Tuesday, July 16, 2019 – A roundup of some of the key sports technology stories you need to know, including SportTechie’s own content and stories from around the web
- The Big 12 will have its own streaming channel on ESPN+ as part of the expanded media rights deal that the network signed with the conference in April. The channel, Big 12 Now, and will stream one football game per season from the participating schools as well as all men’s basketball games that are not scheduled to appear on ESPN’s television properties. Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State will join the platform this year while Iowa State, TCU, West Virginia, and Texas Tech will join in 2020. Texas and Oklahoma are not part of the partnership due to their existing long-term agreements with other networks.
- NASCAR is planning to soft-launch its U.S. betting platform in September, according to gambling publisher EGR. The product is being powered by Genius Sports and will allow for wagering on areas such as stage winners, most laps led, lead changes, driver matchups, and group matchups. The full version of NASCAR’s betting product is expected to launch in February 2020, and there are plans to eventually expand the product internationally. “We’re thinking about how this product can turn our fans into evangelists of the betting products so they go out and tell their cousins and friends overseas,” Scott Warfield, managing director of gaming at NASCAR, told EGR.
- The NBA is exploring launching its own sports betting product, while the NFL looks to integrate augmented reality. Commissioners of both leagues were in attendance at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho this week. “We’re working from a digital standpoint to develop a better app to make those kinds of opportunities available,” said the NBA’s Adam Silver, according to CNBC. The NFL’ Roger Goodell told the network that AR could give fans the chance “to see what it’s like to stand behind Tom Brady as he’s looking downfield, to be able to see what it’s like as a running back runs through the line or defender tries to defend a play.”
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- The Cleveland Cavaliers and NBA 2K League affiliate Cavs Legion GC have partnered with a cryptocurrency banking platform. UnitedCoin ads will feature on LED signage inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse during Cavs games and other branding opportunities are planned during the upcoming NBA season. UnitedCoin branding will also appear on the Cavs Legion GC’s virtual home court during gameplay in the NBA 2K League and via the team’s social media channels. “As decentralized technology continues to evolve, we know it is important for us to stay ahead of the curve and plan for how it will impact our fan experience and business as we move forward,” said Nic Barlage, Cavaliers president of business operations, in a press release.
- Sports betting set to launch in the State of New York. Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, N.Y., will begin accepting sports betting wagers on Tuesday. The casino is 170 miles away from NYC, and is one of four upstate casinos to receive sports betting approval from the State Gaming Commision. Mobile wagering is still not legal in New York. “I’m glad we’re breaking grounds on sports betting, but it would’ve been nice to have the mobile component,” state senator Joe Addabbo told the New York Post. North Carolina is also reportedly close to legalizing in-person sports betting at two casinos. On Monday, Lawmakers passed a bill that adds sports betting to games that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian casinos can offer.
- Illegal Irish streams of English Premier League soccer games must be blocked by internet services providers this season. Ireland’s Commercial Court ruled on Monday that service providers Eircom/Eir, Sky Ireland, Virgin Media Ireland, and Vodafone Ireland must block unauthorized streams of EPL matches moving forward. The ruling comes shortly after a recent study found that illegal streams of Premier League matches generated $1.3 million in sponsorship value for brands.
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