Xbox Live & ESPN in Talks for Live Streaming of Sporting Events
News began to spread early this week about Microsoft’s Xbox Live offering live streaming of sporting events in the very near future. There is reportedly a partnership being discussed with ESPN to offer similar streaming services to what is offered currently with ESPN 360. The Xbox Live ESPN service will require a separate fee in addition to your Xbox Live Gold subscription. ESPN 360 broadcasts live sports throughout the day and is offered by internet service providers who pay for the ESPN Service. ESPN360.com also allows users to chose from up to 10 live games or events at once. The games and events can be watched on 6 different screens at once. The service allows users to pause, re-wind and fast-forward games and events. This is an important announcement because this now becomes a growing threat to cable television. Many consumers agree that the ability to watch live sports is the main reason they continue to pay for cable television.
Here are three ideas that combined with a partnership with ESPN 360 would develop Xbox Live into a legitimate alternative to cable television with regards to watching live sports.
1) The partnership CBS has with the NCAA for broadcasting the NCAA Basketball tournament online via sportsline.com needs to include streaming you can see via Xbox Live (preferably in HD).
2) Sports specific cable networks (NBA TV, MLB TV) need to partner with Xbox live to stream their live games. This would continue to grow the international market and add value to these networks.
3) Smaller sports leagues (Major League Soccer, National Lacrosse League, Indy Car Racing/Champ Car Racing) and older traditional sports (horse racing and boxing come to mind) need to partner with Xbox Live to live stream their events.
The tipping point is nearing with regards to no longer needing cable television. Once major live professional sporting events (Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals) can be streamed live through Xbox live, we would have reached a point where a legitimate alternative to cable has arrived. Considering the latest developments mentioned above, How far away is this?
Category: Digital Media | Tags: espn, ESPN 360, NBA, NCAA, NFL, xbox live
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Thanks for the comment. I agree. I am personally waiting for one of the major sports to make the move to permitting live streaming of their events.
Thanks for the comment. I agree. I am personally waiting for one of the major sports to make the move to permitting live streaming of their events.
It shouldn't be too far away, you can do just about everything nowadays through an XBOX 360 and technology in general, why not have live sporting events. Great read.