MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1436922
RMC, Nova, Sky, name your favorite. Everywhere in the world tune on your screen and you’ll find a sporting event loaded with sponsors and advertisers working hard to create a positive impression with the network’s/streamer’s and teams’ loyal audiences. Broadcast – cable, satellite – continue to be the preferred way for fans to enjoy their sporting contests. But the future looks grim for pay TV’s future. Parks Associates found that 40 percent of cable service subscribers retain the service because it gives them access to their sports channels. Today, sports organizations, teams and players are following the fans to improve the event experience and expand their social activities. Their goal is to entice casual fans to become fanatics and fanatics to become the sport/team’s major cheerleaders. Nielsen reports that only 39 percent of sports fans are completely satisfied with their broadcast experience. Increasingly, (regardless of age or sex) convenience is becoming a growing part of people’s enjoyment and satisfaction with the game or event. If broadcasters and networks decide it’s time to shift to streaming games, tournaments, events direct to the consumer it can only accelerate cord cutting as fans choose convenience and social involvement over individual or small group viewing. At the same time, marketers want their messages where the fans are, not where they were. Without the financial underpinnings of retransmitting sports to local communities, what is left for network affiliates around the country? Only two to three stations can exist with only community programing, local news and area advertising. As LeBron James said in the Space Jam: A New Legacy trailer, “Bet Will Smith ain't gotta deal with this.” It’s an issue you’ll have to ponder. Right now, we’re going to get our scuba tanks filled so we can practice an upcoming extreme underwater ironing tournament. The competition is ruthless!