In a new first in live NBA broadcasting coverage, last week’s Wizards-Hornets game marked a new dawn as independent media platform Monumental Sports Network added interactive gamification features and real-time sports betting odds to its popular Monumental+ (M+) streaming app.
The innovative “Monumental Game Center” viewing experience is a result of Monumental’s lucrative partnership with betting operator BetMGM and interactive revenue platform provider, Play Anywhere.
Monumental say the app offers several innovative features including:
Multi-view feature that puts fans in control of how they watch, by allowing up to four streams on a screen at once
- The ability to watch Capitals and Wizards games simultaneously
- Freedom to watch the main broadcast and alternate broadcasts at the same time
- Six alternate camera angles for Capitals and Wizards home games
- Ability to stream Monumental Sports Network on up to three devices at once
The collaboration is part of the company’s desire to step up fan engagement for Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals game streams, with Capitals’ fans watching Tuesday’s NHL Capitals-Panthers game also getting a glimpse of the technology poised to revolutionize sports betting’s further integration into live media streaming.
Zach Leonsis, President of Media & New Enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, was keen to showcase the firm’s drive to pioneer new levels of fan engagement, saying: “At Monumental Sports & Entertainment, we pride ourselves on having a first-mover mentality, and we are ecstatic to lead the way in creating an interactive, next-generation viewing experience for our fans.”
In addition to their eSports venture Caps Gaming, Monumental Sports Network became the first media rights holder to provide interactive gamification streams outside of Las Vegas, with Monday’s interactive transmission also becoming a historical NBA milestone.
Enhanced Levels of Engagement
As of Monday, Wizard and Capitals fans who opted into the Monumental Game Center livestream experience got the chance to explore a range of interactive displays throughout each game.
Spectators could access in-game stats, detailed player bios, and live league standings which offered viewers an improved multi-layered gameday experience.
For sharp-eyed bettors, Monumental Sports Network’s inventive integration delivered real-time statistical insights, which integrated seamlessly with BetMGM’s in-play betting odds, allowing users to place wagers as the action unfolded.
The only caveat was, that access to this pioneering betting application was only available to fans aged 21 and above.
Ahead of the early week Wizards and Capitals’ games, Matt Prevost, BetMGM’s Chief Revenue Officer, emphasized the importance of positioning the brand where fan engagement is highest, stating: “BetMGM is constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the fan experience and ‘go to where our customers are.”
In addition to this, Zach Leonsis also pointed to the app’s new capability as a way to complement Monumental’s existing high-end broadcasting standards saying, “This innovative feature is designed to complement our high-quality programming while offering fans more ways to engage with fast-paced NBA and NHL action.”
Despite the M+ streaming app’s upgraded functions only covering Wizards and Capitals games initially, Monumental Sports Network has promised fans to expect more innovations later in the season.
This too was backed up by Matt Prevost, who reassured sports fans across the nation that this new experience would be the future of fan engagement in sports, claiming:
“This partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment perfectly demonstrates how live odds integration can heighten the enjoyment of a game – and how we continue to raise the bar on technological innovation across sports.”
For now, the Monumental Game Center on the M+ app has not only introduced a new form of sports viewing entertainment but has also showcased the technology’s potential to reinvent the viewing habits of all sporting events in the future.