We hear about how the internet and smart phones are impacting traditional media like network news and newspapers. But it now appears as if it isn't just the media that could be impacted. Instead, the very leagues are threatened themselves.
Broadcasting rights are the cash cow of every sports league and the SEC is no different. But with the relatively new apps like Periscope and Meerkat anyone with a smartphone can broadcast live events. The result is that sports leagues are freaking out, because they know that there are literally billions of dollars at stake with broadcasting rights.
It happened at the Masters a few weeks ago.
http://mashable.com/2015/05/07/sports-periscope-piracy/
And it happened during the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight
http://mashable.com/2015/05/03/pacquiao-mayweather-periscope/
Imagine what it could do to the business of sports in a very short time. When you think that it took a massive bite out of the PPV take for the "fight of the century", how long will it be before cable companies no longer see the value in paying such high fees for the rights to broadcast an event if they aren't seeing the return in subscribers?
Just curious, how many of you were even aware that you could have watched the fight for free with one of these free apps on your phone?
Broadcasting rights are the cash cow of every sports league and the SEC is no different. But with the relatively new apps like Periscope and Meerkat anyone with a smartphone can broadcast live events. The result is that sports leagues are freaking out, because they know that there are literally billions of dollars at stake with broadcasting rights.
It happened at the Masters a few weeks ago.
http://mashable.com/2015/05/07/sports-periscope-piracy/
And it happened during the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight
http://mashable.com/2015/05/03/pacquiao-mayweather-periscope/
Imagine what it could do to the business of sports in a very short time. When you think that it took a massive bite out of the PPV take for the "fight of the century", how long will it be before cable companies no longer see the value in paying such high fees for the rights to broadcast an event if they aren't seeing the return in subscribers?
Just curious, how many of you were even aware that you could have watched the fight for free with one of these free apps on your phone?
