
With the return of domestic football, Eric Gallier, VP, video customer solutions at Harmonic, explores the current issues facing service providers offering live sports streaming, and highlights technology innovations that simplify and transform the fan experience
By Contributor
Published: August 4, 2022
With the return of domestic football, Eric Gallier, VP, video customer solutions at Harmonic, explores the current issues facing service providers offering live sports streaming, and highlights technology innovations that simplify and transform the fan experience
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin>
Advances in live streaming have paved the way for the sports industry to reach more fans, wherever they are in the world. As the demand for more live sports content grows (with the sports live streaming market estimated to grow to $87 billion by 2028, from $18 billion in 2020), service providers, media companies and sports federations are competing for eyeballs and looking for ways to differentiate their sports TV services with more relevant content, and better and more compelling user experiences in order to reduce churn, keep fans engaged, and create platforms that sports fans are glued to.
Streaming live events at scale with high resiliency, pristine video quality and scalable targeted advertising is challenging, even under the best conditions. This article will explore the current issues facing service providers offering live sports streaming. In addition, it will highlight technology innovations that simplify live streaming and transform the fan experience.
Live Sports Streaming Challenges and Solutions Streaming of live sports events is accelerating; however, there are some challenges that need to be addressed, including scaling, latency and quality issues. Leveraging innovations such as geo-redundant clouds, content-aware encoding and more, video service providers can bring the outstanding live sports streaming experiences to audiences worldwide.
Scaling during live events Scaling live sports streaming services for high volumes of viewers on the fly is one of the biggest challenges video service providers, media companies and sports federations face today. If viewership suddenly skyrockets, service providers need to be able to adapt to scale in real time.
With the cloud, they can do that. The cloud is extremely robust for live sports streaming. Leveraging cloud-neutral solutions running on any of the major cloud platforms, simultaneously, service providers can ensure a high-quality streaming experience for sports fans.
A key advantage of using the cloud during a sporting event is being able to unlock geo-redundancy. Geo-redundancy involves deploying the same cloud platform in two different regions or using two different cloud vendors. Under a geo-redundant approach, the same source is fed into multiple synchronised clouds. After ingest, the video streams are packaged and delivered to the CDN simultaneously.
If there is a node failure in one of the regions, the CDN will simply pull from another one. If there's a full blown outage in the cloud, the CDN will pull from the other cloud. That combination will assure that the streaming service is always up and running, no matter the size of the event.
Driving viewer engagement The live sports streaming market is packed with competition, and it has become imperative for video service providers to stand out. Providers can differentiate their offerings and drive viewer engagement by offering advanced features such as multi-camera views, real-time stats and watch together services.
By creating a connection between viewers, watch together has shown to ignite engagement. However, the live streams need to be delivered synchronously to all connected users. A minimum delay of five seconds for content delivery is recommended. Utilising a cloud streaming platform that supports CMAF low-latency properties, video service providers can synchronise all of the clients, ensuring sub-second latency.
Multiview live streaming provides sports fans with multiple camera angles of a scene, enabling viewers to choose the angle that they want to watch. Cloud-based streaming platforms are facilitating the delivery of multiview services, allowing service providers to resolve potential scalability, latency and quality issues.
Delivering targeted advertising at scale According to a recent report by Research and Markets, U.S. revenue for ad-supported streaming platforms will triple between 2020 and 2026 to $31 billion. Delivering personalised content, including targeted advertisements, can help service providers enhance live sports streaming experiences and create new revenue opportunities with little or no additional investment.
During a large sporting event, service providers may be handling 10 million ad stitches or ad insertions a day. Having a streaming platform with scale-out capabilities is very important. In particular, cloud-based DAI solutions with manifest manipulation enable custom manifests to be created for each user in real time, bringing a whole new meaning to live streaming.
Managing video blackouts for live events Video blackouts are common in the sports video streaming world and occur as a result of complex domestic and international licensing contracts between video service providers, sports leagues, programme producers, television networks, film distributors and content owners. By substituting content, video service providers can soften revenue loss and keep viewers engaged.
Yet, managing blackout rules and replacing the blacked-out game with other live content can be complex. Cloud streaming platforms with advanced content stitching capabilities, including support for the SCTE 224 standard, allow video service providers to flawlessly replace content during blackouts based on end-user location and d
Europe Stories
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
07/08/2025
July 8 2025, 22:30 (PDT) Tata Motors & Dolby Bring Dolby Atmos to Harrier.ev, R...
18/07/2025
Friday 18 July 2025
Credit: Marc Sethi
The Sky Arts Awards will return on 16 September, once again taking place at the iconic Roundhouse in London. Produced b...
18/07/2025
This month, players can dive into special crossover events featuring SpongeBob SquarePants in Snake.io+ and Crossy Road Castle, available exclusively on Apple A...
18/07/2025
Up for the Match brings the fun, the passion-and a bit of Riverdance- tomorrow n...
