Rather than having to tune into a TV channel in order to catch an NFL game, sports fans will now be able to livestream Thursday Night Football on Twitter. As NFL’s digital partner, Twitter will make it possible for fans to tune into 10 full games for free, which will have great appeal to cord cutters who may not be able to access the games otherwise.
With this partnership, Twitter has the potential to leverage its Moments feature, which was introduced in late 2015. As a companion to the Thursday Night Football content, Moments could be a hub for recap videos and user-generated commentary.
This deal between the NFL and Twitter may open up a whole new realm of possibilities for the ways young consumers are able to access web and TV programming via social media platforms.
What's Driving This Trend
- Livestreaming Sports
- The rise of livestreaming sports opens up opportunities for social media platforms to become the go-to destination for consumers looking for live sporting events.
- Companion Content
- The use of companion content like Twitter's Moments feature provides opportunities for businesses to enhance the viewing experience for consumers, and may lead to new advertising revenue streams.
- Cord-cutting
- The trend of cord-cutting among younger consumers creates opportunities for businesses to innovate and find new ways to provide entertainment options for this segment of the population.
Who This Affects Most
- Social Media
- Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have the opportunity to become the go-to destination for livestreamed sporting events, potentially disrupting traditional TV broadcasting and cable industries.
- Sports Streaming
- The sports streaming industry is rapidly developing, with new entrants competing for market share against established players like ESPN and CBS Sports.
- Advertising
- As more businesses explore the use of companion content to enhance the viewing experience for consumers, there will be opportunities for advertisers to find new and innovative ways to reach their target audiences.
