Facebook Watch has been developing content with sports leagues and specifically with the NBA for a while. The social media site has done reality shows with Dwyane Wade, the Ball family and Shaquille O’Neal. Now, their relationship with the Association has seemingly expanded as the NBA now has a deal with Facebook Watch to broadcast highlights.
According to SportsPro, not only does Facebook Watch get to show NBA highlights, but this deal also includes highlights from the WNBA, G League and NBA 2K League, in conjunction with Turner Sports. The agreement will make sure highlights from each game, including the Summer League, preseason and postseason are also put on Facebook when possible.
Plenty of places, including the NBA’s TV partners as well as the league themselves, are able to show highlights from games. Where Facebook Watch differentiates from that is it’s on a platform where many people are already on. In addition, Facebook is looking to add a weekly “Watch Party” show in the NBA with monthly shows for WNBA, G League and 2K League, where fans can interact in real time.
It seems like if anything, this may be more of a benefit to leagues like the WNBA, G League and 2K League where they don’t have as much exposure as the NBA. There isn’t really a problem finding NBA highlights online but that may not be the case with their other leagues. And when it comes to a deal involving all four leagues, maybe someone watching NBA highlights will easily find highlights from a WNBA game, be more informed on the WNBA and could lead to more viewers in the future.
