AI in Broadcasting: NBA Gets a Nostalgic Voiceover

Much to the amusement of all basketball lovers, the legendary voice of Jim Fagan, whose resonant voice ruled the golden era of NBC from 1990 to 2002, is making a comeback. The NBA-NBC partnership, in an attempt to bring back the nostalgia, has incorporated an emotional and technological twist this time. A doozy of a teaser released by NBC highlights the AI-generated voice of Jim Fagan, who broadcast some of the most iconic and unforgettable moments of NBC. The AI-generated voice of Jim Fagan will be used in the title sequences, show openings, and promotional content for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Sparking a wave of sensation and debate, the use of AI to recreate Jim Fagan’s voice is nothing but a huge leap for the AI revolution. Breaching the next frontier in the path of evolution, this step marks a new dawn for AI-powered innovations in the sports landscape. Fagan’s family expressed their heartfelt gratitude towards NBC, who support the idea as a way to honor his legacy.

Fagan’s voice is recreated using the voice cloning method. His voice is provided to AI models that learn its intricacies, including tone, style, and inflections. These experienced AI models, which have been trained using hundreds of real voice recordings, can easily mimic human tone, how they speak, their pitch, rhythm, and even how people breathe during conversations.

This initiative by the NBA can be seen as a new method to increase its fan engagement. Many have criticized this venture as a marketing strategy, with some calling the whole idea ‘creepy.’ Some have pointed out the ethical implications of bringing back the voice of someone who passed away in 2017. Meanwhile, others view this as a great opportunity to experience something incredibly special.

Despite criticisms and controversies, the return of Fagan’s voice marks a shift in how AI tools have influenced every industry. AI is here to stay, that is for sure. The question that remains is how long can we deny it till it becomes a part and parcel of our day-to-day lives?