{"id":18432,"date":"2016-11-18T15:25:42","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T20:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-nfl-goes-digital\/"},"modified":"2016-11-18T15:27:33","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T20:27:33","slug":"the-nfl-goes-digital","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-nfl-goes-digital\/","title":{"rendered":"The NFL Goes Digital"},"content":{"rendered":"

The origins of American Football date back to the 1860\u2019s.\u00a0 The National Football League (NFL), which was created in 1922, is the entity that organizes the sport of American Football into 32 teams that millions of people watch.[1]<\/a>\u00a0 Simply put, the business model of the NFL is to provide fans with access to American Football in exchange for money.\u00a0 In 2016, the total revenue of the National Football League (NFL) is predicted to be over $7 billion.[2]<\/a> \u00a0The two primary channels through which it makes money are ticket sales and broadcasting rights sales.[3]<\/a>\u00a0 These are the two pillars of the operating model, or the way the NFL delivers its value proposition to its customers, the viewers.\u00a0 Of these two pillars, the majority of the revenue comes from broadcasting rights sales.\u00a0 Digitization is affecting the NFL in many ways including coaching strategy, player safety, and player development.\u00a0 However, given that the largest slice of the revenue comes from broadcasting rights sales, it is appropriate to look at the implications of digitization on the viewing experience. \u00a0In short, digitization and the Internet of things is revolutionizing the way viewers consume American Football.<\/p>\n

\"Source:
Source: http:\/\/www.espnmediazone.com\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More traditional digitization (i.e. camera quality, streaming capability, etc.) has already changed the operating model by enhancing the television viewing experience through an increasingly impressive array of cameras that make it almost better to watch football at home on a television.\u00a0 This has resulted in more viewers, which eventually results in more money from broadcasters.[4]<\/a>\u00a0 Additionally, viewers are brought further into the game with instant replays and more reviews of plays, inciting emotion and active debate, which make the viewing experience more visceral (the Dez Bryant play of the 2011 Cowboys-Packers divisional playoff anyone??\u00a0 Read about it HERE<\/a>.\u00a0 Watch it HERE<\/a>).[5]<\/a>\u00a0 Finally, game streaming, drone cameras, and goal line pylon cameras are all technology improvements that have enhanced the viewing experience.<\/p>\n

\"Source:
Source: http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/nfl\/la-sp-nfl-technology-20150907-column.html<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recently, however, a movement toward digitization and an Internet of Things has hit the NFL.\u00a0 The biggest recent change has been the installation of RFID chips in all NFL player pads (and in some player mouthpieces).[6]<\/a> \u00a0These chips transmit the player\u2019s position, speed, acceleration, and distance traveled 85 times per second to an embedded stadium sensor system that records the data for analysis. [7]<\/a> \u00a0These data are first utilized by broadcasters, who can integrate them into real-time game analysis.\u00a0 The data is also instantaneously transmitted to the on-field medical staff in case of an injury.\u00a0 Finally, the data are recorded for use by coaches, players, and eventually fans.\u00a0 Digitization is also affecting players more than ever with things like advanced helmet communications and advanced data analytics software.\u00a0 These digital additions significantly alter the NFL\u2019s operating model because it allows for the football experience to be delivered in a new, interactive way. \u00a0For example, the data gained from these chips can be integrated into fantasy football applications and can feed real-time stat trackers that fans use to follow their favorite players. \u00a0Furthermore, these advances also enhance player safety which further ensures the relevance of football in the future.\u00a0 Finally, these digital innovations help the players and coaches perform better by arming them with extraordinarily useful strategic statistics. \u00a0Digitization is enhancing the business model by strengthening the viewer relationship with the game and arming the relevant stakeholders with more data to provide a more compelling football experience.<\/p>\n

\"Source:
Source: http:\/\/www.geekwire.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These advances are just the beginning, and the NFL can take additional steps to further upgrade the viewing experience.\u00a0 For example, with the development of high-speed streaming capability, the NFL could introduce helmet cameras to bring the viewers literally on the field to see what it\u2019s like to run through the offensive line of the Dallas Cowboys or what it\u2019s like to throw a 70-yard bomb to Jordy Nelson.\u00a0 Another way to bring the Internet of things to the fingertips of the viewers is to provide real-time, in-game, access to nontraditional player data.\u00a0 Examples include player speed, acceleration, force of a hit, or force of a block.\u00a0 Imagine a lifelong Seahawks fan being able to track Russell Wilson\u2019s speed, real time, when he scrambles out of the pocket.\u00a0 To have that access would only strengthen the appeal of football to potential fans.<\/p>\n

The NFL has an opportunity to take its business model of delivering a compelling football game to interested viewers to an entirely new and interactive level.\u00a0 Digitization provides tools and data for both sides of the value proposition \u2013 the fans and the teams.\u00a0 The digitization of the NFL is a virtuous cycle.\u00a0 It will lead to an even greater capability of teams to execute their strategy by increasing player safety and coaching effectiveness, and it will strengthen the relationship between the viewers and the game-all leading to happier players and happier fans.\u00a0 Go Bears.\u00a0 (794 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> The National Football League, \u201cChronology of Professional Football\u201d (PDF file), downloaded from NFL website, http:\/\/static.nfl.com\/static\/content\/public\/image\/history\/pdfs\/History\/2013\/353-372-Chronology.pdf, accessed November 15, 2016.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Bloomberg, \u201cNFL Revenue Reaches $7.1 Billion Based on Green Bay Report,\u201d http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2016-06-24\/nfl-revenue-reaches-7-1-billion-based-on-green-bay-report, accessed November 16, 2016.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> 性视界 Sports Analysis, \u201cThe NFL\u2019s Current Business Model and the Potential 2011 Lockout\u201d (PDF file), downloaded from https:\/\/harvardsportsanalysis.files.wordpress.com\/2009\/09\/the-nfl-business-model-and-potential-lockout.pdf, accessed November 15, 2016.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Statista, \u201cTV Viewership of the Super Bowl in the United States from 1990 to 2016,\u201d https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/216526\/super-bowl-us-tv-viewership\/, accessed November 18, 2016.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Fox Sports, \u201cDez Braynt\u2019s Crazy, Controversial No-Catch Happened One Year Ago Today,\u201d http:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nfl\/story\/one-year-ago-today-dez-bryant-didn-t-catch-it-against-the-packers-011116, accessed November 18, 2016.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Geekwire, \u201cNFL adopts startup\u2019s technology to detect concussions in real time,\u201d http:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2012\/nfl-concussion-software-created-seattle-tech-company\/, accessed November 18, 2016.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Datafloq, \u201cThe NFL Gets into the Internet of Things Game,\u201d https:\/\/datafloq.com\/read\/the-nfl-gets-into-the-internet-of-things-game\/1593, accessed November 17, 2016.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How the NFL is digitizing and using the Internet of Things to further connect the players, coaches, and fans. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2021,"featured_media":18625,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[1053,2019,1857],"class_list":["post-18432","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","category-internet-of-things","category-nfl"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/digitization-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\nThe NFL Goes Digital - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-nfl-goes-digital\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The NFL Goes Digital - 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