Create your own NBA highlight reels

22.02.2007
The National Basketball Association unveiled a new video " mashup" tool on its Web site Tuesday that for the first time allows fans to build their own Web 2.0 applications.

The Highlight Mixer tool -- available at the NBA site or myvideo.nba.com -- marks the first time the NBA has allowed fans to build customized applications on the site, said Steve Grimes, vice president of interactive services at NBA Entertainment. Users can access NBA game clips, team logos and music to create their own videos, which can then be posted on the NBA site or a user's own site.

The collection of video clips, which will be updated each week, will be searchable and indexed by teams, dunks, jumpers, buzzer beaters, still photos and other options.

Highlight Mixer uses video editing and remixing tools from Eyespot Corp. to allow fans to "sit in the editor's chair" even if they don't have any video-editing skills, Grimes said.

"There is a pent-up demand to be able to create your own highlight reels," he said. "Every fan has their own perspective, and this is the chance to share that with other fans and the rest of the world."

However, video editing can be hard for inexperienced users, and the NBA didn't want the task to be difficult, Grimes said. Users do not have to download any editing software or other applications. Instead, a Web interface from the site allows them to "mash" together the content and special effects to build the videos. Fans can create a new video in less than five minutes, he said.