
NBA Summer League Once Again a Breeding Ground for Tech Innovation By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Friday, July 19, 2024 - 2:55 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The temperature isn't the only thing heating up in Las Vegas this week during the annual NBA Summer League festivities; the level of technological innovation is sizzling as well. The league's basketball strategy and broadcast ops teams are collaborating on a bevy of experiments that aim to enhance the quality of gameplay, officiating, live production, and the viewing experience.
From a broadcast operations and engineering perspective, Summer League is an invaluable opportunity to try out new technologies and continue to evolve, says Barney Carleton, Senior Director, Broadcast Planning and Strategy. The best piece of the Summer League for us is the fact that not everything necessarily has to make it to air. That opportunity to do offline testing is something that's absolutely really critical to us. It enlightens us and provides us the opportunity to try new things that we can either hold on to or throw away. We can also go back to it in future seasons and continue to develop, iterate, and improve.
Summer League is a critical R&D lab for us for two main use cases, says Tom Ryan, VP, Basketball Strategy, NBA. The first is tactical in that it gives us some final reps and a chance to tune up before the upcoming season. And the second is experimental where we can throw out some new ideas that you might see in the NBA in 3-4 years. It's an amazing forum for experimentation because we have NBA-caliber buildings and there's a lot of games, so it just allows us to get a lot of data and a large sample size in a 10-day stretch, which is pretty unique.
From Vegas to Secaucus and beyond: The HSAN and the Cloud The league has rolled out two of its portable remote HSAN transmission kits - one for each arena in Vegas - and secured additional connectivity from Verizon to create a robust network to connect both the Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas with the NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, NJ. This network not only serves the NBA's content creation and international-distribution needs, but it also provides a backbone for the plethora of tests taking place in Vegas.
The NBA is also working with MediaKind and a handful of other vendors to test JPEG XS encoding on the HSAN in an effort to enable more efficient video transmission and overall flexibility in the future.
As was the case last year in Vegas, the NBA continues to test out new cloud-production workflows for both alternate feeds and multi-language broadcasts. As part of this testing, the league is working with Microsoft Azure on running Evertz' DreamCatcher BRAVO production suite in the cloud.
We're really excited by the maturation that we've seen in cloud production when it comes to versioning and scaling up the quantity of feeds that we've been able to produce, as well as streamlining our distribution, says Carleton. This is a continuation from last year and we're taking another step this year that will give us more scalability and flexibility in the future.
The NBA is working with a number of other partners on cloud-based production workflows in Vegas, including Tagboard on their HTML5 graphics platform.
Next-Gen Viewing Experiences: Cosm, C360, and Quintar For the second consecutive year, Cosm (which inked a multi-year deal with the league last year to create 8K shared-reality experiences for fans) is in Vegas testing both immersive and VR capture systems.
We're working with Cosm on a number of different exciting experiences both in the broadcast space as well as some of these emerging markets, says Carleton. The goal of their testing is to look at some new camera angles and continue its development as it relates to creating the best possible user experience for basketball.
Cosm's C360 crew is also collaborating with the league on a proof-of-concept that integrates Hawkeye player tracking data into C360's CX Video Hub platform to create automatically-generated ISO shots.
It's early days so you may not see in the broadcast, but that continues to be of great interest to us here at the league, says Carleton. We view it as an opportunity to create more content and explore how we can use AI in conjunction with our player tracking data to create a better experience for fans.
The NBA is also collaborating with Quintar creating spatial video content for platforms like Apple Vision Pro.
We are working with them to just figure out new ways to create new types of content so that we can reach fans where they are, says Carleton. It's unclear if we'll be publishing any content from this event specifically, but it's an amazing opportunity to experiment and refine the way we can tell stories.
Working with ESPN: New cameras, Mics, and Data Visualizations ESPN continues to produce all of the Vegas summer league games (including broadcasts on NBA TV) this season, but for the first time, all game broadcasts from both the Thomas & Mack and Cox Pavilion are being produced back in Bristol, CT using REMI-production models.
ESPN and the NBA are testing new, smaller digital Q5X player mic transmitter/receiver systems that include various types of lavalier mic capsules and transmitters. In addition, ESPN and Riedel are working with the league on two-way in-game conversations with players similar to what viewers have seen in MLB coverage in recent years.
We continue to work really closely with ESPN on a lot of our testing initiatives and one of the key initiatives is finding opportunities to improve our player access opportunities, says Carleton. That includes getting better player sounds with the Q5X microphones and experimenting with two-way interv
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
27/08/2026
Advertisers gain granular CTV targeting and turnkey reporting across eligible in...
27/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/08/2026
Profuz Digital makes a mark by launching a powerful upgrade to its Profuz LAPIS digital media management platform this IBC in Amsterdam at Stand 8.A88. The late...
27/08/2026
DHD.audio has chosen IBC 2026 as the launch venue for what it defines as one of the most radical advances in the companys 30 year history.
Every broadcast trad...
27/08/2026
Direct connectivity between planning, production and graphics for creativity and streamlined workflows...
27/08/2026
New Photoshop innovations bring you more choice and control at every stage of yo...
27/08/2026
First Two Seasons of Vertical Series Vultures Shot on Blackmagic Design Cameras
Brie Clayton August 27, 2026
0 Comments
Director and DoP of Vultures ...
