Microsoft spent a lot of money in its multi-year partnership with the National Football League to gets its products and services on the playing field, including its Surface Pro 2 tablets. Now the company has admitted to helping TV announcers correctly state that players and coaches on the field are using the Windows 8.1 devices during the game.

Early in the current NFL season, some TV announcers misidentified the Surface tablets as iPads when cameras cut to players and coaches using the products. Microsoft has now stepped in to make sure that doesn't happen again. A company spokesperson told Business Insider, "It's true, we have coached up a select few. That coaching will continue to ensure our partners are well equipped to discuss Surface when the camera pans to players using the device during games."

It's understandable that Microsoft wants people who watch NFL games to know that teams are using Surface tablets for tasks such as reviewing game video while on the field. Whether that translates into higher sales for the tablets is still up in the air. Do you think Microsoft's Surface efforts with the NFL are worth it to the company in the long run?

Source: Business Insider