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HOW HAS PRO WRESTLING BEEN REVOLUTIONIZED BY ONLINE LIVE STREAMING?

It doesn’t seem too long ago that YouTube had just a handful of videos, at a time when watching moving pictures on the internet felt like a luxury, rather than the daily happening that is now taken for granted.

All sports have had to cope with the new world, and just as the music industry had to adapt to illegal downloads, businesses such as WWE have had to adapt to illegal streaming. As the self-styled number one ‘sports entertainment franchise’, the powers in existence at the WWE quickly found that trying to shut down these websites was a battle they would never win, and thus, they acted.

Just as sites such as Spotify have helped to reduce illegal activity, there are now a host of streaming websites that are offering high-quality content for a low price, resulting in a huge rise in the number of companies launching their own streaming services to cope.

 

Source: Pixabay

A whole new level of interactivity

The likes of FITE, Twitch, and WWN Live are heading that interaction. Fans are able to get a more immersive experience with access to a huge level of content, and it also feels a lot more personal, with subscription fees which are either minimal or non-existent.

In many ways, this development of unique experiences goes further back than many realize, and the online gaming industry is one of the trailblazers in that regard. In case of online casinos, the personal experience is redoubled by a live dealer casino, which goes beyond the virtual baize and offers a thoroughly immersive experience, with VR also becoming an increasing necessity over the last five years.

The ability to be able to play against real players, and engage under the eye of real dealers, completely changes the experience. This allows players and viewers to interact more closely with these industries and have a stronger relationship with their passion.

The future is there to be won... or lost.

After going transatlantic back in January 2015, the WWE Network has appeared to be an immovable object. The fact that a login name, a password and an internet connection are a lot more portable than a TV is still significant, though, and other sites that have aspirations to buy the rights to content are always aiming to find a USP the Network doesn’t have.

What exactly that USP is remains a fervent topic for debate, but the advent of the WWE Network has undoubtedly changed the basic requirements for other streaming services.

 

Source: Pixabay

The most pressing of these is the need for fan interaction, leading in turn to the creation of a ‘global community’. As such, the WWE will not only have to keep up with such demand to survive, but also look out for rivals. Companies are now coming in without having to link up with a TV network and instead can be their own boss, potentially even paving the way for a future where WWE is solely internet-based.

The idea of a streaming company (like DAZN) coming in and taking over pro-wrestling – perhaps entirely – is becoming less ridiculous by the day. Ultimately, that makes the present day a fascinating time in the live streaming industry's relationship with sports entertainment, especially with some of the smaller sites becoming increasingly popular.

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