Live sports has been around since the first Olympics but it has evolved very slowly.
It takes three thousand years until Major League Baseball, the first modern league is formed. This establishes an evergreen replenishing event machine.
Then another 50 years pass until the first radio broadcast is made, which introduces non-stadium revenue to the business.
It takes another 30 years until the first televised game, which makes IP the profit engine of sports.
It takes another 40 years until ESPN is founded to propel the highlights and commentary era.
And then the evolution kind of stops. Sure the cameras and graphics are better. But what you watch today is essentially the same 50 year old video production process with a 100 year old announcing tradition.
But media has changed dramatically in the last 25 years.
1) DVR introduces time shifting … except for sports, making it the last unskippable ad
2) Streaming sets off a complete distribution disruption which brings the demise of cable but also the promise of targeted TV ads
3) Social media made creators, content and customization proliferate. But UGC also becomes the first juggernaut competitor to Live Sports.
4) The legalization of sports gambling has transformed the fan experience more than anything since television.
5) And ESPN’s ManningCast legitimizes alternative broadcasts
The last one begs an important question: why did ESPN try the Manning and why is it working?
The broadcast booth hasn’t changed in 100 years. Could live sports be 10x more entertaining if it incorporated the power of creator economy?
I know some people who agree …
“If streamers and people at home are able to react to these games, it’ll only be crazier.” - Kai Cenat on Hot Ones
“They should have it where you can call the game on YouTube like you and your friends from your house and then people can watch you call the game.” - Bill Simmons Podcast
