The NBA is about to take another major step towards its big data and streaming ambitions.
According to Bloomberg, the league is close to signing a deal worth $250 million with sports data companies Sportradar and Second Spectrum.
People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg’s Scott Soshnick that the deal, if its pushes through, will cover an arrangement of rights, including “selling official league data to betting houses, data analytics to teams and the development of a streaming product.”
Sportradar’s involvement with sportsbooks worldwide is consistent with the NBA’s pro stance on legalized sports betting. Though still illegal in the United States, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been very vocal in his support for legalized sports gambling.