Apple Immerses Itself in Sports Broadcasting Expansion
Going All-In on Sports: Apple's Potential Play for Enhanced Sports Streaming
Apple's aiming to ramp up its sports game, if the latest buzz is to be believed! Reports suggest the tech giant is cooking up a new feature - tentatively called "SportsKit" - designed to beef up sports streaming within its iOS and Apple TV apps.
Digging through the nitty-gritty of the Oct '21 iOS 15.2 beta release, the tech blog 9to5Mac stumbled upon references to this mysterious murky water. Initial findings suggest SportsKit will integrate with the Apple TV app, Siri, and Home screen widgets. But what exactly does that mean? As you might've guessed, it's anyone's guess at this stage.
One intriguing possibility is that the Home screen widgets will receive real-time updates and data changes. For instance, showing live game scores or updated standings, a function that, as you might've noticed, Siri already offers. Expanding this function to other parts of iOS and tvOS could be a game-changer for sports fans!
However, SportsKit is currently a private API, which means it's off-limits for third-party developers, for now. Oh, and there's a chance it doesn't even make it to the big leagues. But if the clues are right, Apple's apparently keen to level up its sports offerings.
Rumors swirl that Apple and the NFL have been in deep discussions about the digital future of Sunday Ticket after the league's current contract with DirecTV expires in 2023. Hiring the former head of Amazon Prime Video's sports division to the Apple TV team adds fuel to the fire!
Streaming platforms are racing to cash in on sports programming, thanks to its ad-friendly format with more built-in breaks than traditional shows. Even ad-free streaming services like Apple TV+ see sports programming as a lucrative draw for cord-cutters seeking that last sliver of live TV action.
The exact capabilities of SportsKit remain shrouded in mystery. However, if it does materialize, SportsKit might offer enhanced media playback, personalization features, integration with other services, and heightened privacy and security measures for sports streaming on Apple devices.
Stay tuned as this game unfolds, and let's hope Apple delivers a winning move for sports fans!
Apple's new potential play for enhanced sports streaming, known as SportsKit, may integrate with the Apple TV app, Siri, and Home screen widgets, offering real-time updates and personalized features. As a private API, it's currently unavailable for third-party developers, but rumors suggest Apple is keen to improve its sports offerings, possibly including a partnership with the NFL for Sunday Ticket. If SportsKit materializes, it could offer heightened privacy and security measures for sports streaming on Apple devices.
