DIS-APPOINTMENT TV - CATCH-UP IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR LIVE SPORTS!

As the TV world delves into direct to consumer (D2C), sports, the last bastion of pay-TV is a front and center topic for the media and seminar circuit. However, while we talk low-latency, fan engagement, streaming and all the smarts that TV has to offer today, I rarely see commentary on what is still ‘appointment TV’ and its emotional impact on the sports fan and why pay-TV still offers a great place for sports.

Sports being an ‘appointment’ asset makes it quite different to fictitious dramas or factual documentaries and movies. It's not a binge-worthy candidate for several reasons. For the avid fan there is buildup - pre-match excitement, anticipation, nerves, exhilaration and jubilation or massive disappointment. These are but some of the emotions that fans of sport experience on game day that need it to be savored live.

A day or so ago I woke up early, avoided my morning ritual of email, message, news and social media scanning. In this modern connected world, we all do that right? I avoided it because I did not want to know what the score was in any of the matches that were played in the Rugby World Cup in Japan. It is in a time zone that is complicated for the northern hemisphere to get to grips with. 

There was no time for viewing as I had to make school lunches, prepare breakfast and get ready for the school-run. Just before all the chores I looked frantically on my Cox pay-TV service and thought to myself that if the USA were playing, one of the channels would be showing it. Instead I fell upon anti-ageing infomercials, water softener infomercials and the local Phoenix news panicking about the one third of an inch of rain that fell in the valley.

Even Alexa sat there, as I buttered bread rolls, silently offering me the chance to ‘ask for results.’ The stress was awful, because I only wanted to be part of the tournament as it happened; in the games LIVE, so I could watch it and enjoy it blow for blow without knowing the results. Sadly where I live it is mostly available behind OTT pay-walls or on subscription packages that I have not signed up to. Oddly on the USA pay-TV channel, that I have in my bundle that does cover it (NBC) - they only show weekend games. I need a paper 'TV Guide' to fathom out what is on where, when and how to get to it.

So of I trotted, to start my day, only to find that in the world of ‘Fan Engagement’ and ‘Social Media’ it is impossible not to be pulled into the melee that follows an exciting match or a tournament upset. So, as it was, I learnt through the bombardment that is Social Media that Uruguay beat Fiji 30 points to 27. A shock defeat for Fiji who are now out of the tournament. A wonderful moment for URUGUAY. I felt gutted that I now had to watch the match, knowing the outcome. ARGGGGGGHHH! These are the sorts of sporting moments that need to be savored live (or pretend-live.) When you know the result, 'Catch-Up' is no substitute for LIVE, RAW and ENGAGED EMOTIONAL SPORTING EXPERIENCES! Full Stop.

I have since watched the game and the Uruguayan Captain cmust be commended for the most amazing and emotional post-match speech that is thankfully recorded for posterity. BRILLIANT! I only wished I had seen it by appointment and not the dis-appointment that TV is becoming.