We now live in a world of streaming entertainment, where music and television are pumped out for our disposal, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Yet the days of one-way streaming, in which a service provides a feed of entertainment, are changing. Streaming technology is now providing a two-way channel, allowing people to interact with the entertainment they consume. Below, we provide two new applications that will revolutionize streaming entertainment.
Live Casino and Gameshow
Online casino games are undergoing a renaissance at the moment. The competition for customers is fierce, and this has driven the industry onwards with numerous innovations. These have been in everything from the game mechanics themselves to customer service. One of the most exciting of these has been the concept of the live casino.
A live casino follows the rules of a standard casino game, so it could be blackjack, poker, baccarat, or any number of titles. Yet, instead of playing with a digital simulation, players watch a croupier in a studio. They deal cards and spin roulette’s wheels, and the action is streamed to players. Using the integrated software, they can then play the game as if they were in a physical casino. The difference is that they have the convenience of playing online.
Most of the top online casinos will now have live games. If you manage to find the perfect casino for your gaming needs, then take a look through their live offerings. Some have exciting variations on rules and gameplay you can take part in.
This is not just where live casino ceases to be. Slot games have also appropriated the concept. By gaining access to the bonus round, many people are allowed to enter a gameshow-style tournament where they become contestants.
Complete with glitzy hosts, players can take part and win cash prizes or even multiply their totals. This has proven so popular that real game shows have begun to lend their licenses to iGaming developers. Even board games like Hasbro’s Monopoly have got in on the act.
Live Stream Shopping
Live-stream shopping has been popular in Asian countries for some time now. Yet it is just starting to become popular in the West. It involves a person or company online selling a product through a live video stream. People can then decide if they want to make a purchase or not.
The principle is very similar to a television shopping channel. The difference is in the level of communication between the seller and the consumer. As the stream is in real-time, the conversation is two-way. People can ask questions about the product, its uses, and its functionality. All of this can take part as the seller is demonstrating the item.
There are a host of major benefits to livestream shopping. The most obvious is the customer service boost it gives. With people being able to see and ask questions about the product in real-time, it cuts down on returns and questions. As you have added a human face to your business, you also help build loyalty centered around a community.
As live-stream shopping is a new concept, it also puts you ahead of your competitors. It is a marketing channel that few businesses will have thought about yet. If you can get started now by the time it becomes hugely popular you will already have a foot in the door. This will leave competitors scrambling to keep up.
Like any marketing effort, crucially, it should result in an uptick in revenue. It is not just sales you can benefit from when using this method. You can use it to push discounts and bonuses or even to build anticipation around a new product.
Setting Up A Livestream
If you want to start live streaming, then there are plenty more options than the social media behemoths of Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Even Amazon has set up its live shopping channel, though it has not put much into its marketing efforts for it. You just need to know your overall goals before you start looking for a provider.
When you do start looking, there are a few considerations to make. Firstly, what tools come with your subscription price? Does it have easy-to-use content management tools and live streaming APIs and how easy is it to monetize any streams you do have? Secondly, how easy is it to use the platform behind the scenes itself? Does it have video encoding, embedding tools, and analytics to see how you have performed?
You don’t have to use live-streaming technology, but it can give you an advantage. Speak with your marketing team and, like any advertising or outreach, know your goals and plan effectively. With the right approach, streaming technology could transform your sales and lead generation, or you may just become the next great provider of online entertainment.