In 2022, all content from a game will be packaged into interactive programming. Highlight feeds, multiple camera angles of a match, and player stats will be made available for fans to consume in various ways. This will give broadcasters the ability to target different consumers and experience levels. In 2022, the number of viewers for live sports will double from today to two billion. But where will all of this content come from?
Challenges
As sports continue to move to OTT platforms, latency and live interaction are becoming more of a challenge. WebRTC technology can deliver real-time video streams with less than a second of latency, but not all services are able to deliver this on a scale large enough for a devoted audience. While live sports are still the king of the entertainment universe, the challenges of 스포츠중계 in 2022 will be more complex than ever.
The most challenging aspect for broadcasters is acquiring compelling live sports content. Remote-production solutions are an emerging solution that helps overcome this problem. A remote-production workflow moves video, audio, and data feeds from a venue to a remote production facility, including graphics and commentary. Streaming companies are also looking to reduce onsite staff and equipment. By 2022, broadcasters will have a choice between live-streaming or archiving content to create multiple feeds from a single location.
Costs
In 2022, broadcast sports will account for about 40% of the total cost of programming. ESPN and SportsNet LA, for example, charge around $7.20 per home subscriber to broadcast the sport. The NFL Network, on the other hand, will cost $1.39 per home subscriber. That’s about twice as much as the other two major sports networks. The future of sports broadcasting is bright, but costs will continue to rise.
If we assume no other change in sports prices, we can safely say that it will increase over the next few years. But that increase is not insignificant. It could even create a bubble and push cord-cutting to new levels. That could lead to a broader increase in sports prices, which will impact the pay-TV and streaming industries. But, before we get too far into the future, let’s take a look at what’s happening now.
Characteristics
According to the Altman Solon 2021 Global Sports Survey, over 18,000 respondents from 16 countries report that they watch 3.5 hours of live sports each week. This statistic is lower than the average viewing time of nearly five hours, but it still represents a significant increase from the current figure of 3.3 hours. The survey results also indicate that the number of sports viewers has doubled in the last 20 years, with nearly three times as many fans as in 2012.
While traditional broadcast rights remain a primary revenue generator for sports broadcasters, the shift to streaming platforms is causing these companies to adapt and innovate in new ways. Nielsen reported that, in August 2021, only two-thirds of all sports viewing in the US occurred on broadcast and cable. The majority of these viewers, meanwhile, watched sports on streaming platforms. Thus, sports broadcasters need to find ways to make their traditional broadcasts more accessible to their viewers.
Cloud-based technology
Cloud-based technology is already changing the way leading sports broadcasters deliver content to consumers. By allowing rights holders to provide highly personalised services and linear channels, cloud technology is enabling sports broadcasters to target certain audience demographics. The Seven Network, for example, was able to deliver focused recaps during the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which targeted the audience’s age and fan demographics. Similarly, the network will soon be able to offer real-time social media functions to their users.
For many sports broadcasters, cloud-based playout is the logical next step. It will complement their current on-premise playout system, ensuring a business continuity plan. While cloud playout can’t replace dedicated infrastructure, it can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional playout systems. Broadcasters should consider disaster recovery channels, which have proven to be successful during pandemics and natural disasters.
