Twitter recently signed a deal with the National Football League that might help social networks finally take on major broadcasters.
The mainstream media has long been concerned with the idea that major technology firms would take on TV companies in order to acquire the rights to premium content rather than relying on original material.
Software companies have so far strayed away from these plans, saying that they're platform companies that don't create original content.
Now, however, it's become clear that statements about not acquiring major content were just smoke and mirrors to hide the true motives of these companies.
Online platforms naturally already had content interest, but Twitter's NFL deal for digital broadcasting rights is major news. YouTube has a laundry list of popular stars while Netflix and Amazon are coming out with original series.
Twitter's Thursday Night Football deal is bigger than any of this, because live sports have the highest value when it comes to TV rights deals, and major broadcast networks usually gobble these rights up.
The deal has forced people to ask several questions. Commentators are unsure if Twitter is capable of handling the challenges that come with this kind of streaming. They're even more interesting in how this will influence the television industry and whether or not tech companies can get prime-time TV rights.
Diversifying Content
Sports leagues want viewers to have access to events on any device. Studies show 95 percent of people watch sports live. TV networks push for the same goal, but the patchwork cable system in the US doesn't hold the same promise that mobile providers do.
Twitter lands NFL deal to live stream Thursday Night Foot...