler to use.

The game follows the same procedure as with a smartphone including picking winners with no spread, playing friends one on one, or random opponents. You can win trophies, climb a leaderboard and play in preseason, regular and post season as well.

The company is moving pretty fast for one that was just established earlier this year and it already has its sights set on expanding to additional sports. With hockey an obvious no-no due to the lockout it has targeted the National Basketball Association and said that it expects that it expects to have a sports betting app out for the NBA by the opening regular season tip-off.

Filed Under: Android, Apple, Apps, iOS, NBA, NFL, Pickmoto, Sports Betting, Tablets Tagged With: , , , , ,

Wednesday Wi-Fi Whispers: Cisco Scores Big Wi-Fi (and Video!) Win at Nets’ Barclays Center

September 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The biggest vendor in the stadium Wi-Fi space scored a big win last week when Cisco announced it would supply the Wi-Fi network and the digital video services to the new Brooklyn Nets stadium, aka the Barclays Center.

Just after the announcement last week we caught up via phone with David Holland, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Entertainment Solutions Group, and Stuart Hamilton, Cisco senior director for sports and entertainment, to get the skinny on the Barclays deal as well as their thoughts on how fast the stadium Wi-Fi movement was picking up. According to Hamilton, the pace of stadium Wi-Fi installs has picked up significantly since late last year, when Cisco seemed to be preaching to a sort-of interested choir.

Now, pretty much all stadium operators are singing the Wi-Fi tune. “They [stadium owners] have gone from ‘should we do it’ to ‘when are we going to do it,’ ” Hamilton said. “They all know they have to do it. And budgets are being moved up.”

After talking big about the stadium business earlier this year, Cisco has been somewhat quiet, without any real big wins — and even smaller victories, like getting the Wi-Fi network bid for the Super Bowl — were curiously understated, perhaps just part of the business since sometimes stadium owners or their telecom provider partners don’t want to talk too much about gear suppliers since giving praise means less leverage at the negotiating table.

Though the space is attracting a lot of innovative gear makers — Xirrus, Ruckus and Meru all come to mind — Holland thinks Cisco’s might gives it an edge, especially when it comes to scalability. “The me-too people out there, the question is, can they scale,” Holland asked. “We have a high density platform. It’s easy to look good when there’s only one person on your network, but how does it act when it’s heavily loaded?”

The Barclays Center is a big win for Cisco because it includes the StadiumVision feature, Cisco’s sports-specific implementation of networked digital signage. From the press release, here’s just part of what will be deployed:

700 HDTV’s and approximately 100 concession menu boards throughout the venue will provide content ranging from action on the court, to concession specials (all boards update simultaneously and are integrated with point of sale), to out-of-town games and scores, to traffic updates, and much more.

We’ve seen a live demonstration of this stuff (Cisco’s entertainment group has a building on Cisco campus that is set up like a stadium/sports bar, with HDTVs and concession menus to show the capability of the system) and it’s a big leap for the fan experience. And perhaps most importantly for Cisco the Barclays deal also includes a contract for the infrastructure network, the routers, switches and other gear that will power a network that will run not just the fan Wi-Fi service, but also help with wireless connectivity for ticketing, security, internal communications and more. That’s where Cisco makes its big dollars, so that combo makes the Barclays deal more than just a Wi-Fi install.

The bonus kicker from our conversation was a claim by the Cisco folks that they might not be out of the running for the new San Francisco 49ers Stadium, currently being built in Santa Clara. Though Niners CEO Jed York has tweeted about a pending technology deal with wireless provider Brocade, there might be several such contracts before all is said and done. First of all, the Brocade folks told us earlier in the summer that an official announcement was pending… but it hasn’t happened. And just this week the Niners announced a sponsorship deal with software vendor SAP, so it looks like there might be a bigger pie to divvy up when it comes to tech and the new Niners stadium.

Will Cisco get a slice? Stay tuned.

Filed Under: Cisco, NBA, Wi-Fi Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Wednesday Wi-Fi Whispers: New Networks for Bobcats, Patriots and Vols

September 12, 2012 by 3 Comments

Wi-Fi gear supplier Ruckus Wireless has racked up another stadium win, this time as the technology behind a new Wi-Fi network at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C., home of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.

The new network was live just in time to supply attendees at last week’s Democratic convention with a signal much stronger than cellular. According to a report by John Cox in Network World the new network uses Ruckus’s specially designed stadium antennas and uses the better-performing 802.11n Wi-Fi protocol. Doug Sabo, product manager for micronetworks at Time-Warner Cable, said the cable giant (which supplies Internet and video back-end services) is talking with “many of the venues in our service area” to gauge their needs or desires to install or upgrade their stadium Wi-Fi operations.

Patriots Expand Network, Pick Local Firm Enterasys for Wi-Fi Gear

Fans of the New England Patriots can now enjoy Wi-Fi access throughout Gillette Stadium, thanks to a new network put in place by the team and Enterasys Networks, an Andover, Mass., supplier of networking gear. This Boston Herald report details the new network, which will provide free Wi-Fi service to all fans at the Pats’ NFL games.

Previously, wireless gear supplier Xirrus had helped the Patriots bring Wi-Fi services to Gillette Stadium’s extensive luxury suites and clubs. No word yet on whether the Xirrus installation will remain, or whether the Enterasys deal will usher Xirrus out.

Tennessee Vols get DAS at Neyland Stadium

One of the most orange places on earth, the University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium, has a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) installation in place to help improve cellular coverage. Raleigh, N.C.-based Longent is behind the installation, using DAS gear from Solid Technologies. Verizon Wireless will be the first cellular provider to use the DAS system, which improves cellular coverage by placing small antennas throughout the facility.

Filed Under: 4G LTE, DAS, NBA, NFL, Verizon Wireless, Wi-Fi Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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