Warner Bros. Discovery followed through on its threat to “take appropriate action” against the NBA for rejecting its broadcasting rights offer. Varietyreported on Friday that the media company sued the league in the New York State Supreme Court after the NBA turned down its bid to match Amazon’s streaming package that kicks in starting in the 2025-26 season.
The conflict stems from Warner’s belief that its current contract gives it the right to match any offer that would replace Warner’s TNT as a home for NBA games (and the iconic Inside the NBA) in the upcoming deal. As for the league’s stance, The Athleticreported that since the current agreements were signed when streaming was “on the horizon, but not part of the deals,” the NBA disagrees with Warner’s matching claim.
The lawsuit was expected as soon as the league announced its new broadcasting and streaming package, which also includes Disney (ABC and ESPN) and Comcast (NBC). The NBA reportedly told Warner it rejected its matching offer because it wanted to put all its games on its streaming service, Max, in addition to TNT. Amazon also allegedly offered to pay its first three years in full, whereas Warner offered a three-year line of credit. Finally, the NBA reportedly believed Amazon’s reach was simply greater.
“Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon,” the NBA’s statement on Wednesday read.
Charles Barkley
TNT / Warner Bros. Discovery
Unless Warner can force the NBA’s hand, the new agreement will almost certainly mean the end of Inside the NBA. The decades-old sports show, starring Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, has harnessed a rare blend of comedy, chemistry and (sometimes taking a backseat to the first two) sports analysis. The beloved program, which has won 19 Sports Emmy Awards, began in 1989 as a Johnson solo effort before fleshing out its tight-knit cast through the following years and (in the case of Shaq) decades.
Turner has partnered with the NBA since the 1984-85 season, which coincided with Barkley’s (and Michael Jordan’s) entrance into the league out of college.
Barkley lashed out at the NBA after hearing about the new rights package, accusing it of wanting to “break up with us from the beginning” in a statement on X. Adding, “I’m not sure TNT ever had a chance,” the Hall of Famer described it as “a sad day when owners and commissioners choose money over the fans.”
“It just sucks,” Barkley wrote before thanking Turner’s fans for the last 24 years he’s been on the show. Inside the NBA will return next season, perhaps its last, along with the network’s standard lineup of NBA games, before the new deal begins in the 2025-26 season.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/warner-bros-discovery-sues-the-nba-in-a-last-ditch-effort-to-block-amazons-new-streaming-package-183352404.html?src=rss
Blizzard has provided an update that will be music to the ears of many Overwatch 2 fans. The publisher plans to experiment with a range of team compositions beyond the role-locked 5v5 format that the game currently has. That includes a potential revival of six-player teams from the original Overwatch.
"The community has, juuuust once or twice, suggested a test," Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller wrote in a blog post. "Why not put various forms of 6v6 in the game in order to gauge the results? We agree, and based on your feedback, we’re exploring how we can test different forms of 6v6 in the game to gauge the results."
Keller is quick to point out that it may take some time before the team runs a 6v6 trial. Overwatch 2 was designed from the ground up for five-player teams, with hero balancing and map designs (and redesigns) taking into account the reduced damage mitigation from having one fewer tank on each side.
There are technical considerations here too, as features such as visual upgrades, more technically demanding hero kits and the ability to see outlines of allies through walls impact Overwatch 2's performance. As such, shifting from 10-player to 12-player lobbies could have a negative impact on performance, particularly on older or less-powerful systems.
"Overwatch is a fast-paced game, and maintaining a game that runs smoothly across all our platforms is important for the player’s experience," Keller wrote. "While a limited-time test could arrive sooner, the team is still investigating exactly how long it would take to permanently increase performance across the game. This would be a large effort that would most likely take at least several seasons to accomplish."
Blizzard Entertainment
The possibility of lengthier queue times is also a concern if 6v6 tests are a success and the format sticks around in some way for the long haul. Keller's blog post is a lengthy read, but well worth taking the time to check out if you're interested in how we ended up at 5v5 with players locked to specific roles in the core modes. One of the reasons why Blizzard ditched a tank from each team with the launch of Overwatch 2 two years ago was that it was the least popular of the three roles, with damage in first place and support in between. Having one fewer tank has helped to reduce queue times across the board.
Keller notes that his team does have some ideas about how to tackle potentially longer queue times if 6v6 returns for the long haul, but it wasn't a problem that was solved in the past and it's not a sure thing that the fresh strategies will work. "Is there a world where people are willing to live with long queue times to play this format? Maybe, but that’s a pretty risky move to make," Keller wrote. "We also have tens of millions of new players that have only played 5v5. We want to be openly mindful not to frustrate those who like the game as it is today."
