AWHL GENERATE REVENUE THROUGH POINTSTREAK STREAM

AWHL GENERATE REVENUE THROUGH
POINTSTREAK STREAM
The AWHL, a small USA Hockey Junior A Tier 3 league,
had a desire to stream their hockey games live to families and
friends of players in the league. In doing so, they not only achieved
that goal but generated significant revenue to help manage their
organizational budgets that exceeded their expectations.
KEY RESULT
Streamed all home games for the 2013-2014
regular season and playoffs.
Generated $32,500 in sales for the year.
Averaged 35 pay per view customers per game.
Created loyal fan bases that logged in
consistently by delivering consistent productions
Increased brand awareness for individual teams
and the AHWL
Worked with Pointstreak as a partner to continue
to improve on broadcasts
THE SITUATION
The American West Hockey League (AWHL) opened the 2013-2014 season as a
seven team league of which six live streamed through Pointstreak. The seventh
team operated on a contract with their cable provider to deliver their streaming
games at no charge. Two months into the season, the seventh team recognized
that it was missing out on revenue and the overall league brand. Subsequently,
the team decided to end the contract and join the rest of the league on the
Pointstreak live game streaming platform.
Each team was responsible for delivering their home game broadcasts and
worked closely with the Pointstreak Stream implementation and broadcast team
to set up the best possible broadcast. The level of broadcasts were based on
each team’s individual budget. The revenue was paid to each team based on
their performance and number of pay-per-view buys.
One team insisted on running their games through a wireless network and were
informed at implementation they would not have positive results. After two
months of failed broadcasts and upon advice from the stream implementation
team, the team upgraded to a dedicated hardwired network. The team
immediately experienced a dramatic 75% increase in subscription revenue as
well as an improved brand image and happier fans.
THE RESULT
Garry Swain, the Commissioner of the AWHL, noted the league owners did not
have any set expectations for revenue going into the season: “There was not a
specific number in mind at the start of the year for our league and the approach
the owners took was this was an opportunity to cover some expenses in a Junior
Tier 3 league and that is what they needed. They need as much as they can to
make it all work as a team and a league.”
Each team received a check to help offset the expenses in areas they needed the
most and the revenue created exceeded the owners expectations. “The owners
were very happy with the results,” Swain said. Teams receive their revenue
checks on a monthly pay out.
When support was needed from a team or league level, Swain pointed out that
the relationship was great and any potential issues were expedited quickly.
“Anytime we had a little issue or something, [Pointstreak’s support team] were all
over it and the support was great,” Swain observed after the season.
The marketing effort was league wide and consisted of consistent website
placement of live stream announcements, Facebook, and Twitter campaigns the
team and league level. Those efforts resulted in positive cash flow for the seven
team league.
THE BENEFIT &
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
The AWHL was able to stream each team’s 56 game regular season schedule and
entire post season. Family, friends, and fans were able to watch and track their
players season streaming online and the teams were able to generate revenue to
offset operating expenses for the year.
The viewer has a fully integrated multi-media platform from which to watch their
favorite teams play. They have the ability to go back in near real time and watch
highlight clips when they happen and also view them on their favorite player’s
profile. Additionally, the Game Live application has the video embedded in it and
it functions while the game is being scored on the same page.
Most importantly, the Pointstreak Stream implementation team is built with live
streaming producers who have depth in knowledge about live streaming video
content and execution of live productions. This includes up-to-date awareness
of the latest tools and equipment that are cost effective to yield the best possible
productions regardless of the size of each team’s budget.
SOLUTIONS
For Garry Swain, the Commissioner of the AWHL, the biggest benefit
to the Pointstreak Stream and Live Publisher solution is the ability to
view major penalties and infractions that may need to be ruled on in
near real time.
With Pointstreak’s Live Publisher, gone are the days of waiting for the
video to upload to the internet and scroll through the two hour game
to view the infraction. With games that are impacted within 24 hours
of a potential infraction, expediting rulings is critical.