Olympics to be catalyst for web TV revolution
Experts have predicted that the 2012 Olympic Games could spark a surge in the amount of broadcasters utilising web TV technology. According to the BBC, this could be the catalyst for “a leap in broadcasting technology not seen since the rush for televisions to watch the Queen’s Coronation.’” This comes in the wake of plans recently announced by the Beeb for a significant increase in their web TV offerings. This will see the broadcaster ramp up their live video streaming efforts, with an increase on the six platforms offered for the recent Beijing Olympics. The Beijing games saw 38 million viewers tuning in to the BBC website, making it the 10th most viewed site in the U.K this summer. This represented a 10% increase on viewing figures, when compared to the Athens Olympics 4 years earlier. The BBC’s Ben Gallop stated: "We take our public-service role very seriously. We want to look at what we can do to address the issues around the digital divide. We are moving towards a mixed economy where people will consume different content on different platforms, depending on their needs at the time.”
James Wilkinson of Web TV providers Streaming Tank have reacted to this news by commenting:
“It is no surprise that the BBC are stepping up their web TV efforts, as this platform will clearly play a big part in the future of broadcasting. The popularity of the BBC’s coverage of the Beijing Olympics illustrates that there is a huge demand for live video streaming.”
“Businesses and broadcasters should be pro-active in making provisions for this shift in viewing habits.”
