ESPN

Challenge

WatchESPN, the leading sports broadcaster, offers simulcasts of ESPN content including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPNU through cable providers on their award-winning WatchESPN app. As an early adopter of the TVEverywhere movement, WatchESPN delivers 24/7 live programming from any ESPN network via computer, smart phone, tablet, smart TV and Xbox. Their App’s video is delivered in partnership with Conviva for one single goal: to ensure the best quality experience for their viewers.

WatchESPN clearly understands the critical importance of the digital transition. Their goal has always been to provide the same quality TV broadcast experience to their new generation of fans. As the leader in sports media, WatchESPN wanted to ensure their app provided the most current, trending videos at the highest viewing quality. WatchESPN app is viewed on iPhone, iPad, Xbox, Roku, SamsungTV, Android, Flash, HTML5, and Silverlight. To ensure quality was optimal on all devices, they require a clear view into audience statistics across multiple devices. Critical to their success is the ability to make necessary adjustments in real-time.

Solution

Initially, ESPN deployed Insights to view real-time data for online content across multiple devices, geographies and affiliates. Insights monitors each viewer’s experience and video delivery networks, and captures issues before they happen, including video start failures and buffering. Thereafter, ESPN deployed Precision for real-time adjustments to avoid these issues while increasing the bitrate. With real-time KPIs, Insights shows audience reach and engagement metrics, such as which content is trending on what devices and helps editorial, research and ad teams make intelligent decisions to improve engagement and economics.

Result

Conviva’s Quality Metric Lens shows comparison of performance across all platforms in Pulse, allowing ESPN to make the best decisions for their audience in terms of editorial content, ads served and devices. 

• WatchESPN has the lowest interruptions compared to other premium live sites

• Post Precision Launch – engagement per-viewer increased by 42M minutes within the first month, an 18% increase 

"Our customers expect the same high-quality experience on their Iphone as they do on their FlatScreen TV. With Conviva, we are able to ensure that our fans can perfect watches their favorite game, on the go, anytime, anywhere and at the absolute best quality picture possible.”
-- Damon Phillips, VP WatchESPN & ESPN3 via Streaming Media East, June 2013 Success Stories All By Industry By Task By Solution