ESPN will air a special version of Detail focused on the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls to coincide with its “Last Dance” documentary. Also: an NBA deal with Microsoft; NASCAR postpones Martinsville; and more.
ESPN to air Detail series on ’98 Bulls to coincide with Last Dance doc
ESPN on Sunday will debut a new version of its ESPN+ series Detail focused on the 1997-98 NBA champion Chicago Bulls. The episodes, each of which will be broken down by Phil Jackson, Dennis Rodman or Steve Kerr, will premiere each Sunday through May 17, coinciding with new episodes of the ESPN 30 For 30 series “The Last Dance” about the same Bulls team. The debut episode will feature Jackson breaking down the Bulls’ 96-54 win over the Utah Jazz in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. [ESPN PR 4.17]
NBA reaches deal with Microsoft for custom game broadcasts
The NBA announced Thursday that it has reached a deal with Microsoft to create a new streaming platform that will provide personalized game broadcasts starting next season. According to Variety, the platform will “effectively become an enhanced version of the NBA app” and thus include NBA League Pass games. While exact details were vague, the league said the platform will use machine learning and AI to personalize live and on-demand game content. [NBA; Variety 4.16]
NASCAR officially postpones Martinsville race
NASCAR on Friday officially announced the postponement of its May 8-9 weekend at Martinsville, a move that had been anticipated. In a statement, NASCAR said it will potentially return later in May without fans in attendance. As previously noted by The Athletic, at least one NASCAR schedule scenario has the season resuming with the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend. [NASCAR.com 4.17]
Plus: NFL Draft encores, NFL schedule, SB Nation
ESPN2 will rebroadcast the first rounds of the 1987, 2005, 2014 and 2017 NFL drafts next week, with all-but-2005 airing in primetime. The ’87 draft is first on deck Monday night. … The NFL plans to release a regular season schedule based on a normal 16-game format by May 9, ESPN reported Thursday. The league had previously made its intentions known last month. … A number of staffers at Vox-owned SB Nation have been put on furlough for the next three months. [ESPN PR 4.17, ESPN.com 4.16, NPR 4.17]