17/07/2025
Spotify's goal with audiobooks is to help grow the publishing industry and create the best possible experience for booklovers, which is why we're launch...
17/07/2025
Luxembourg, 14 July 2025 - SES received the final regulatory approvals for the SES-Intelsat transaction, including the US Federal Communications Commission.
O...
17/07/2025
Wuppertal July 17, 2025
Riedel Communications Powers Handa Opera on Sydney Har...
17/07/2025
Fox Corporation Executives to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2025 F...
17/07/2025
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, w...
17/07/2025
The summer is here and RT Radio 1 has unveiled a lively seasonal lineup, packed...
16/07/2025
Spotify's podcast editorial team is always on the hunt for shows and episodes that spark conversation, push boundaries, and keep us coming back for more. As...
16/07/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
16/07/2025
Join us at IBC this September and take control of your content. Discover how we're bringing a new level of purpose and precision to the application of AI in...
16/07/2025
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Sky and ITV today announced an extension of their long-standing partnership, which will see ITV's content and services remain seamle...
16/07/2025
Sky Sports lifts the lid on Lions life with hilarious behind-the-scenes mockumentaryWednesday 16 July 2025
To view this content, please enable our use of cooki...
16/07/2025
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA Apple TV+ today earned a record-breaking 81 Emmy Award nominations across 14 hit Apple Original titles for this year's 77th Emmy Awa...
15/07/2025
Independent media outlets in Brazil and Colombia are invited to apply for a new programme aimed at strengthening the long-term resilience of journalism in the f...
15/07/2025
Spotify une fuerzas con DiDi, la app l der en servicios de movilidad, delivery y...
15/07/2025
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNIT...
15/07/2025
U&GOLD has acquired the broadcast rights for Fawlty Towers: The Play (1x120'). Recorded during the show's run at the West End with its original cast, Fa...
15/07/2025
TV SIM builds for the future with high efficiency transmitter from Rohde & Schwa...
15/07/2025
Harmonic's Hybrid, AI-Powered and Live Sports Streaming Innovations are Key ...
15/07/2025
The well-known and well-loved 4099 has been completely revamped. It features amazing CORE+ technology, which eliminates distortion and extends dynamic range, a ...
15/07/2025
Comscore Partners with HyphaMetrics to Launch Advanced Person-Level Audience Mea...
15/07/2025
Peak audiences of over half a million tune into both Kerry v Tyrone and Donegal ...
15/07/2025
PROTON Announces Production Facility Expansion Ahead of IBC2025 posted: 15/07/2025
Proton Announces Production Facility Expansion Ahead of IBC2025
Alongs...
14/07/2025
Enhancing Public Service Broadcasting with
Innovation, Accuracy & Sustainability
New regional detail and local towns featured...
11/07/2025
If you've ever wondered what might be playing in Clark Kent's headphones...
11/07/2025
AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration launches two papers to guide the future of AI integration, today at the AI for Good Global Summit
The...
10/07/2025
The current holder of the prestigious Thomson Foundation Young Journalist of the Year Award has been forced to stop reporting over fears for her safety in Afgha...
10/07/2025
Spotify is turning up the volume on Australian music with a multipronged initiative designed to highlight the dominance of Australian artists on the global stag...
10/07/2025
This is not a drill: Oasis is back on the road-marking its first live performanc...
10/07/2025
The music industry depends on fresh ideas, bold voices, and emerging talent. Yet across the U.K., too many young musicians lack the space to develop their craft...
10/07/2025
10 Jul 2025
VEON and Cohen Circle Secure Investor Commitments for Kyivstar Listing Kyiv, New York, Dubai, and Philadelphia - July 10, 2025 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq:...
10/07/2025
Thursday 10 July 2025
The Very Small Creatures
Jaime's Treetop Tales
Emerald
BooSnoo! Christmas Mashup
Pip & Posy's Spooktacular Party
The Very Sm...
10/07/2025
Thursday 10 July 2025
Brand new rewards are coming to Sky customers, with free ...
10/07/2025
Comscore Achieves Full JIC Certification for National TV Measurement Including...
09/07/2025
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Sky Broadband now has the UK's fastest broadband spee...
09/07/2025
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced Jeff Williams will transition his role as chief operating officer later this month to Sabih Khan, Apple's senior...
08/07/2025
In an era where digital threats to journalists are becoming increasingly aggressive and widespread, MediaSafe Africa launches as a vital online resource to help...
08/07/2025
This summer, as the energy builds for one of the biggest moments in women's ...
08/07/2025
UKTV today announces that Richard Watsham, Chief Creative Officer at UKTV and Global Director of Acquisitions for BBC Studios/UKTV, has decided to step down fro...
08/07/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. - July 8, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced a reco...
08/07/2025
Arvato Systems Optimizes Customer Communication with AOK Niedersachsen
New project in the statutory health insurance sector
Arvato Systems and AOK Niedersach...