We have come a long way since the 1936 Olympics became the first sporting event to be televised live. Now, we are used to being able to watch live sport regularly, not just on TV but by streaming content as well.

Technology has certainly revolutionized the way we enjoy sport. This does not just apply to the way we watch sports but also to the way we interact with them. Let’s take a closer look at five specific examples of this.

Sports betting on live action

Sports betting is big news across the world. In the USA, it’s estimated that around 50% of the adult population has placed a bet on sport at least once.

Technology has taken the excitement of sports betting a step further. Fans can now bet on sporting action while it’s happening at sportsbooks. This live action betting helps to make watching sport more interesting than ever.

The second screen experience

Back when sport was first broadcast on the TV, people were quite happy to simply sit and watch. That was long before technology enabled the activity of second screening.

This is where people use a second screen, like a smartphone or tablet while watching content on a TV or computer screen. Sports leagues like the NBA have used this to their advantage by developing a range of experiences that help fans to interact with the sport that they are watching, such as social media chats and game stats updates.

Live streaming on demand

Live streaming has been one of the biggest technological advances from the point of view of sports fans. It gives people the opportunity to watch live sport more often, from the comfort of their own home.

Streaming has also changed the broadcasting landscape as traditional broadcasters face competition from digital companies like Amazon and Facebook. The broadcasters are fighting back by providing their own streaming services like ESPN+. This can only be good news for fans as increased competition means increased availability of live sport.

Fantasy sports

Fantasy sports are hugely popular. In the US alone, millions of people enjoy the excitement of fantasy sports. This has led to it being a multi-billion dollar industry globally. In fact, some corporations that are involved with real-life pro sports have also invested heavily in fantasy sports. For instance, Time Warner invested in fantasy sports company Fan Duel.

The technology behind fantasy sports allows people to become involved in their favorite sports in a way that they never can in the real world. The activity is also a great way of learning more about sport, through studying form and game stats.

Connectivity between fans and stars

Sports fans love to get close to their sporting heroes, by interacting with them and learning more about them and what they are doing lately. Technology has made this easier to do, with the introduction of social media.

Twitter, in particular, is a great way of keeping up to date with what sport stars are doing. Fans can also send tweets to their heroes and may even be lucky enough to get a response. This is less likely to happen with the most popular stars as they have millions of people tweeting them each day. For example, the most popular star on Twitter is Cristiano Ronaldo who has 76.7 Million Followers.

In summary

Since the first live sport was shown on TV, back in 1936, technology has had a dramatic effect on the fan experience. It has also changed things for broadcasters as live streaming has opened up the industry.

Technology is not just about watching sports either. People can now bet on a game while they are watching it, or check out the latest stats, on a second screen.

There is no doubt that technology will continue to advance in the coming years. As it does, it’s likely to continue to change the world of sports in a positive way. Given how far things have advanced in less than a century, it’s exciting to imagine what is yet to come.