There are other reasons why Blizzard changed to a 5v5 format including that it wasn't necessarily fun to play against a team that used two shield-based tanks. Chokepoints could feel oppressive with two tanks blocking the path. Dropping one of them and placing more of an emphasis on things like flanking, individual impact and a little thing called first-person shooting (with more opportunities to actually shoot at opponents instead of barriers) was designed to make gameplay more fluid and fun. Team fights with multiple tanks on each side also were often a war of attrition until ultimate abilities became available, especially during the infamous GOATS meta.
Still, many fans spent years playing the game in groups of six, and having to lose one of those from the gang with the shift to 5v5 sucked for a lot of people. Plus, the synergy of two tanks could make for really fun moments — the Earthshatter/D.Va Bomb combo was always a personal favorite. Given that Blizzard has always prided itself on taking player feedback into account and fostering the concept of building Overwatch 2 together with the fans, it's great to see that the team is willing to at least test how 6v6 could work in the modern landscape.
However, 6v6 isn't the only alternate approach to the current team composition that Blizzard plans to try. "Besides running experiments with 6v6, we’d like to run some that re-examine the ways we tried solving previous problems, specifically with the goal of bringing some of the freedom back to an Overwatch match without the severity of issues that accompanied it," Keller wrote. "For instance, we think there could be other ways of putting a team together that aren’t quite as rigid as a set composition, but not as loose as Open Queue." Blizzard will try at least one version of this idea in an experimental Quick Play mode during Season 13, which will take place this fall.
Any permanent changes to the current format, whether or not that means a shift back to 6v6, won't happen overnight. Blizzard would run any 6v6 tests for a few weeks at a time to gauge feedback from players, and then see how that format impacts the game beyond core gameplay, such as in arcade modes.
"We’d take the lessons from this playtest to see what we can learn about the mode within the current game ecosystem and for the future of Overwatch," Keller wrote. "We would reflect carefully on the learnings from whatever test we run and explore how to best give players what's being asked for. Whether that’s a world of 5v5, 6v6 or even both, is for future us to figure out."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/overwatch-2-may-test-a-return-to-six-player-teams-180021753.html?src=rss
The NBA and WNBA have inked deals for where games will be aired and streamed for the next eleven years. The NBA deals run from the 2025-2026 season through the 2035-2036 season. For the WNBA, the agreement covers the 2026 through 2036 seasons.
Pro basketball has been an ESPN mainstay for years and that will continue, with the Disney-owned network remaining the primary media rights owner for both leagues. ESPN will be the exclusive home for the NBA finals for all eleven years of the new deal, as well as five out of the eleven years of the WNBA finals. The games covered by ESPN's deal will be part of the sports network's direct-to-consumer platform and a package of NBA and WNBA games will also be made available to stream on Disney+ in select international markets.
While the bulk of the games will go to ESPN, basketball is going to have more of a streaming presence thanks to two new partnerships. NBC and Peacock will have access to 100 NBA national games during each regular season. About 50 games will be exclusive to the Peacock streaming platform, including national Monday night games and doubleheaders. The rest of the games go to Amazon. Prime Video will be the home for 66 regular-season NBA games and 30 regular-season WNBA games each year of the deal.
Regular basketball viewers may notice that TNT Sports is not part of this lineup. The NBA's deal with that network does not appear to be getting an extension after next year, with those games mostly going to Amazon. But the situation may yet go into overtime. TNT Sports claims that it matched Amazon's offer for the games and seems to be challenging whether the NBA can switch partners. NBA's statement counters that the offer from parent company Warner Bros. Discovery did not match Amazon's, leaving them free to shop elsewhere.
The long-awaited agreements for both basketball leagues aren't a complete slam dunk for fans. On the positive side, the next decade marks a notable shift toward streaming. After so long with the sport closely tied to broadcast shows, having access as part of your existing streaming plans is great. But on the negative side, multiple media partners mean that you'll have to double- and triple-check where to watch each game. Major League Baseball, for instance, has games scattered across ESPN, Fox, Apple TV+, TNT Sports, and MLB Network on any given night.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nba-tv-rights-go-to-espn-nbc-and-amazon-as-tnt-is-rejected-230811550.html?src=rss
Xfinity is giving its customers access to better picture quality, just in time for the Paris Olympics. To start with, its customers will have the ability to enable Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos via the Xfinity Stream app on compatible streaming devices and TVs for the first time, if they watch USA Network's Paris Olympics coverage. That will give them access to a viewing experience with more detailed pictures and immersive sounds even if they're not streaming through an Xfinity box.
