@ MBB Atlanta: NBA Digital poster child for benefits, challenges of mobile video content

ATLANTA – Seemingly a match made in heaven, mobile content and sports have been one of the constant bright spots in the mobile industry since phones were able to transmit data services. And while the gluttony of mobile video services has been a boon for customers, it has put a tremendous strain on mobile networks.
Carriers that initially provided for unlimited data services have since been forced to cap usage in an attempt to preserve network quality. There is some hope that the move to more efficient 4G technologies will help restore some balance, but history has shown that consumers and content providers seem to find a way to fill just about any size pipe.
One of the more popular forms of video content is sports, as consumers have flocked to the ability to remain in touch with their favorite teams wherever they may roam. This has proven a challenge for some mobile video applications as the fast-paced action of many sporting events puts additional strain on the ability to clearly transmit that content over wireless channels.
During a visit to the NBA Digital offices on the lot of Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc. in Atlanta, Bryan Perez, SVP and GM of NBA Digital notes the current challenges of transferring a high-paced sports event over 3G network, but the possibilities that could come with the move to 4G.
NBA Digital has been operating out of the TBS complex following the expansion of their previous relationship in 2008. The current agreement runs through the NBA’s 2015-2016 season.