TV sets are actually becoming a rarer sight these days as more people opt to use their phones, iPads and laptops to watch movies and television shows. One of the few areas where TVs still have an advantage, though, is in sports. Few people want to gather their friends to huddle around their laptop with chips and beers to watch the Superbowl.
That said, there’s still a lot that the internet offers to sports fans that you haven’t been able to get from TV until now. Namely, social media enhancement.
We live in a connected world. One where you can go to CNN.com to get the news, yahoo.com to get your mail and Cable.tv to find out about packages provided by DirecTV. It’s not enough to just have your buddies in the room to watch the game anymore — now you want to get online and Tweet about the results right away, to boast when your team wins and mock the rival team’s supporters. The spirit of the game goes beyond a single living room.
Luckily, Smart TV is about to change the game. Here’s how:
Linked Parties
With features like a Google+ Hangout video chatroom in the bottom right of your screen, your Superbowl party doesn’t need to be restricted to just the people who could make it. Now your brother three states away, your neighbors who are hosting their own party and your dad back home can all be invited whether or not they can make it.
DirecTV is definitely cashing in and innovating in this direction, and the TV watching experience is now one of connection, not isolation. Even if nobody can make it to watch the game, you can still chat with your friends online while you watch.
Running Commentary
With Smart TV, fans can keep the conversation going on every pass, every strike, every basket and every goal. A big part of being a sports fan is the social aspect of watching the game. You want to be able to brag when your team wins, celebrate with your friends and make friendly bets over the outcome. It can take you out of the moment to have to turn to your laptop after each inning or every quarter, but staying connected through your television makes it seamless.
Streaming and Instant Access
Smart TVs offer instant access to just about anything you might need to bring up on screen. If you want to prove to your friend that Derek Jeter is a great hitter, all you need to do is get on Youtube and bring up a highlight reel. If you want to watch two, three games at once, you can do that, too.
The world is moving towards total connectedness, and this push isn’t going to stop until everything is connected. Social media ready television, complete with access to any media you could possibly want, makes watching sports more exciting than ever before. If you can’t get season tickets in choice seats, it’s safe to say that these new HDTVs offer just about the best sports watching experience you can possibly get right now.