The background
Creativity has no limits and in the sports ecosystem, innovation is constant, whether it is to improve the performance of athletes themselves, the stimulation of a healthy and active lifestyle or the fan experience. Media and Entertainment are, at the same time, key pillars for the sport ecosystem. Investments in media innovation are increasing day by day in order to make sport events be available to the highest number of people. Attendants and fans are not anymore passive viewers, but engaged primary actors of the sport ecosystem.
That’s why Sport, Media and Entertainment are neighbouring and intertwined sectors. And if there is something they all have in common, it is technology.
What kind of technologies can be included in smart venues? What are the latest developments in broadcasting live events and how can these reach people and build communities? What is the role that digitalisation of sport can play in Smart Vital Cities? What is the impact of new phenomena like exergaming, 5G, and e-post on the sport ecosystem?
Live Sport & Entertainment is becoming the “new order” of the Smart Media Industry as a response to the digital transformation of the media industry which has impacted the production, distribution and reception modes of media content. Advertisers and the media have been forced to adapt to modern listening habits, where consumers watch what they want, when they want and where they want.
1. Approach in terms of content to be delivered
- The live sport events, as well as some great highlights of reality TV, are the last real date. As TV ratings across all channels clearly indicate, live sports dominate today's fragmented media landscape;
- The audiences, eager of live sport and entertainment are also more and more connected and have accordingly many new expectations in terms of consumption of media & contents, either at home, in a smart venue, in their autonomous car, etc.;
- Content is definitely the rule, which means that the media sector turned from a vertical technology-driven approach to a more transversal approach where the content (e.g. sport & entertainment) will support the growth of the sector thanks to innovative technologies (e.g. live technologies) and innovative business models;
2. Approach in terms of technologies
The media sector has to take in consideration the rise of future technologies such as immersive technologies, artificial intelligence and the Internet of things, new network capabilities, hyper-personalization of the content and social medias.
3. Approach in terms of business models
The business models are being reshaped by challenging technology and market trends: user centric value concedes more power to users, aiming at having users more engaged by powering emotional and social connectivity with the content and people. The trends affecting the live sports & entertainment business are faster than ever, and the scale of change greater than ever. Barriers to entry have never been lower. More markets around the world than ever before are receptive to the power of live sport & entertainment. It’s never been easier to reach millions, even billions, of fans.
