NBC will use Jim Fagan’s AI-generated voice for NBA coverage

NBC’s upcoming NBA sum volition see the AI-generated dependable of Jim Fagan, a longtime sports narrator who died successful 2017. In an announcement connected Tuesday, NBC said the AI-generated dependable of Fagan volition look crossed prime rubric sequences, amusement opens, and promos erstwhile the web resumes airing NBA games successful October.

Fagan’s dependable appeared successful NBC’s NBA sum from 1990 to 2002, wherever helium became known for his “NBA connected NBC” promos. He besides narrated promos and openers for the league’s biggest stars, similar Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon.

With support from Fagan’s family, NBC volition present usage AI to recreate his voice. NBC has already revealed its archetypal promo utilizing Fagan’s AI-generated voice, which you tin perceive successful the video embedded below.

“His dependable perfectly captured the magnitude of the heavyweight matchups and stars that helium was introducing,” NBC Sports president Rick Cordella said successful the property release. “It’s been a joyousness to enactment with Jim’s household to recreate his dependable and grant his legacy.” NBC says Fagan’s AI-generated dependable volition “supplement accepted voiceover enactment by different artists.” 

NBC besides utilized AI voiceovers past twelvemonth for the 2024 Paris Olympics, arsenic it rolled retired a instrumentality that radical could usage to make personalized recaps using the AI-generated dependable of sportscaster Al Michaels.

Disclosure: Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, is besides an capitalist successful Vox Media, The Verge’s genitor company.