Verizon has expanded a content and technology partnership with the NBA, with the telco’s Yahoo Sports platform set to offer access to live coverage of the North American basketball league.
Yahoo Sports will show a variety of NBA content, including live out-of-market games via the NBA League Pass subscription package, highlights and original lifestyle programming. Verizon’s various media brands will also offer the coverage.
The multi-year deal will reportedly run for the next two seasons, from 2018-19 to 2019-20.
According to the Reuters news agency, Verizon will work with the NBA to create original content, as well as establish a technology innovation fund to experiment with new formats, including virtual reality.
As part of the partnership, Yahoo Sports’ basketball fantasy sports offering will be made available on a global basis to Verizon customers.
Verizon’s global chief media and content officer, Brian Angiolet, said that his company is seeking to focus on live sports following last year’s takeover of Yahoo.
In December, Verizon acquired non-exclusive rights for the NFL American football league in a five-year deal, from 2018-19 to 2022-23.