Two of the biggest industries in sports are developing online networks to bring their fans closer to the action. NFL Now and WWE Network will both launch in 2014 and bring new and exciting features to their worlds with technology.
NFL Now
NFL Now, a new NFL video app, will launch in summer 2014 and will be available for tablets, mobile devices, TVs, computers, and Xbox One and is sponsored by Verizon, Gillette, Microsoft, and Yahoo. This online network is perfect for every die-hard NFL fan.
Features of the network highlight a personalized experience for each NFL fan. Users have the ability to select their favorite teams and fantasy players to receive up-to-the-minute news and analysis non-stop. On-the-go NFL fans will also be able to watch game day highlights on-demand as well as live events, press conferences, and shows.
The app will feature a video library that includes content ranging from NFL.com, NFL Films, and original content created in Los Angeles as the NFL Media Studios. The content from the studios will include news updates and full-length shows, and will be designed specifically for digital platforms. Two other special features include extensive highlights of the best plays from around the NFL as well as exclusive content made by NFL clubs.
The network will be available to download through the app store, but users have to subscribe to NFL Now Plus for a monthly fee to access premium content.
WWE Network
WWE Network is set to be the main 24/7 network stream, including fan favorites such as WrestleMania Rewind, WWE Countdown, and Raw Pre-Show. The network is available on laptops and desktops via WWE.com, and on tablets, mobile devices, PlayStation 3 and 4, and Xbox 360. Coming this summer, WWE Network will also be available on Xbox One and select smart TV’s.
The online network will feature original programming including The Monday Night War, WrestleMania Rewind, WWE Countdown, Legends House (Coming in April), WWE NXT, and WWE Superstars. The network will feature archived content as well as an on-demand library. WWE Network will also feature the 2014 Hall of Fame ceremony and all 12 WWE Live pay-per-view events including WrestleMania.
The cost of the network is $9.99 per month with a six-month subscription commitment, but fans can try it free for seven days. These trials have sparked an outpour of technical difficulties.
Though WWE Network has excellent picture quality but users are unable to stop a show and restart it later like Netflix allows, because the spot in the show you exit isn’t saved. Other errors include Xbox 360 users inability to log in, and error messages when viewing on-demand content.
Conclusion
In order to ensure a great fan experience, WWE Network needs to fix these errors that users are complaining about. Fixing these bugs will help to better the experience of users and potentially increase the amount of subscribers.
NFL Now doesn’t premiere until this summer, but making sure that the online network doesn’t have any bugs will increase its amount of subscribers.
The growth of subscribers for both of these new online networks will help to further grow each one, and demonstrates one more way in which technology in sports is providing more access to fans.