You may be too young to remember, but there was a time when only some of the biggest sports events in the international calendar were televised live. Sports fans had to make do with only what was offered by the big TV broadcasters and catch up with the rest of the action in highlights shows or even the next day’s newspapers.
But those days are now long gone. Now, just about every sports event can be watched somewhere. The proliferation of sports channels, streams, and online sites means that we are spoiled for choice. If you want to catch up with pro basketball from Korea, you can find it. If you want information for your spread betting on Canadian football, it is easily accessible. Streaming has completely changed the way we consume sports.
There will be some traditionalists who would say that the choice is too great now and the live sports experience is being lost because of the increased availability of streaming options. It is difficult to argue against that if you are a true sports fan. But, at the same time, sports has changed beyond all recognition and there is no way that we are going back to the past. Increased streaming is here to stay and it continues to revolutionize sports in a number of ways.
Expanding Globally
Just as those regional sports networks are now a thing of the past, the idea that a sports team can only be of interest to its surrounding area has long become a fallacy. Obviously, the more successful sports teams throughout history have always attracted fans from outside their natural base. But the possibilities are now limitless.
Thanks to streaming, it is just as easy for a sports fan in Japan or New Zealand to follow the New York Knicks, for example, as someone who lives in Manhattan. The breaking down of international barriers provides greater opportunities to spread the word – and the potential for more income.
Multi-Platforms
Streaming may have brought all kinds of sports to our TVs but there is a good chance that many viewers are not confined to just watching the game. We now have more mobile devices than ever before and there are different kinds of streaming services and content available on them all.
So, when we are watching the game we may also be checking out some stats or highlights – or even another game. Our viewing habits have completely changed thanks to the growth in live streaming and the providers now also have to offer their services with that in mind.
Big Money
We may be able to access all kinds of niche sports and leagues now but there is still a hierarchy in sports. The biggest leagues and teams are still around – and they are making even more money than ever because of the way that streaming has taken off with broadcasters and viewers.
It may be free to watch a minor league baseball game from the Philippines but fans will need to pay a subscription fee to watch something like the English Premier League. Broadcasting deals can now be in the billions of dollars and that money continues to keep the wealthiest teams wealthy.
Tech Innovations
The competition between streaming broadcasters is intense. Being able to sign a deal to show NFL games, for example, means guaranteed millions of viewers and the leagues are now in the position to demand that the service is of the highest quality. Technological advancements mean that there are new innovations all the time.
Some of the latest additions to how streaming broadcasters show games include different camera angles, quite often inspired by the kinds of viewing options you get with video games. These broadcasters listen to what their viewers want and expand the possibilities of future coverage.
Teams and Leagues with Greater Control
We mentioned earlier that the wealthiest sports teams on the planet are able to command huge fees for coverage of their games now. That money can be easily quickly spent but many are realizing that there is more money to be made if they control the streaming output as well.
Usually, this is done in conjunction with established broadcasters but it adds to the way that individual teams and leagues have begun to control their sports more than they used to. If streaming is the biggest deal in town, having control of the output makes for very powerful organizations.
Fan Engagement
Before it sounds like the rise in streaming of sports has only benefitted the bank balances of the team owners and leagues, it should be said that the fans are also getting a good deal. There may be subscription fees to pay but there is more content and access than ever before.
That also means that fans can enjoy greater engagement with their favorite players and teams. The rise in social media use has made us all expect a more personal relationship with all businesses and sports teams and clubs have recognized that greater loyalty comes from better engagement. Using streaming channels and associated technology greatly helps with that.
Streaming is the Future
In reality, streaming is more the present than something that is going to happen. But there is also no doubt that this way of watching and broadcasting sports is the future too. Fans should also get ready for even more innovations to enhance the experience of watching sports at home.
Our devices may influence the way sports streaming looks in the next 5-10 years. It is also very possible that greater fan engagement and involvement will be at the center of everything, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Streaming is definitely not going anywhere and the possibilities seem to be endless.