Steve Ballmer’s LA Clippers announce expansive streaming platform ‘ClipperVision’: Here are all the details
The LA Clippers have announced the launch of their very own streaming service, "ClipperVision."
The LA Clippers are changing the way you watch basketball.
You can now stream over 70 games using 'ClipperVision'. It costs $199.99 for the whole season and there are six different ways to watch games, including Spanish & Korean broadcasts.
si.com/nba/clippers/n…
ClipperVision is a direct-to-consumer susbcription-based regional streaming service which will broadcast over 70 of the Clippers' games, with a wide variety of streaming options to choose from.
As stated on the ClipperVision website and according to Farbod Esnaashari of Sports Illustrated, the subscription will cost $199.99 for an entire season.
The service will feature streaming options such as CourtVision, which will enable viewers to watch the game with enhanced analytics, real-time shooting percentages and BallerVision, which will feature commentary from a wide range of hosts and celebrity guests.
CourtVision Mascot Mode, according to Esnaashari, "will feature new and enhanced animations, graphics, and special effects added in real-time with machine learning, an expansion of a similar mode from Clippers CourtVision."
There will also be streams featuring authentic Korean and Spanish commentary over games, a need for which Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stressed on in an interview with SI:
"Big Korean population in LA," Ballmer said. "I think underserved. A lot of Korean is spoken in LA, the second biggest Korean community in the world after Korea.
The Los Angeles Clippers are the first NBA team to offer local fans a comprehensive series of options for watching games without the need for a cable subscription.
ClipperVision, fulfills a goal of owner Steve Ballmer, and is a glimpse into the future of local sports media https://t.co/payoaMigpV
"So we actually have broadcasters doing the game from Korea. We have legit Korean sportscasters, and we have legit Spanish sportscasters doing the game. The Korean team will actually be in Korea doing the games." (via) Sports Illustrated
“We need to define the future of watching basketball” - LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer bullish on ClipperVision
In an interview with GeekWire, LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer shed light on the move to launch the franchise-exclusive streaming service, which was, in part, enabled by a new contract with Bally Sports.
“Come hell or high water, I was going to offer the streaming service,” Ballmer said. But because the team was able to work out a deal, he added, “now it’s without compromise.” (via) GeekWire
Ballmer's focus is on controlling the distribution of the content he owns, but also sees it as potentially becoming a meaningful revenue stream:
"We need to define the future of watching basketball. ... We’ll always do a better job of that than any distribution partner. Whether we distribute directly or through an ESPN or a TNT or an Amazon"
“Over time, I do see it as a way to make money, but we don’t know how the whole world of distribution of content is going to evolve.”
Steve Ballmer purchased the LA Clippers after the Donald Sterling scandal resulted in his exit from the league. His $2 billion bid for the franchise is the second-highest in North American sports history.
Ballmer had previously attempted to purchase the Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder), and the Sacramento Kings. He further wanted to relocate the Kings to Seattle.