AI Navigate

Peacock’s NBA streams are going vertical

The Verge / 3/13/2026

📰 NewsSignals & Early TrendsIndustry & Market Moves

Key Points

  • Peacock is rolling out a native vertical video format for live sports on mobile, starting with NBA games this spring.
  • The feature uses an algorithm to track players and zoom in on the action, allowing viewers to watch without turning their phones sideways.
  • The Verge notes the rollout comes as NBC Sports reportedly plans to use Viztrick AiDi player-tracking tech, though it is unclear whether Peacock will adopt that system.
  • This move reflects ongoing experimentation with mobile-first, AI-assisted sports viewing and broader industry trends in streaming experiences.
An illustration of the Peacock logo

Peacock is rolling out a native vertical video format for live sports, allowing you to watch games without turning your phone sideways. The feature will roll out to NBA games first this spring and will use an algorithm to track players and zoom in on the action.

The launch of this feature comes just months after a report from Nikkei Asia revealed that NBC Sports plans on using a player tracking system called viztrick AiDi. The technology was developed by a Japanese broadcaster and uses facial recognition to allow viewers on mobile to tap their screen to focus on specific players. It's unclear whether Peacock's vertical NBA streams will use …

Read the full story at The Verge.