Twitter will stream isolated single-player camera views during the second half of 20 NBA on TNT games. Fans will be able to vote on which player they want featured, beginning with the Feb. 17 NBA All-Star Game.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced the news at CES. The @NBAonTNT account will carry the iso-cam feed, which will include its own commentators.
The intention is to use one dedicated camera focused on the player, although that could vary depending on how Turner produces the broadcast within the confines of each arena. If the chosen player sits on the bench, the iso-cam feed will switch to alternate content, such as highlights or behind-the-scenes footage.
“Turner and the NBA have always taken a leadership position in providing fans with engaging experiences and this partnership with Twitter is the latest example,” said Turner president David Levy in a statement. “This complementary live stream on Twitter—from the distinct vantage point of the fan-voted, most coveted player on a given night—will provide an additive experience for fans to go along with the fully-produced coverage on TNT.”
The full lineup of featured games will be announced at a later date but will include some postseason games. The NBA’s Twitter account has 27.5 million followers, the most of any sports league in the world.
SportTechie Takeaway
Twitter has long been a trusted second-screen experience for curated social chatter, with the realm of #NBATwitter starring as a particularly active community. Increasingly, Twitter has been experimenting with unique content complements to main-screen broadcasts. An MLS game featured a fan-controlled camera attached to a corner flag, for instance, and now NBA games will have the iso-cam stream as a supplementary vantage point.
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