MAKE WAY FOR CHANGE Over the past decade, the live sports industry has been forced to come to grips with the worldwide shift in content consumption habits. Long gone are the days of linear TV’s omnipotence over live TV, with connected TVs, smartphones and tablets paving a new path for broadcast that networks have since had to scramble to accommodate. Thanks to both this and the growing issue of the second screen, broadcasters are now in a mutual race to achieve the most advanced fan experience possible – to better their subscriber retention and bolster monetisation opportunities. Amdocs recently released a report on the technology that will enhance viewer experience at major sporting events – including that of the Euros – commissioning Censuswide to survey over 1000 UK football fans ahead of the tournament.
The report revealed that 70% of respondents said they planned to watch at least one match on terrestrial TV, while 42% will opt to livestream a match. Focusing on live streaming, the survey showed that it is the most popular format with younger fans – 70% of 16- to 24-year-olds will opt to livestream a match compared to 21% of those aged 55 or above. This implies what much of the industry is acutely aware of: streaming will overtake TV to become the preferred method of viewing big sporting events in a matter of years. “We will see streaming overtake broadcast, but broadcast will always have a good foundational place since it’s convenient at home,” begins Gil Rosen, chief marketing officer at Amdocs. “I don’t think we’ll see a total cannibalisation.” The survey also offered insight into the technology which football fans are most likely
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