02 August 2023 , 23:45
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NBA League Pass plans significant updates and improvements that will affect UK-based customers during the 2023-24 season, according to insider sources at Mirror Sports US.
However, the report says that the package's price could increase for users of the commercial-free version of League Pass. American subscribers can expect a slight bump from $19.99 to $22.99 per month and $129.99 to $149.99 per year. It's not confirmed how those rates will translate globally. But international users will likely also experience a higher rate.
The shift in price matches a broader trend in the digital streaming industry. Netflix, NBCUniversal and other companies have raised subscription prices due to "inflation, escalating programming costs, and increasing competition in the entertainment landscape." The NBA will apparently try to adapt to this recalibration by offering its viewers enhanced features and services.
One of the highly anticipated additions is the return of the cherished multi-view feature. NBA League Pass will make this feature available on desktops for the upcoming season after its controversial removal for several years. It first re-introduced the mode during the NBA Playoffs.
Commissioner Adam Silver has emphasized the NBA's commitment to being at the cutting edge of innovation. This focus on being forward-thinking extends to League Pass, which showcases the league's innovative capabilities. During NBA All-Star weekend, Silver presented a fascinating feature that allows fans to "scan their own avatar into a live NBA game via the NBA App and replace an NBA player." However, it won't be available yet, according to Mirror Sports US.
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The League Pass app, meanwhile, will now be compatible with more devices than before. The NBA updated stream quality options to better cater to users with varying internet connections. This year, subscribers can choose between automatic and data saver modes or manually select a quality level ranging from 1080p to 360p.
Express US Sports reports "the download for offline viewing feature coming back — helping hardcore fans to more easily pore over the film while traveling — and informational overlays that sync better with live broadcasts."
Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans, out due to injury, watches from the bench during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on March 28, 2023. (Getty Images)Some games on NBA League Pass could become blackout-free for US users as Regional Sports Networks that hold broadcasting rights go bankrupt. Unlike in the UK, where fans can watch any game, people in the US cannot see teams competing near their location. The death of RSNs could remove that disadvantage, at least for supporters of specific teams, if the NBA produces broadcasts on its own.
"Will there be distribution of NBA games? Yes. Will that happen through the RSNs? I actually hope so. I hope so," Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer told The Associated Press at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. "Will their bankruptcy be friendly enough for that to happen? I hope so.
"Will the creditors probably want our games to continue to get distributed? I think so. So somehow, I have faith without knowledge that we'll get through this."