This week, SportsPro will be rolling out a range of in-depth features, interviews, podcasts and opinion pieces covering the fast-changing sports broadcast sector.
For all the talk of new technologies and the opportunity they present to diversify revenues, broadcasting rights income remains the lifeblood of almost every sport. However, the business of content delivery is being shaped all the time by new means of distribution, production and consumption.
Join us over the next five days as we assess the state of play in sports broadcasting and streaming throughout a full week of exclusive content, including contributions from Sport 24 and Eurovision Sport, as well as deeper looks at the new National Basketball Association (NBA) app, the US streaming landscape and the over-the-top (OTT) market in motorsport.
Broadcast Week coincides with the sixth edition of the SportsPro OTT Summit in Madrid, where we’ll be hearing from senior leaders at the likes of Warner Bros Discovery, DAZN, Dyn Media, Eleven Group, Serie A and OnlyFans. We’ll also unveil the winners of our prestigious OTT Awards, with industry innovators set to be recognised at a gala dinner on Wednesday.
Check back here for new releases throughout the week and sign up to the SportsPro Daily newsletter to have all of the content delivered directly to your inbox. Additionally, subscribe to SportsPro technology editor Steve McCaskill’s fortnightly OTT newsletter to stay abreast of all the key trends and talking points in sports media.
Part one: Inside Eurovision Sport’s mission to democratise sports broadcasting in the digital era
Eurovision Sport has played a critical role in delivering major sporting events to European television screens ever since the 1954 Fifa World Cup. Executive director Glen Killane tells SportsPro about the future of public service broadcasting and why its new OTT platform can deliver a platform for growth for rights holders.
Part two: Assessing the leading OTT platforms in motorsport
Figuring out which streaming services show which motorsport series can be a challenge, and that’s before even considering what platforms are available where. With an increasing number of options for fans, the BlackBook casts its eye over some of the major motorsport OTT products and reviews what they have to offer.
Part three: Why your sport should harness content and community to reach a wider audience
There have never been more ways to reach fans, but competition for eyeballs is getting fiercer. James Dobbs, managing director of SNTV and Story10, looks back on 2022 to offer some lessons for sports trying to stand out with their content.
Part four: Live streaming 101: Prepare to stream live at scale with open caching
Many service providers are optimising their networks by moving towards open caching, a technology that more efficiently meets peak demands for live events. Gautier Demond, VP of sales, content publishers at streaming tech specialist Qwilt, outlines the key benefits for sport.
Part five: SportsPro Reviews… the new NBA app
The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) new app combines all the league’s content into an easy-to-use, personalised package for both free and paid-for users. For the first instalment of a new regular feature series, SportsPro casts its eye over the platform to offer its verdict on the self-described ‘all-in-one destination’ for fans.
Part six: The story behind Sport 24, the global in-flight live sports channel
For more than a decade, IMG and Panasonic Avionics have allowed sports fans to watch live sport while travelling the globe. SportsPro speaks to those who got the concept off the ground and keep the channel on the air, while in the air.
Part seven: How AI helps reach fans and maximise content value at the World Cup
As the world tunes in to watch Qatar 2022, Yitav Topaz, vice president of strategic partnerships at WSC Sports, explains why AI and automation are becoming integral to the coverage of major events.
Part eight: Who is winning the US sports streaming wars in 2022?
As another eventful year in the American sports streaming market reaches its end, SportsPro runs through the major networks and their subscription OTT platforms to see how they have performed and where they stand going into 2023.
Part nine: On the floor at OTT Summit 2022
SportsPro’s George Breare and Tom Bassam take you inside the Melia Castilla to track the trends and conversations at the SportsPro OTT Summit. They’re joined by StreamTime Podcast hosts Nick Meacham and Chris Stone to discuss the big picture and also react to sessions covering the Women’s Super League (WSL), the NBA App, and OneFootball.
Part ten: Three key takeaways from SportsPro OTT Summit 2022
SportsPro’s technology editor Steve McCaskill reflects on WBD Sports’ ambitions, explains why Dyn is turning to next-generation broadcast tech, and investigates missing World Cup graphics.
Go deeper on sports streaming with SportsPro’s StreamTime Podcast
More of SportsPro’s broadcast coverage
Want more broadcast-related content? See below for a selection of our coverage this year:
DAZN wants to go beyond streaming and unify different sporting experiences into a single app. Chief executive Shay Segev tells SportsPro how the digital sports media company plans to harness changing consumer trends and become profitable by 2024.
15 trends to watch in sports streaming
With this year’s OTT Summit coming into view, SportsPro chief executive and StreamTime Podcast host Nick Meacham casts his eye over the hottest topics in sports media in 2022.
Apple and MLS: What the US$2.5bn deal tells us about soccer and streaming in the US and beyond
The landmark ten-year partnership between Apple and MLS could have major ramifications. SportsPro explains exactly what the deal means for both parties, how it will impact the worlds of sport and broadcasting, and whether the Premier League could be tempted to follow suit.
What are FAST channels and what opportunities will they create for sport?
Marion Ranchet, founder and MD of The Local Act Consultancy, joins the StreamTime Podcast for an explainer on free ad-supported streaming television.
Why sport could be the next battleground in the US streaming wars
Minal Modha, consumer research lead at Ampere Analysis, uses the company’s data to explain why more entertainment-led US streaming services are turning to live sport to lure subscribers.
The IPL’s new media rights deals: Analysing Indian cricket’s multi-billion dollar auction
After the IPL’s media rights fetched US$6.2bn for the 2023 to 2027 cycle, SportsPro answers the key questions about the T20 cricket league’s record-breaking contracts.
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