The Importance of Having a Multiplatform Strategy in the Sports Business

Having a multiplatform strategy in the sports business pays off. It boosts viewership, engagement, traffic and revenues.

Major League Baseball pioneered multiplatform distribution with its MLB.tv online video product and the release of its MLB.com At Bat application. Also in 2008, NBC’s strategy for the Olympics was incredibly successful.

Now the NBA (National Basketball Association) is having a record year in terms of web video traffic and overall TV viewership. For example, video views online are up 50 percent over this time last year, with 215 million streams from around the world.

This multiplatform strategy, according to NewTeeVee site, includes broader TV distribution, more-in-depth online coverage in NBA.com, and the availability of hundreds of mobile apps.

Only in mobile, the NBA has introduced over 100 apps across the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry’s app stores. Its NBA League Pass Mobile app, which costs $39.99 and it is made with MobiTV, enables fans to watch live video from their devices. Also the league has issued a paid Game Time app ($9.99) and apps for each individual team ($3.99 each).