Here’s a first: The NBA streams a game via Facebook Live

Last fall, the NFL made headlines by licensing games to Twitter, marking the first major event to be streamed live on a social media network.

The feeling was that was just the beginning. With the advances in technology, and the desire by sports leagues to remain relevant by reaching audiences where they are, it was only a matter of time before other social networks got in on the trend.

Indeed, the NBA has now become the first major sports league to stream a game on Facebook Live, the social networking site’s service that allows people to stream events or themselves live, sort of like a TV broadcast.

A caveat, however: If you live in the United States, you couldn’t see it.

The game aired only in India, as part of Bollywood Night, an annual celebration by the Sacramento Kings heralding all things Indian.

The first of many?

The livestream took place Sunday night. It pitted the Kings against the Golden State Warriors, who won 117-106.

The stream was free to Indian users. It employed the feed usually used by the NBA International Live Pass. No rights information was released, but undoubtedly that won’t be the last time an NBA game is streamed on Facebook.

Tags: facebook, facebook live, livestreaming, nba, social media, streaming