As an avid sports enthusiast and social media user, live sports events have provided the ultimate convergence between broadcast media and the real-time web. Watching a NFL game and tweeting with my “Twitter Friends” has enriched the experience and the anticipation of every play – making Twitter a must have viewing companion. And beyond the personal connections and individualized real-time conversations, Twitter provides extended access to professional analysts from print, TV and web properties – adding an extra dimension to the viewing experience.  For instance, you no longer must rely on the narrow opinion of the booth announcers to discuss a coach’s challenge or a key decision to go for it on a 4^th down – or even just the thrill of sharing your excitement when your favorite team scores a touchdown.

Like most, I generally watch sporting events live; but because of the time-zone of most races I often watch Formula 1 time-delayed via my DVR. As such, tweeting in real-time is not a viable option. This has led me to become more distracted and less engaged during F1 races than prior to my “tweet while watching habit”.

When examining the broader television industry, mass-market penetration of DVRs made many fearful of time-shifting viewing – because viewers often skip over commercial advertisements. While time-shifting provides the ultimate flexibility, it also further alienates users and inherently makes TV less social. I don’t believe I’m alone in preferring to experience my viewing entertainment with others – physically or virtually. People should not have to choose between time convenience and real-time social interactions. Herein lies a major opportunity for innovation.

The discrepancy between my experiences between the NFL and F1 has been a real eye opener to the incredible potential of more personalized real-time platforms to enhance television and movie viewing. While Twitter has become the most widely adopted real-time communications platform, I expect more vertically focused services to accommodate the unique opportunities of the broadcast media industry.

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