27/08/2026
For years, the media and entertainment industry has hesitated to use AI-voiced dubbing due to concern for audience experience. New data from 3Play Media, a glob...
27/08/2026
Starfish Technologies has announced the forthcoming V9 release of its Advantage AD workstation, adding support for voice synthesis services and giving Audio Des...
27/08/2026
Lightware's UBEX is a powerful AV-over-IP product well suited for rental and staging workflows where systems must be fast to deploy, easy to repurpose, and ...
27/08/2026
Lightware has expanded the scalability of its 10G TPN AV-over-IP platform with the introduction of the new TPN-MMU-X100 Matrix Management Unit, enabling systems...
27/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/08/2026
PlayBox Neo Stand 7.C29 IBC2026 - 11 14 September
Well-established global specialists in media playout, automation, and streaming solutions, PlayBox Neo ...
27/08/2026
Rise Academy, the broadcast and media skills charity dedicated to delivering practical media technology learning experiences, careers resources and work experie...
27/08/2026
Mediagenix, a global leader in smart content solutions to profitably connect the right content to the right audience, will showcase the latest evolution of its ...
27/08/2026
Screen Australia opens applications for Global Fellowships Program 27 August 2026
Applications are now open for the Screen Australia Global Fellowships progra...
27/08/2026
Thursday 27 August 2026
Sir Grayson Perry and Rebecca Lucy Taylor (aka Self Est...
27/08/2026
Wuppertal August 27, 2026
Riedel Evolves Leadership and Global Go-to-Market OrganizationRiedel Communications is strengthening its leadership and global go-to...
27/08/2026
More Sasquatch, more fun: Today, the sneakiest crossover of the summer lands exc...
27/08/2026
Commissioned for RT KIDS as part of the EBU Kids' Drama Exchange The Note will premiere Sunday August 30, 5:10pm
RT One and RT Player
The Note tells a...
27/08/2026
August 27 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Laboratories Announces Leadership Transition
Kevin Yeaman to Retire from Dolby
Marc Whitten Named President, Chief Exe...
27/08/2026
NVIDIA's Gamescom announcements are revealing what's next for GeForce NOW, with new ways to play, more supported devices and platforms, and even more bi...
26/08/2026
Applicants interested in the Media Innovation Europe 3.0 Validation Booster call can now consult a new FAQ document addressing practical questions raised during...
26/08/2026
Roku Sports Channel will stream eight matches free beginning Aug. 30 as league shifts Sunday-night games away from Victory+...
26/08/2026
Evertz and Mobile TV Group detail how on-premises infrastructure and cloud resou...
26/08/2026
The Sennheiser Group will demonstrate its broadcast audio portfolio at IBC2026 (Hall 8, Booth D50), covering wireless microphone workflows, studio monitoring, a...
26/08/2026
Appear and Transmisiones Televisivas TVTEL Limitada have announced the deploymen...
26/08/2026
Leader Electronics has announced that Danish broadcast rental company Minitech has purchased a Leader LPX500 hybrid IP/SDI waveform monitor and LT4670 sync puls...
26/08/2026
Encompass will demonstrate its Altitude media services at IBC2026 (IAMT Hub, Diamond Lounge, Hall 3, RAI Amsterdam, September 11-14).
Key products on show incl...
26/08/2026
Daktronics has partnered with Massillon Washington High School in Ohio to install a new LED video display and implement the Daktronics Camino show control platf...
26/08/2026
Clear-Com has appointed Dubai-based Venuetech LLC as its main partner for the Middle East. Venuetech distributes professional audiovisual solutions across the r...
26/08/2026
NBC Sports NOW, NBC Sports' free 24/7 streaming channel, will launch a new weekday lineup beginning Monday, August 31, including two new shows.
Not So Fast...
26/08/2026
Calrec will demonstrate updates to its ImPulseV DSP software and Argo ecosystem at IBC2026 (Stand 8.C47), including previews aligned with the EBU's Dynamic ...
26/08/2026
Imagine Communications will demonstrate AI applications across its ad tech and video infrastructure portfolios at IBC2026 (Stand 1.B73, RAI Amsterdam, September...
26/08/2026
Dalet will demonstrate updates to Dalet Flex, Dalet Pyramid, and Dalia, its agentic AI platform, at IBC2026 (Hall 7, Stand 7.A43). The company will also partici...
26/08/2026
Team-owned platform will stream every locally carried Predators game beginning t...
26/08/2026
The 12-day tournament receives the broadcaster's full onsite-studio presence...
26/08/2026
A synth with no controls?
If you're into weird and wonderful instruments, then you may already be familiar with Warsaw-based SOMA Laboratory - if you...
26/08/2026
Physical modelling orchestral instrument announced
Following their recent cryptic hints, Dreamtonics have officially revealed the latest addition to their s...
26/08/2026
Discussions at the Meitingen site on competitiveness, energy supply, and fuel cell technology
Bertram Brossardt, CEO of the Bavarian metal and electrical emplo...
26/08/2026
Rohde & Schwarz USA celebrates grand opening of new manufacturing center in Fred...
26/08/2026
For large media companies, the content archive is a gold mine. There are thousands of hours of existing, high-value assets just waiting to be tapped for highlig...
26/08/2026
Ad Supported Viewing Represents 71.5% of TV in Q2
Streaming Captures Over 48% o...