The telecommunications division of Comcast is also debuting an enhanced 4K viewing experience for all customers of its X1 platform as a whole. It explains enhanced 4K as 4K video delivered over Comcast's network at the highest bitrate, with Dolby Vision for more realistic pictures and Dolby Atmos for immersive audio. The capability will also premiere for the Paris Olympics and will be available on USA Network's 24/7 coverage. Xfinity also promises ultra-low latency, which means viewers will only be seconds behind what's happening in Paris in real time.
"By premiering enhanced 4K during Paris 2024, fans of the Olympics will be among the first to experience this new innovation and enjoy all the live action in stunning picture and audio quality, with significantly less delay compared to anything else in the market," Vito Forlenza, Comcast's Vice President for Sports and Entertainment, said. Xfinity put its enhanced 4K feature to the test during the 2024 Super Bowl, though, to make sure it works as promised. It says that going forward, enhanced 4K will be its new quality standard for live sports on X1.
The streaming platform will make it easy for customers to access Olympics content, as well. Users will be able to create a custom destination for their favorite sports and access a comprehensive schedule of events, which they can then filter by any of the sports they're interested in. They can quickly access these feature and all the channels and services offering Olympics content by saying "Olympics" into the Xfinity voice remote.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xfinity-is-showing-the-olympics-with-dolby-vision-and-dolby-atmos-on-its-stream-app-140046946.html?src=rss
We're in that brief summer lull between Euro 2024 and European soccer leagues starting back up, so it's time to find out what EA has in store for the next installment of its don't-call-it-FIFA series. There are a ton of changes this year, but arguably the biggest headline is that EA Sports FC 25 will bring women's football into the career modes for the first time in the franchise's history. Five major women's leagues will be available in Manager and Player Career Modes: England's Women's Super League, the NWSL in the US and the top leagues in France, Spain and Germany. The Women's Champions League will be included as well.
The features are all the same as in the men's side of the Career Modes to ensure parity. However, the financial model of women's football is different, with lower budgets, shorter contracts and a smaller transfer pool. That's reflected in the game. Managers, meanwhile, might start out in charge of a men's team and be offered a job with a women's side or vice-versa.
One other major update for Career Mode is a feature called Live Start Points. It will roll in real-world updates from 11 top leagues and 17 major cup competitions. For instance, Live Start Points will incorporate results from actual games and you can start from any week in a real-life season or after something significant has happened. So, if you want a challenge, you might start a career halfway through the Premier League season and choose a team that's drifting away from the pack in the relegation zone. Player form, injuries, suspensions, goals scored, transfers, managerial changes and even points deductions will all be reflected in Live Start Points.
Another notable change for Player Career Mode is that you'll be able to take control of some legendary stars who have long since hung up their boots in real life. The icons who you'll be able to play as in the mode on release day are Andrea Pirlo (my choice has been made for me), Ruud van Nistelrooy, Kelly Smith and Thierry Henry. Those who pre-order the game will be able to choose from Ronaldo (the Brazilian one), Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham.
Another big update this year is the introduction of a five-versus-five experience called Rush. While Volta, a fast-paced casual mode from previous years that EA has nixed this time around, was distinct from the rest of the game, Rush is baked into the core FC 25 modes. You'll find it in Ultimate Team, Clubs and Career Mode (where managers can accelerate young players' development by winning Rush games).
Rush is built on the same gameplay depth and balance as full 11-a-side matches though it takes place on a smaller pitch. Each team has an AI-controlled goalkeeper but the rest of the human-controlled team plays fluidly with no fixed positions. You can play matches with a bunch of your friends in which each of you takes control of one player.
Some of the rules are different too. At kick-off, players will race toward the ball to try and take possession. If a player receives a second yellow yard, they'll be issued a blue card and sent to a sin bin for one minute. Offsides are only applicable in the last third of the pitch instead of from the halfway line.
Electronic Arts
Moreover, EA has overhauled the tactics and positioning systems this year with something it calls FC IQ, which builds on the HyperMotion and PlayStyles tech from previous years. You'll have more granular control over how to set up your team, such as how to manage transitions between attack and defense.
There are more than 50 new assignable player roles that determine how players act when they're off the ball. There will be three to five roles per position available at launch, with different focuses for each (i.e. attacking, defending, ball-winning or roaming). Player roles are the flip side to Playstyles, which are about on-the-ball movement.
The roles are powered by real-world Opta data and a custom AI. EA says this will lead to more authentic off-the-ball movement and tactical intelligence. Different players are better suited to each role depending on their real-world proficiency.
