How Will Sports Be Watched Five Years From Now?

Home » Poker News » How Will Sports Be Watched Five Years From Now?

Monday, November 13th, 2017 | Written by Stephen Smith

Traditional business models are constantly changing, and their application to the sports industry is no exception, which is also continually evolving in the way that its games are played and how they are watched by spectators. Here are some of the biggest trends being noted in the industry, and how sports are likely to be viewed five years from now.

On TV

Over half a million people have moved away from cable TV each quarter in 2017, with almost 70% of Americans now subscribing to an online streaming service. Consequently, ESPN has had to lay off hundreds of reporters, anchors, analysts and production staff this year alone, as several new competitors attempt to become the new “Netflix” of sports.

DAZN is currently one of the biggest contenders in this space, with the British company currently streaming over 8,000 sporting events each year including soccer, American football, F1, tennis, WWE, UFC, rugby, and more. The platform works with games consoles, smart TVs, and more, with the cost of the service varying by country, from $19.99 per month in Canada, to as little as £9.99 per month in the UK,

These type of platforms are built using technology similar to the one developed by the American internet video provider, BAMTECH, which is owned by Disney. While BAMTECH will not initially be offering NFL or NBA games when it is launched next year , the streaming service offered by ESPN will be providing streaming solutions for the MLB, NHL, and MLS games, as well as the PGA Tour, WWE Network, and League of Legends. Therefore, coverage of NFL and NBA live events is sure to be follow before too long.

Social Media

Even if you aren’t using centralized streaming services, you’ll probably still be able to view sports through social media. Last season, for instance, the Thursday night matches shown by the NFL brought in around 2-3 million viewers via Twitter out of an average of 17.6 million viewers. While the NFL has now switched over to Amazon, streaming rights for the NHL, PGA tour, MLB, Wimbledon, and the Pac-12 Conference are still held by Twitter. In the meantime, Facebook also possesses rights for streaming the Champions League, Major League Soccer, Indian Premier League cricket, and the CrossFit games.

Similarly, Twitch – a subsidiary of Amazon and YouTube – has jumped on the eSports bandwagon by providing a live streaming service for the League of Legends, and other popular eSports events, such as the Championships of Dota2, which this year was streamed by 5 million people via Twitch.

While TV and streaming rights are currently separate, you can expect them to become amalgamated as TV deals start to expire and the demand for streaming rights continues to grow exponentially. They are going to be more than just static streams, too, as companies such as Genvid are currently designing software enabling fans to alter camera viewing angles while watching eSports, or to click on a particular player to reveal information and stats on them.

Stadiums

Stadium designers understand that services such as HD, DVR, and streaming make watching sports at home more comfortable. Teams are combating this by creating stadium features to improve the fans’ experience. Therefore, expect each new stadium built to be smarter, sustainable, and more social than ever before.

One stadium showcasing the future is the new Mercedes Benz Stadium owned by the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United FC (MLS). Beneath the 8-piece retractable roof and the 63,000 square foot video screen, each fan has access to free WiFi from almost 2,000 access points. The building also shows the future of sustainable stadiums; the 4,000 solar panels power each game, while the building is kept naturally cool by its water capture system.

Another great example of sustainable grounds is the new stadium used by Tottenham Hotspur due to open in 2018, and already being hailed by its architects as the most technologically advanced stadium ever built. It will also perhaps be the most culinary-advanced one, too, as it will feature the longest bar in the UK, while its H-Club will serve VIP fans luxury liquors and wines that can be kept in lockers for instant access throughout the season.

The Holographic Future

Japan will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and ahead of the huge international event you can expect someone to follow in the footsteps of the innovative country by enabling viewers to watch a holographic match at home through the use of sensors and projectors.

Final Thought..

The evolution of sports reflects the shifting preferences and tastes of society, as well as its technological advancements . Going forward, the developments currently being seen in sports will only continue to narrow the gap further between a viewer feeling like a passive spectator of a game, to feeling like a willing participant.