In what was being dubbed the “ESPN Megacast,” viewers of the BCS National Championship were offered a myriad of ways to watch the game. The Mothership utilized most of its arsenal to give fans a different experience on each channel.
But with Super Bowl XLVIII airing rights going to Fox this year, one of ESPN’s top rivals has the chance to host a Megacast of their own. Not only does Fox have the newly acquired fleet of networks to carry out such a broadcast, but they have the hindsight of ESPN’s experience to guide them.
And because the new football generation loves stats, insider info, multi-screen viewing, and a remote that would be capable of controlling the Death Star, Fox should absolutely allow fans to cater their Super Bowl experience to meet their needs. A Megacast would do just that.
What exactly is a Megacast though?
Simply put, a Megacast allows fans to tune into different viewing experiences by changing the channel. Each channel that airs the game then caters the broadcast to a different target audience. It’s all about the options.
ESPN made it totally clear that they are a powerhouse when it comes to sports programming. Armed with 16 trucks, 63 cameras, and 72 microphones, the Worldwide Leader in Sports wasn’t about to miss a second of action. With all this equipment, unique broadcasts aired on ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN Classic, ESPN Goal Line, ESPNews, and ESPN 3. For those that are counting, that is comparable to the amount of choices you get in a box of Jelly Bellys.
Each of these channels then aired a different version of the BCS National Championship. For instance, college football insiders would have likely enjoyed the game as dissected by the likes of Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M, Pittsburgh’s Paul Chryst, and Boston College’s Steve Addazio, which was available on ESPNews. This crew even managed to successfully predict the fake punt by Florida State.
If viewers wanted a more loosely-strung environment, ESPN 2 featured Jemele Hill and Michael Smith alongside the likes of Cheryl Hines and Columbus Short. This version of the broadcast featured tweets from the one and only Shaq, which gives you a good idea of the type of atmosphere.
Basically, each channel was able to meet a different viewer’s needs. And because Fox has plenty of ways to distribute content, the company should surely consider a Megacast of their own.
Fox has its own arsenal
With the launch of Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, Fox is a new power in sports that has stepped up to the plate to challenge ESPN. The company has even gone as far as to directly challenge Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption by airing Crowd Goes Wild in the same time slot.
Not only that, but the new networks are carrying a wide range of sports as well. College sports are just the start: NASCAR, UFC, and Premier League Soccer are at the top of the list, with FIFA World Cup and MLB coverage soon to come.
Yet, the ushering in of the digital age has brought viewers even more ways to catch all of the action. With Fox Sports Go, fans can watch Fox Sports wherever and whenever they please by using their mobile devices.
Additionally, video game systems may well be overlooked as a viable sports programming source. Fox Now is a fully capable Xbox One application that allows users to watch Fox programming on-demand. The added perk of viewing behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and extra performances makes this option even more incredible.
But of course, there is an underlying point to all of this: Fox is well-primed to host its own Megacast featuring Super Bowl XLVIII.
A potential Fox Super Bowl Megacast
The Super Bowl is arguably the biggest sporting event of the year. It’s so big, in fact, that it’s able to attract people that aren’t even interested in football. This would simply lead anyone to believe that people tuning into the big game can range from superfans to those that wouldn’t know Petyon Manning from Richard Sherman.
This is exactly where a potential Fox Super Bowl Megacast comes in. Some people tune in for the commercials and the halftime show, some tune in to follow the stats, while others simply want to watch a good football game – the best of the best. With a potential arsenal of five different ways to watch the game, everyone will certainly be pleased.
For instance, traditionalists will be searching for the standard format broadcast of the game, which includes the typical footage and casual game announcers. This traditional display of football would be aired on Fox’s main station. There are no surprises here, as fans will get what they came for.
The next thing to look at is a more non-traditional broadcast. Fox Sports 1 is a great candidate for something like this. The reasoning: What better way to utilize the Crowd Goes Wild cast than to have them commentate the Super Bowl? Because of the entertainment value of this unique group of cohorts, fans that are looking for a more lively, off-beat presentation would be more interested in this format. Puns, jokes, and a few slightly serious debates surrounding the action would be a high priority in this broadcast.
Likewise, Fox Sports 2 will be tailored to fit the needs of a particular group of people. There are those that like stats and there are those that are crazy about stats. Whether they have money on the line in some type of fantasy wager, or they just plain love numbers, this programming would put a strong emphasis on statistics.
Fox Sports Go is an app that is available on smartphones, tablets, and laptops. And because this entire Megacast is based on pleasing certain demographics, fans that are using this app are likely on the go. Whether someone is stuck riding the Staten Island Ferry, riding a bus home, or just needs to make a food run, this broadcast could be customized to allow fans to catch all the action. Perhaps the game could even feature some interactives to keep these fan-goers entertained.
Last but not least, the release of the Xbox One has introduced a new world of entertainment to the consumer. Fox Now offers users the chance to watch Fox programming on-demand. By taking advantage of this technology, Fox could potentially create an interactive experience for Xbox One users. Quizzes, choice of camera angles, instant stats, and social integration would surely keep the those techy-fans happy.
So what is Fox waiting for?
In hindsight of ESPN’s Megacast, there are few reasons why Fox shouldn’t consider one themselves. It would be a shame to see Fox’s wide range of programming possibilities go to waste.
Of course, there is always the question of cost. Judging by ESPN’s amount of equipment and personnel that was necessary to pull off such a broadcast, a Fox Megacast may come with a hefty price tag.
But Fox is the network that has decided to step up and challenge the Mothership that is ESPN. It’s almost as if ESPN put their Megacast on display for all to see and said “your move Fox.”
In all, there is a great possibility that Fox could pull off a better overall presentation. The possibility of pleasing multiple target markets is something that should not be overlooked, especially in the broadcasting industry. Cost could be partially offset by selling ad space to companies interested in reaching those niche-like markets. So if Fox is feeling bold, the company should absolutely take advantage of this mega-situation. It is the Super Bowl, afterall. And if someone from Fox happens to stumble across this article and think it’s brilliant, contact me.