NBC’s upcoming NBA protection will embrace the AI-generated voice of Jim Fagan, a longtime sports activities narrator who died in 2017. In an announcement on Tuesday, NBC mentioned the AI-generated voice of Fagan will seem throughout choose title sequences, present opens, and promos when the community resumes airing NBA video games in October.
Fagan’s voice appeared in NBC’s NBA protection from 1990 to 2002, the place he turned identified for his “NBA on NBC” promos. He additionally narrated promos and openers for the league’s greatest stars, like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
With permission from Fagan’s household, NBC will now use AI to re-create his voice. NBC has already revealed its first promo utilizing Fagan’s AI-generated voice, which you’ll be able to hear within the video embedded under.
“His voice completely captured the magnitude of the heavyweight matchups and stars that he was introducing,” NBC Sports activities president Rick Cordella mentioned within the press launch. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Jim’s household to recreate his voice and honor his legacy.” NBC says Fagan’s AI-generated voice will “complement conventional voiceover work by different artists.”
Disclosure: Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, can also be an investor in Vox Media, The Verge’s mother or father firm.
