Earlier this week, I did a take on why Spotify should embrace eSports content. In it, I mentioned how Netflix benefitted from creating its own original content and instead of relying, solely, on licensing from larger studios. To clarify, this streamed video wouldn’t be live, e.g. games or content created by streamers, instead it would be produced/scripted eSports material like documentaries or pre/post game coverage (gasp!). My line of thought was Spotify can easily differentiate itself from mainstays like Netflix by attracting the already vibrant, and stream friendly, eSports crowd.
Then I read this interview of Netflix CEO, Ted Sarandos where he touched on the subject of sports. He made this comment about linear TV:
“I think what’s going to happen with linear television is it’s going to become more linear. It’s going to become more about events and more about award shows, live sports—all those things that, really, you can’t replicate. Where the attribute is real the live-ness of it, television is fantastic.”
The part about sports and how live-ness translates best across the TV is spot on. This fact affects eSports in a major way. Why? For one, people still expect that big time live events will be available on the TV screen; whether they choose to view them live or otherwise. Secondly, the television screen has evolved to bring audiences as close to the action as possible. Specifically multi-stream (audio/digital) high-resolution sports broadcasts are the standard for worldwide viewing audiences.
Additionally the production techniques, broadcast technology (cameras, HD, etc.) have all evolved in parallel. These are all areas that eSports haven’t had the opportunity to develop in full. This reality results in a sizable gap between the production quality of traditional sports and eSports. For all the hub bub surrounding ESPN putting Heroes of the Dorm on TV, there are bigger challenges. Namely, assuring broadcast eSports events are comparable to the standard set by their traditional brethren, regardless of the medium.
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Alex Fletcher is founder & president at eSports Group, where he helps customers meet their eSports advisory & consulting needs. When Alex isn’t glued to a screen, he spends time with his wife, their two dogs, and pretends to learn Polish. Feel free to stalk him on Twitter – @FletchUnleashed