In their attempt to entice and engage more customers, leading over-the-top (OTT) companies like Facebook and Amazon have tapped into the sports streaming market.
At the Sport Business Summit held recently in London, executives from Facebook and Amazon have discussed about the engagement of these Internet-based companies in sports matches streaming.
In the words of Peter Hutton, Facebook’s Director of Global Live Sports Partnerships and Programming, Facebook believes it can help congregate sports fans.
In addition, he said that the social media giant thinks it can facilitate streaming enthusiasts to experience sports “in a better way.”
The Facebook executive admitted that shifting from watching on traditional TV to availing the services of OTT companies is certainly challenging.
However, Hutton contended that smooth transition is facilitated by Facebook through its partnerships with broadcasters.
Social media platforms can also help rake in new sports fans like what happened during Facebook Watch’s coverage of the Major League Baseball.
It enabled the real-time interactions among the audiences, the coaches, and the athletes during the live presentations of the baseball games.
Amazon Prime Video, the subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) division of the e-Commerce juggernaut, presents a wide array of sports programming as well.
These include the National Football League’s matches, the US Open Tennis Championships, and the soccer games of Germany’s Bundesliga.
By 2019, Amazon Prime Video will present 20 English Premier League matches across two particular dates in December. Â This schedule also consists of Boxing Day programming.
Alex Green, European Managing Director of Amazon Prime Video, also spoke at the Leaders’ Week of the London sports business conference.
He cited that the SVoD service of the online retail giant is certainly committed to sports broadcasting for the long haul.
Green elaborated on the fact that plenty of today’s consumers are anticipated to register for a 30-day trial free of charge to view the Boxing Day matches.
In addition, this trend will propel an increased surge in new members during the busiest shopping period of the year.
Amazon is mindful that some of its customers may opt out of their trial subscriptions after the free month.
Nonetheless, it is in the firm conviction of the major e-Commerce establishment that many of its customers will enjoy its sporting match viewing offerings.
Apparently, sports broadcasting rights are not exclusive to traditional and cable TV broadcasters anymore.
As the Internet has become the dominant force in the modern era, OTT companies will indubitably overshadow the standard modes of presenting sports coverages.
