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NFL Players To Use Tablet Computers During Games

Posted by samzenpus on from the angry-birds-penalty dept.

An anonymous reader writes A $400 million partnership between the NFL and Microsoft that replaces the old method of studying opponents from the sidelines using printed black-and-white photos with tablet computers is just one of the hi-tech upgrades to the NFL this year. From the article: "The referees are also going wireless so they can talk with each other without huddling, and coaches will sport new Bose headsets. But the appearance of Microsoft Surface tablets marks the first time players and coaches can legally use such electronic devices on the field during the game. The tablets will come into play for the first time Sunday night, when the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills play in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio."

4 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Push vs pull by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Pull: NFL wants something, shops around, buys a product
    Push: Microsoft wants to promote something, shops around, finds someone to 'buy' it (in the sense its called a partnership and the balance of money transfers will result in Microsoft paying out).

    So this $400 million partnership is unlikely to be $400 million, given its a few sideline cameras and a couple of dozen surface tablets. More likely it's a $40 million sponsorship deal for the NFL to promote Microsoft Surface Tablets.

  2. NFL and Microsoft, lol? by danknight48 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Next year in NFL:
    - Start is removed. The game starts when a player can run through 20 squares of pointlessness to find the same option.
    - Ball is replaced with a square cube. Showing adverts from Microsoft
    - NFL fans are now forced to upgrade their TV's to support StupidX 12.0. They cant watch it otherwise.

    Oh i so could go on for a long time, but, dinners ready, and, i really couldnt give a shit about either company :)

  3. Re:How long before ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    At the New England Patriots opening game would be my guess.

  4. Bury the lede by jamesl · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's really about Xbox. From the linked article ...

    Microsoft is getting some free TV advertising by outfitting the tablets with sky-blue cases clearly labeled "Surface." But Microsoft's main motivation is what the Redmond, Wash., company receives from its partnership with the NFL: a reported $400 million, five-year deal. That includes interactive content to help sell Xbox home video game consoles.

    [ ... ]

    When the regular season starts, Microsoft's Xbox Live network will offer services that include video feeds of game highlights and fantasy football data. Xbox owners will also gain access to NFL Sunday Ticket, the league's package of out-of-market game telecasts that was previously available only to DirecTV satellite service subscribers.

    http://www.sfgate.com/technolo...