You might instruct your attacking midfielder to play as a shadow striker and dash into the box when there's an opening or to stay a bit further back and act more as a playmaker for the forwards. Perhaps you have a fullback who is effective when they float into midfield (such as Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold), so you can tell them to do that. You'll have to weigh the pros and cons of each role and balance out your team appropriately.
Team tactics are said to more closely resemble real-world styles so you can more easily replicate how your favorite club plays. You can stick with some presets or customize things completely — FC 25 will offer feedback of what works and what doesn't about a tactic. As such, you can opt for some totally bananas, asymmetric formations. That could be useful if you want to overload players on one flank where the opponent has a relatively weak defender (like cough Kyle Walker cough). You'll be able to share your custom tactics with friends using a unique code that works across platforms.
Smart tactics, which allow you to alter your setup in real-time during a game, will now include recommendations based on how a match is going. You might receive a suggestion to switch to a pass-heavy tiki-taka style or to absorb opponents' attacks and focus on counters. An animated chalkboard will give you an idea of how a smart tactic change will alter the team's shape. Player roles are reflected in all of these other updates, while commentary should pick up on tactical changes. Meanwhile, there are fresh on-the-ball playstyles for goalkeepers this year, such as rushing out to take on attackers or throwing the ball long.
Electronic Arts
Elsewhere on the gameplay front, there are some new weather effects, with wind and rain having an impact on things like crosses and the playing surface. Mascots will be available for some teams and players can even celebrate with them after scoring. There are more skill moves too, including drag turns and back-heel nutmegs. In addition, figures on the sidelines such as managers, fourth officials and substitutes, will be more reactive to in-game events.
There's also a dirty new mechanic defenders will have at their disposal. EA is bringing professional fouls to the game this year. You'll be able to deliberately cause a foul to stop an attack by, for instance, dragging an opponent to the ground by their shirt. Be careful though, as this is likely to incur a yellow card, and you'll get a red card for persistent professional fouls.
In terms of the visuals, EA is bringing ray-tracing to the FC series for the first time in an enhanced visuals mode. You can opt to favor resolution instead, but both modes will target a framerate of 60 frames per second. You'll also be able to view goals from a first-person perspective in replays, while there's a new user interface that 's designed to be more accessible.
One last piece of good news: EA isn’t giving up on last-gen consoles just yet, but some features will be exclusive to PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. EA Sports FC 25 is also coming to PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch when it arrives on September 27. EA Play subscribers and those who buy the Ultimate Edition will get early access to the game on September 20.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ea-sports-fc-25-brings-womens-soccer-to-the-career-modes-for-the-first-time-160013124.html?src=rss
Sling is coming in hot in the year 2024 and offering its users live 4K content. The platform says that Sling TV subscribers will be able to watch the forthcoming MLB All-Star Game in glorious UHD. The event airs on Fox Sports on July 16.
The company says this 4K experience will only be available to customers in “certain markets,” though did indicate that this will lead to more high-resolution offerings in the near future. “Get ready to see your favorite sports like never before,” said Seth Van Sickel, senior vice president of product & operations, Sling Video Services.
It is true, however, that a vast majority sporting events aren’t streamed in 4K. Even many that are advertised as being 4K are actually upscaled 1080p streams. It’s actually pretty difficult to broadcast live sports in 4K, due to the number of cameras required to adequately cover one of these events. Major NFL games often require 80 to 100 cameras and, well, 4K cameras are much more expensive than HD cameras.
There are also several bottlenecks to overcome. 4K cameras require at least twice the amount of cabling running from the cam to the production area. With a sporting event, that translates to thousands of feet of dense cabling for a single camera, let alone 80. 4K cameras also increase the number of required video console inputs by a factor of four.
The stream has to be processed and compressed for broadcast, which takes a whole lot of computing power. These processors must be kept cool, which is yet another expense. Finally, the broadcaster has to send the feed to its distribution partners, and many of them simply can’t handle 4K. The whole thing is just an expensive undertaking, despite the fact that 4K TVs have been standard in homes for around a decade.
As for Sling, it plans on continuing with this experiment in 4K streaming with college and pro football on Fox Sports and the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics on NBC. Maybe this will finally make 4K sports streaming the norm and not a once-in-a-while experience.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sling-will-finally-stream-its-first-live-event-in-4k-the-2024-mlb-all-star-game-173536869.html?src=rss
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the inaugural edition of the Olympic Esports Games will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2025 as part of a 12-year partnership with the country's National Olympic Committee. The host city, venue(s) and dates are yet to be determined as are the games that will be included and the qualification process for each.
