FOX Sports GO

FOX Sports GO was the initial platform for TV-Everywhere streaming for all FOX Sports properties. As such, it was the first platform to provide authentication and entitlement workflow encompassing the unique requirements of national cable networks, a broadcast network with 210 affiliates, and 19 regional sports networks. Spanning web, mobile and connected device platforms, FOX Sports GO  provided the primary means to stream all FOX Sports properties, including college football and basketball, UFC, NHL, MLB, NBA, and NFL.

 
FSGO_devices 103 jd.png
 
LiveStreaming4.jpg

Platform Customization

CHALLENGE: Each platform has its own UX conventions, technical capabilities, and user expectations. How can FOX Sports leverage these to create a compelling experience?

SOLUTION: Aware that Apple TV had the ability to support multiple concurrent players, build out the first multi-stream mosaic (called Multiview) for that platform. Work with Apple engineers to provide the first “live browsing” of channels within an app home screen. Secure Apple’s endorsement and on-stage demo at WWDC.

FSGO-TV-guide.png

Scheduling

CHALLENGE: In a dynamic live environment where programs begin and end whenever they do and there are thousands of geographically-based channel and program permutations, it is difficult to provide an accurate and usable schedule that keeps the focus on live content.

SOLUTION: Rather than presenting on a time-based grid guide, develop a program-based guide. Research shows that—at least with respect to live sports content—it is just as effective to organize content into a simpler scheme of live, up next, and future programming. Embrace this insight, by freeing program listings from the concept of scheduled end times, and provide an intuitive browsing interface.

FSGO-ipad-highlights.png

Content Promotion

CHALLENGE: Across a user base with widely differing viewing entitlements, how can FOX Sports ensure it is promoting the most appealing content to its users?

SOLUTION: Develop and hone an algorithm that takes into account a user’s entitlements, his favorite types of sports and programming, each program’s content, the channel on which it airs, and the proximity of its start time to reliably recommend content.

FSGO-phone-search.png

Search

CHALLENGE: As search is a primary means of discovery within the application, how can FOX Sports ensure optimized search results? Unfortunately, metadata associated with sports and especially live sports programs is often inconsistent or incomplete, and searches of complete metadata records often take an unacceptable amount of time.

SOLUTION: Develop workflows to parse all program listings in advance, first correlating them to data-based sports event schedules, and then allocating a dictionary of likely search terms to each program to create optimized, efficient metadata. Deliver a very fast, reliable search function that provides auto-complete results after only four characters.