By: Aseem Gaurav on June 30, 2012
The wide appeal of social media networks like Facebook (over 950 million users) is too hard to ignore. Embracing social media in a big way, BBC Sport announced the launch of a Facebook application that streams its sports coverage including Wimbledon and their flagship coverage of the Olympic Games right into the social network. This is the first time that the BBC has live streamed events via Facebook.
The app lets audience to share and comment on video as they watch it – paving way for real time comments and conversations. BBC is the official Olympic broadcaster which will have direct control of every single feed of video pouring out of the Games.
Interestingly, the service is meant for viewers within the UK.
The app has already begun streaming live videos (at present six live streams from around the courts) from the Wimbledon tennis championships, but by the time the Olympics begin, it will start streaming 24 video outputs to users inside the social network.
“The app is a BBC Sport service, but is entirely delivered within Facebook. This means that we can use the social functionality Facebook offers to enhance the experience. The good part for users is they can easily see how many of their friends are watching the same event,” said product manager Aaron Scullion in a blogpost.
If you press “Like” on a stream, it will automatically get shared with your friends via your Facebook news feed. Live Chat functionality will be included at the time of Olympics.
In all, the move will not only benefit BBC to extend its audience, but will also help the social network in arranging such events in future.
The wide appeal of social media networks like Facebook (over 950 million users) is too hard to ignore. Embracing social media in a big way, BBC Sport announced the launch of a Facebook application that streams its sports coverage including Wimbledon and their flagship coverage of the Olympic Games right into the social network. This is the first time that the BBC has live streamed events via Facebook.
The app lets audience to share and comment on video as they watch it – paving way for real time comments and conversations. BBC is the official Olympic broadcaster which will have direct control of every single feed of video pouring out of the Games.
Interestingly, the service is meant for viewers within the UK.
The app has already begun streaming live videos (at present six live streams from around the courts) from the Wimbledon tennis championships, but by the time the Olympics begin, it will start streaming 24 video outputs to users inside the social network.
“The app is a BBC Sport service, but is entirely delivered within Facebook. This means that we can use the social functionality Facebook offers to enhance the experience. The good part for users is they can easily see how many of their friends are watching the same event,” said product manager Aaron Scullion in a blogpost.
If you press “Like” on a stream, it will automatically get shared with your friends via your Facebook news feed. Live Chat functionality will be included at the time of Olympics.
In all, the move will not only benefit BBC to extend its audience, but will also help the social network in arranging such events in future.
