Nothing is better than the excitement of watching sports even unfold right in front of your eyes.
The surprise outcomes, the impossible actions, and the glorious victories—there is nothing else more amusing than it. In addition, sports have the power to bring people together. And the most avid enthusiasts know that it can be as emotional as it is engaging.
For this reason, there is a huge appetite for sports across the globe, particularly after the coronavirus pandemic forced various spectator sports to shut down for most of 2020. Currently, fans are hungrier than ever to experience the excitement of live events.
Though a lot of rescheduled tent-pole sports events did happen in early 2021, all eyes were on the Tokyo Summer Olympics that is underway in Japan. And though organizers did work tirelessly to make the Games happen, many fans still weren’t able to attend the events in person.
For brands, this further poses the challenge of engaging with fans as they are not present in the stadium physically. Nonetheless, it also opens up new opportunities for brands to engage with fans at home and improve their mobile and digital experience.
With all the new technological inventions, watching sports will definitely be a different experience for fans. What’s more, their viewing patterns and behaviors have already evolved. The live sports broadcasting arena is being revolutionized by digital devices and online platforms, meaning the linear TV experience is no longer valid.
To help you with a bit more insights into the latest technological trends in the sports industry, we have put together an article that highlights the latest technological developments, how live sports viewership altering the demand consumption, and how athletes are engaging directly with fans on the traditional team and media outlets with their stories.
eSports: The Disruptive Force in the Room
Thanks to eSports, people’s idea of computer interactions is surfacing slowly, unfurling the dynamic nature of modern consumption. But, from what we know, traditional sport is at the forefront of this disruption.
With the decrease in ratings, the major television networks see eSports on the same level as traditional sports. Hence, their primary aim is to bag new younger audiences.
The major eSport tournaments are selling out stadiums across the globe. Every time a competition goes live on the web, millions of viewers tune in and stream the live-action. Market intelligence reports from Newzoo estimated the value of the global eSports economy to be a little less than $500 million in the last year. With the advent of sports technologies, this figure is expected to reach $700 million this year.
Social Streaming of Live Sports
Digital platforms are revolutionizing the way in which sports business operates. Businesses that use already established models will have to leverage the latest improvements and embrace the new trends to stay competitive in the market.
A specific arena where this is highly evident is the social streaming of live sports. Social Media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube feature the necessary technology, reach, and money to bah broadcasting rights for live sports and stream the events live through their platforms across the globe.
This will, in turn, help them boost their profile, membership base and generate more revenue, primarily through online advertising. In addition, fans prefer platforms that let them access sports wherever they are and whenever they want. For this reason, the live broadcast landscape becomes crucial for brands. Currently, leagues are also offering global access to fans, even if they are beyond terrestrial rights.
Athlete Platforms: Revolutionizing How Athletes Stories are Shared
Social media offer athletes the unparalleled ability to interact with fans and share their stories. To help curb the fans’ never-ending desire for access, several platforms have popped up on the web that provide direct insights into players’ lives, journeys, and emotions in an authentic way that the traditional media fail to offer.
These platforms work with the primary goal of transforming how newsmakers share information related to athletes across the web in a way that it brings fans closer to the sports they love.
Final Thoughts
The whole sports industry is sure changing—from fans to athletes, leagues, teams, media and influencers, associations, and advertisers, every brand is currently embracing the innovations. Alongside the trends listed above, another notable industry is sports betting.
Currently, many sportsbooks are popping up on the web to help people satisfy their gambling desire. Moreover, to make the wagering experience more fun, the best betting sites also offer bonuses and promotions all year round. Hence, this can be thought of as an evolution worth watching.
So, what will happen to these brands when fans are allowed to return back to the stadium?
Well, these brands will still continue to improve and build on the online experience.