As we steam ahead with networks experimenting with apps like Snapchat and Instagram to distribute their content, we note that some sports executives are bullish on the technology. For instance, Casey Wasserman, the man who heads his own talent agency, Wasserman said platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat help athetes reach fans directly by creating content instead of having to go through the media.
“Any platform with a lot of people is a platform our athletes should take advantage of, and e-commerce is a big opportunity,” he said.
Speaking at the Code/Media conference in Dana Point, CA, Wasserman pointed out that as sports rights fees go up, more money filters down to the athletes who can interact with fans through social media and perhaps creating e-commerce opportunities through those channels.
But as for Snapchat, the app appears to be on the radar of media companies looking to spread their message beyond the traditional methods. Joanna Coles, the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan and also a Snapchat board member touted the Snapchat Discover feature which has 19 channels including ESPN is not as loaded as Twitter which she called “an overwhelming avalanche of content.”
Coles mentioned that Snapchat Discover is a “great joy.”
The NFL also put some content on Snapchat last season and is looking to see if it will solidify the relationship for next season.
But can Snapchat and the photo app Instagram be the channels to distribute sports content? They certainly won’t replace the traditional means of sports media, but they can certainly be a compliment. The whole key is being able to monetize the content and as Wasserman mentioned, potentially creating e-commerce opportunities.
While calling Snapchat “the future of sports” might be too much, the app’s popularity and reach might be too big to ignore. As more people use the platform and media companies find it as a destination, perhaps it’s future for some content might be very bright especially for athletes.
[International Business Times]
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