The nature of sport has substantially changed. Discover how streaming and social media is changing the behavior of sports followers across the world.
Cast your mind back to a crisp morning in the spring of 1992. It might not ring any bells for the more occasional fan. But English football fans can probably verify this exact date as the instant the game changed permanently. The advent of a new league – the top tier of English football – was thought to be a landmark moment during the time. But who could have predicted how considerably it redefined the face of the game? Along with a bold new league, the introduction of a rather struggling tv channel set the scene for football’s longstanding union with the media business. Fast forward to the current day, media executives like Stephen Van Rooyen continue to supply premium sports viewing services. The capacity for regular followers to watch sports on tv has allowed teams to grow into worldwide brands. Instead of going to the stadium, supporters can sit back and watch from the comfort of their home.
Football fans worldwide share many universal features. They normally travel the length and breadth of the nation to cheer on their favourite team. They celebrate the wins and drown out the losses down the local pub. They wear scarves and shirts to reveal their support. At first sight, it might seem like supporting your team is the same as it has ever been. But the advent of digital technology has redefined the character of a sports supporter. As sport becomes a global experience, numerous followers of a particular club are not from the same city let alone the same nation. Instead of going directly, they follow the most recent news and notices around social media. They watch their team on streaming platforms from their notebook or mobile phone. As the world becomes progressively digital, media founders like Michael Schwimmer must adapt their services for the present and future of the football fan.
Football has come an incredibly long way in a short space of time. Who could have envisioned twenty years ago that soccer teams would be comprised of football players from every corner of the earth? That the players would have their names on the back of their jersey? Not to mention the assorted business sponsors emblazoned throughout their jerseys and sleeves. But perhaps the most surreal change has been the manner in which people watch football. In earlier times, followers of their nearby club would slog down to the stadium on a Saturday afternoon. But lots of the greatest clubs have worldwide fanbases with people watching throughout continents and time zones. It is sensible that sports media executives like Yousef Al-Obaidly are tasked with quickly enlarging their sports network around the world. Alongside the thousands of football fans in stadiums, millions more now awaken in the middle of the night to stay tuned likewise.
