Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorGen Z won’t sit for a three-hour sporting event on boring old TV. They want an interactive, personalized experience that feels more like a video game, one that pulls them into the action with live stats, chats and alternate audio feeds — and maybe even launches them into VR.So goes a running narrative in the sports biz, which has spurred leagues, broadcasters and streaming partners to introduce a roster of newfangled options for fans online.
The goal: to keep sports relevant for the next generation and develop new ways to monetize media rights on alternate platforms.
But analysts say that while it’s smart for the industry to experiment with tech innovations, so far those haven’t really moved the needle in the context of overall sports viewership.
Major League Baseball’s out-of-market MLB.TV subscription streamer has presented alternate broadcasts with a stats-heavy presentation for tentpoles like the Home Run Derby and postseason games.
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