The NBA announced on Friday that its out-of-market subscription package, NBA League Pass, would now be available on Amazon Prime Video.
The most compelling differentiating feature of League Pass on Amazon devices is access to Prime Video’s X-Ray feature, which will enable basketball fans to toggle through player and team stats and information as they watch.
The cost of $169 for a season pass remains the same on Prime Video as it does on other streaming services, but NBA League Pass will operate without the need to download an additional app. Prime Video subscribers can access a week-long free trial of League Pass from now through Dec. 20.
SportTechie Takeaway
This announcement is less noteworthy for what’s included—just about anyone with Prime Video probably had easy access to a League Pass-compatible platform already—but for what is possible in the future. Amazon has been innovating with its NFL Thursday Night Football package with multiple audio feeds (including the first all-female broadcast team), interactive video feeds, and co-streaming with Ninja and Shannon Sharpe. The NBA has already implemented and discussed a host of its own innovations, including partial-game purchases. Commissioner Adam Silver has previously praised Amazon-owned Twitch’s interface, so elements from that platform could begin to seep into League Pass.