Sony Ericsson WTA Tour to Introduce Live Tennis Match Streaming in 2008
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Nov 19, 2007 | Print |
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One of the biggest roadblocks standing in the way of tennis’ popularity has been its slow ascent into the world of internet technology.
Live scoring, live blogging, and live updates have helped draw more followers to the game, but for many fans, one of the latest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour innovations will help them follow tennis easier and faster than ever before.
The Tour has announced that live, online tennis match streaming will be introduced in the upcoming season.
Speaking after the successful conclusion of the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott made the announcement that live streaming of final matches will be available from Tier I tournaments in 2008.
“You are also going to see next year significant activities taking advantage of the emergence of digital technology and the internet,” said Scott when addressing the upcoming changes.
“We are going to be taking our TV pictures and showing more highlights online next year. From each of our Tier I tournaments next year we’ll be live streaming the finals from those events.”
Tournament highlights from the 2007 tennis season are currently available from the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Theater at www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/multimedia/.
Live streaming of Tier I finals will not be the only highly-anticipated change in 2008. The Tour is set to unveil a new advertising campaign, a special version of the Tour website in Chinese, and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Internet Network - an internet portal which will link tournament and participating player websites.
The Tier I tournaments of the 2008 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tennis season are the Qatar Total Open, Pacific Life Open, Sony Ericsson Open, Family Circle Cup, Qatar Telecom German Open, Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Rogers Cup presented by National Bank, Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis Tournament, and the Kremlin Cup.
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Will.I.AM | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
Like I needed one more thing distracting me in class!
Diane | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
If the tour plans to use WTA Tour Theater, some changes need to be made. Many people are not able to watch, for reasons that are a technical mystery.
Aaress | Nov 19, 2007 | Reply
Diane, good point. I predominately use a Mac and I hardly ever watch the Tour Theater simply because I have to use my PC’s Internet Explorer.
Vicki | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
Sounds good in theory let’s see how it work in practice. You also need a pretty fast computer to access this type of technology so it will most likely rule out the average computer and net user but at least the WTA are tying something new.
Dapxin | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
I am hesitant to join the celeb bandwagon here although these does appear goodnews on the face value. I ‘d rather let it come 1st.
But accessible live coverage of the game can only bring good, so its a welcome idea.
For me, eurosports will still rule.
Chris | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
Eurosport’s coverage diminished this year, going primarily to Eurosport 2, but I’m American anyway.
However, when I saw the title, I was like “YES!” since I thought it’d be a masters type thing where I could see every match in the tournament, or most…but it’s just the final. Almost all of which would be shown on TV in the world somewhere that the fans would just download anyway.
It’s barely a step forward, but I guess it’s something.
Diane | Nov 20, 2007 | Reply
Aaress, I know a of people, including myself, who cannot access the Tour Theater using a PC, regardless of what browser we try. I gave up a long time ago.
Jan | Dec 14, 2007 | Reply
Just when I had my hopes up, I am brutally brought back to mother earth… Showing the Tier 1 finals is nothing. When the WTA is broadcasting from round one let me know. How difficult can it be anyway. Just put on a camera and let it run…no commentary needed…they are usually annoying and full of errors anyway!