The IOC says that international federations and national Olympic committees that are already involved in a digital version of their sport and esports in general will be its first options for partners. The organization took a similar approach to a trial event that took place last year, which saw players compete in the likes of Gran Turismo, Fortnite, Just Dance, Zwift and even mobile games barely anyone had ever heard of.
That said, the IOC may be looking to bring other legitimately popular esports into the fold. According to L'Equipe, the organization is in talks with the publishers of Rocket League, Street Fighter and the biggest esport of all, League of Legends, to include those games. The Olympic Esports Games may take place every two years, with South Korea and the US said to be in discussions to host future installments.
The IOC had been mulling for years whether to run an official esports event under its banner, and the organization is finally going for it. However, opting for Saudi Arabia as the inaugural Olympic Esports Games host is a contentious choice given the country's dismal human rights record.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-first-olympic-esports-games-will-take-place-in-saudi-arabia-in-2025-154637804.html?src=rss
NASCAR unveiled its first prototype electric racer this weekend at the Chicago Street Race. The $1.5 million electric crossover (per AP) was developed in partnership with ABB, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota to call attention to sustainability efforts under the NASCAR Impact program and show what EVs are capable of. It doesn’t mean NASCAR is moving away from gasoline-powered race cars just yet, but rather that it’s trying to “gauge fan interest in electric racing,” people involved with the initiative told AP.
NASCAR’s head of sustainability Riley Nelson told AP that the series and its partners “want to represent electric vehicles, and more broadly electrification, in racing as cool, fun and accessible.” The prototype, which has been driven by NASCAR driver David Ragan, has three STARD UHP 6-Phase motors, with one in the front and two in the back. This is all powered by a 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery. According to NASCAR, “its tunable powertrain can generate 1,000 kW at peak power.” It’s built on a modified Next Gen chassis.
NASCAR
NASCAR’s sustainability plans include adding EV charging stations and switching to 100 percent renewable energy at its race tracks by 2028. By 2035, it aims to achieve net-zero operating emissions.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/check-out-nascars-first-electric-race-car-prototype-192712138.html?src=rss
Paramount+, formerly CBS All Access, is a great streamer for Star Trek and sports fans — among a few others. It offers originals like Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard, while being a hub for watching soccer. The streamer has aired NWSL soccer matches and the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
Showtime is home to a huge range of television shows that cater to just about every taste. The streamer offers its customers massive hits like Yellowjackets, Billions andDexter. Paramount+ with Showtime is available for half off until July 14. If you opt for the deal, remember to set a calendar reminder for a year from now or you're going to get a frustrating bill when it doubles.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/theres-still-time-to-get-half-off-one-year-of-paramount-with-showtime-145514463.html?src=rss
Who among us hasn’t lied awake at night during past Olympics, longing for personalized daily event summaries read in the dulcet tones of legendary sports broadcaster Al Michaels? Well, our moment has finally come. “Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock” will let you choose your favorite sports and highlight types for the 2024 Summer Olympics, and an AI-generated Michaels will read a 10-minute customized recap of the previous day’s events based on your preferences.
Michaels said he was understandably reluctant when NBC asked for his approval, but he ultimately came around to the AI-fueled vision. “When I was approached about this, I was skeptical but obviously curious,” the Hall of Fame broadcaster said. “Then I saw a demonstration detailing what they had in mind. I said, ‘I’m in.’”
Peacock shared a demo of one of the recaps with Engadget, and it’s easy to see why the Hall of Fame broadcaster came around. You’d be hard-pressed to tell the AI-generated speech from Michaels’ real voice. Even the clone’s subtle rhythms and intonations sound distinctly like him.
NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal says it trained AI Al on Michaels’ past appearances on NBC. The 79-year-old currently calls play-by-play for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football and holds an emeritus role for NBC Sports, where he’s worked since 2006.
Peacock’s recaps will draw from what it says will be 5,000 hours of live coverage from this summer’s games. They will cover up to 40 concurrent daily Olympic events and have the potential for “nearly 7 million personalized variants.”
NBCUniversal says its editors will review all of the customized content — including audio and clips — before sending it to users. If enough people sign up, that sounds like quite the undertaking. But given the embarrassing mistakes we’ve seen previous AI gimmicks make, it’s probably a wise choice.
You can opt into the recaps starting on July 27, when the first edition will summarize the previous day’s Opening Ceremony. The 2024 Summer Olympics kick off on July 26 in Paris. After the torch is lit, you can sign up for the recaps on Peacock’s Olympics website (it supports Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge) and in the Peacock mobile app.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/welcome-to-the-future-where-ai-generated-al-michaels-reads-you-personalized-olympic-recaps-170022286.html?src=rss