Technology is changing the way we watch live sports. The innovation dates back decades, from the advent of the color TV, to the yellow augmented reality first down line, to high-def TV, to internet-powered streaming options. With software and hardware evolving at a rapid pace, what’s next for the industry? How will technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning affect live sports production? And when will the robots take over — if ever? We posed some of those questions to ESPN executives who help put together Monday Night Football (MNF) each week during the NFL season. Earlier this month… Read More
Embed from Getty Images I didn’t know that Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton was throwing a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday until the game was practically over. But the fact that I caught the excitement of the rare baseball feat in real time, and how I shared it with friends, is another fun example of what it’s like to be a sports fan in 2018. The game from Toronto’s Rogers Centre started at 1 p.m. PT, and rather than lie on my couch at home or sit in a bar to watch a regular season game, I… Read More
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ESPN on Thursday debuted its new ESPN+ service, reflecting larger trends in the sports industry and marking the first big step into streaming for the Disney-owned sports media giant. For $5 per month or $50 per year, sports fans can access thousands of live games on ESPN+, though it’s not exactly must-see content or the biggest matchups. “Here’s the most important thing to know: ESPN+ is no replacement for ESPN the cable channel,” The Verge reported today. “It’s not supposed to be.” ESPN+, part of ESPN’s redesigned app that also launched today, will get you one MLB and one NHL… Read More
Disney is going to go its own way when it comes to streaming, announcing Tuesday that it will be ending its distribution deal with Netflix. The company plans to launch its own branded streaming service in 2019 and will also debut an ESPN service early next year. The announcement came during Disney’s quarterly earnings report and was detailed in a news release from the media giant. The move is made possible by Disney’s acquisition of a majority stake in BAMTech, the streaming video arm founded by Major League Baseball. Disney acquired a 33-percent stake in BAMTech last year for $1… Read More
