Live2media is Transforming Sports Fans into Virtual Participants

PLEASANTON, Calif., April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspiring to elevate the fan experience and create new revenue for event operators, Live2media is the newest company to deliver real-time audio to sports fans at live events.  But, unlike their competitors, Live2media's flagship product, Livecard™, is a reusable smart receiver built to be a personal listening device. This means that a sports fan need only buy the device once then purchase corresponding smartcards for the events they want to attend.

Livecard gives event operators and sponsors a new way to engage with fans, while giving the fans a deeper connection to the athletes. Similar to the in-home experience, microphones on players and coaches will give fans the feeling of being part of the action. Spectators will have the option to tune in to multiple channels to hear players, coaches and referees from the field of play, in addition to media broadcast feeds.

This new, real-time audio experience will deliver the best of both worlds - superior audio and commentary fans get at home, paired with the energy and excitement of viewing live sports, plus the sensory impact of hearing exactly what's happening on the field.  

"Our mission is to give every sports fan the ability to feel like they are part of the action," says Greg Moyer, chief executive officer, Live2media. "Our unique audio experience allows fans at a live event to be virtual participants, creating a deeper emotional connection to the athletes, teams and the game."

Live2media is entering the fan experience market as stadiums are looking for more ways to increase revenue. A recent survey by Sport Business Journal found that almost one-third of respondents felt rising ticket prices, inflated athlete salaries and improvements to the in-home viewing experience was hurting attendance and attributing to the stadium's disconnect with fans.

Event sponsors will also be able to get in on the action! The real-time audio experience offered through Livecard will allow sponsoring companies to reach consumers at an event with more impact. Designed to be collectible and worn by the fan, each NFC smartcard can be branded with images and logos of team or league sponsors, providing a visual brand opportunity on a level like no other. Sponsors will also have the opportunity to air ads on select Live2media audio channels and use the card as a brand activation mechanism extending the brand experience outside the stadium. This deeper relationship between fans, sponsors and teams is delivered more effectively and at a fraction of the cost of a mobile or Wi-Fi network.

How it works

The Livecard Kit contains a multi-channel smart receiver, which works in tandem with a smartcard using NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. The slim, lightweight and intuitive design is capable of delivering live audio in real-time to fans for maximum, live-event impact.

The Livecard wireless platform delivers rich audio content via a discreet, FCC compliant, wireless broadcast system to each Livecard smart receiver with user metrics collected through existing Wi-Fi and carrier networks.

Similar to a hotel key card, the smartcard unlocks the door to a user's available channel at each event. The dedicated computer chip inside each Livecard smart receiver talks to the smartcards when a ticket holder enters a venue.  The chip asks the card what channels the ticket holder can listen to. Once the smart receiver has that information it tunes in and decodes those channels then opens them up to the user.  All of this happens in a matter of seconds.  

With long battery life, excellent sound and strong network signals, consumers will receive the highest quality audio. By adding sound to an otherwise "silent movie" experience, the Livecard ensures real-time audio with no delays, no streaming dropouts, no waiting and no dead batteries!

Behind the science

Sensory impact is vital to fans. Neuroscience has shown that audio significantly affects a person's perspective of their environment. Using this research, Live2media will continue to explore new ways to engage sports fans and transform them into virtual participants. In addition, Live2media works with the event operators to better understand the importance of audio for creating virtual participants in high-density environments and show them how to monetize the overall experience. Live2media believes that giving its event operators the right tools and an understanding about the basic tenants of experiential design will help them drive their fans into deeper levels of engagement.

With the Livecard, stadiums, teams and leagues will transform the fan experience by allowing them to be an "insider," with exclusive content not even available in the living room.

About Live2media

Live2media offers a marketing platform for event operators and sponsors to engage fans with an amplified live-event experience that transforms them into virtual participants. Live2media's reliable, simple-to-use audio technology gives fans the ability to choose what they listen to while attending an event, giving them control over their own experience using the Live2media patent pending smart receiver. Live2media is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

SOURCE Live2media