Whether you realize it or not, today’s sports fans are constantly on the go, glued to their devices from morning to late at night. They multitask and watch multiple events at once — watching games on TV and updating their fantasy team lineup via mobile. They want the ability to watch a game from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection.
The live streaming of sports is continuously gaining momentum. Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen many big brands begin to implement live events to connect with fans and make them feel more like a part of the game.
Whether you’re a small-business owner hoping to gain awareness for your brand, or a large corporation looking for ways to engage with customers in real-time, live streaming events can help you meet your marketing needs. While there’s no doubt that streaming live events are a great way to boost engagement, people are often overwhelmed by the prospect of doing it themselves. If you’re new to providing or watching live content, here are five important steps to live event success.
If streaming live sports is one of your goals, the good news is that there is a lot you can do to improve the quality of your stream. The better your stream quality, the more likely viewers will stick around and watch. Here are five best practices for streaming live sports.
1-. Motivate Your Audience
A big part of what makes a great sports broadcast are the fans. If people feel like they're part of the action, they'll be more likely to stick around for it all. Try creating a sense of community by encouraging them to share their thoughts on social media or in chat rooms during the event.
2-. Capitalize on DownTime
When things aren't happening on the field or court, it's tempting to fill up those moments with ads or promotions for other events going on at your venue. However, if you can find ways to use these moments strategically, they can help build anticipation for upcoming plays and give viewers a reason to stick around until you get back into action again. For example, during halftime at a football game, you could show highlights from earlier plays and interviews with players who didn't see much playing time during the first half. After an exciting play has just happened in!
3-. Reduce Technical Issues
Make sure your streaming service has sufficient bandwidth and storage capacity to handle the traffic load that comes with live sports events. If necessary, rent additional servers or upgrade your current infrastructure before the event starts.
4-. Make a Plan
Planning ahead for live sporting events will help ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Don't forget to include contingency plans in case something goes wrong — such as failing equipment or network issues — so you won't have any surprises during the event itself. You should also make sure that all team members involved in the live stream are aware of their roles and responsibilities beforehand so they're ready to go when it's time for kickoff (or tipoff, or first pitch).
5-. Remove Any Inappropriate Messages
In addition to technical glitches, inappropriate messages can also cause problems during a live stream — particularly if they come from a sponsor or advertiser who doesn't realize what he or she is saying could be taken out of context by viewers.
The Sparx team is here to help you stream your live sports. There's nothing more fun than watching a live game with your friends, family, and fans! We know how much enjoyment a person can get out of watching an exciting game on TV, and we want to make sure that the experience is as enjoyable as possible.
Any screen. Anytime. Anywhere.
And remember, it's all about fun. Sports fans love to share their passion for their favourite team with a lively and engaging crowd. Make them the star of your show by creating an environment where they can have fun and feel free to contribute to the conversation.