Find out what Periscope is, and how it’s enhancing the tennis tournament experience for tennis fans all around the world.
I want to start by saying that I’m not an expert on Periscope by any means. Not by a long shot! But over the past week while I’ve been at the Kooyong Classic and keeping up with other tournaments I’ve used it both to live stream and to watch live streams. I think it’s incredible so I’m writing this article to encourage more tennis fans to use it too.
Let’s start at the beginning…
What is Periscope?
Periscope is a live video streaming app. It allows users to broadcast a live stream video to their Periscope and Twitter followers. And because it’s owned by Twitter it automatically links up with your Twitter account so live broadcasts can be automatically tweeted to your followers to let them know you’re live on Periscope. And replays of Periscopes are available for 24 hours.
Since it launched last year people have created over 100 million broadcasts so that’s evidence they’re doing something right!
Why is Periscope a Game Changer for Tennis Fans?
With the 2016 Australian Open starting on Monday 18 January, the most important thing to mention is that the Australian Open are using Periscope. They are live streaming a lot of things that were previously harder for tennis fans to access. For example on Saturday 16 January they live streamed press conferences with Nadal, Federer, Sharapova, Azarenka, Muguruza and Gavrilova, which means that anyone with Periscope could watch the press conference live (in real time, as it happened!). I watched quite a few which was incredibly awesome, because previously I would see snippets of the press conferences on tv, via transcribed articles or on YouTube.
Through the social media expertise and generosity of the Australian Open, Periscope means that during the tournament tennis fans will be able to watch press conferences, practice sessions, interviews and other fun/interesting events live.
Added to that, AO fans like myself and my friends at Happy Slam Tennis can easily live stream events that other tennis fans may not otherwise get to see (and we will!). For example on Saturday I was at Crown in Melbourne for an event featuring Rafael Nadal, arranged by Tennis Only. During the event I live streamed the interview with Rafa on Periscope, which around 120 people watched. The replay is available to watch on Periscope for 24 hours after it’s recorded, and it’s also easy to save Periscope videos to your camera roll and share them later, for example via YouTube.
Ooh and if you’d like to see that video of the Rafa interview, here it is, courtesy of Periscope and YouTube.
More reasons to love Periscope
I’m not someone who shares a lot of selfies or believes in getting myself on camera on tv at any available opportunity. But I am comfortable being on camera for Periscopes because there is a more personal connection. People are tuning in to what I (or whoever is presenting) am live streaming, so it’s fab to chat and interact with those watching.
For those watching a Periscope broadcast, you can comment, which shows up on the screen to be read by the broadcaster and the others watching. And you can tap the screen to send hearts to the presenter so they know you appreciate their work. It’s fair to say that I’m a hearts addict! I love seeing them come up on the screen when I’m presenting.
And even more awesome, today some of the hearts in my broadcast appeared as tennis racquets on the screen. I believe this is because I used the hashtag #ausopen in the title of my Periscope. Will investigate further and hope to see loads more tennis themed hearts during my Aus Open Scopes!
How Can Tennis Fans Watch Live Streams on Periscope?
According to Periscope, if you have iOS, it’s now possible to watch directly from Twitter ie you don’t even need to have a Periscope account to watch. And they have plans to roll out this feature for Android and web soon too. Read more.
Everyone who wants to watch live streams can also download the Periscope app and then follow the easy steps to connect your Twitter account.
When you follow people on Periscope you will get a notification (unless you turn it off) when the people you follow are Periscoping. Some people will also let you know via social media when they plan a Periscope in advance, for example at the same time every week, or the AO Fan Chat Periscope that I’ve scheduled with @HappySlamTennis for 4pm Melbourne time today (which everyone is welcome to join!).
Then, you can either watch the Periscope live or you have 24 hours to select the Watch screen (the tv icon to the left at the bottom of the app) and watch replays. After that time the replay is no longer available, but some broadcasters will share the video and make it available later ie via YouTube, which we’re planning to do.
So if you’re a keen tennis fan, I recommend setting yourself up on Periscope, following Australian Open, me (GSG) and Happy Slam Tennis. And enjoy the experience of watching live video streams from the Australian Open.
Until next time
Grand Slam Gal