5 Championship Ways You Could Lose BIG Without Complete Sports TV Listing Data

Nothing’s more exciting than a last second victory.

And that’s appropriate. Because if your sports TV listing data isn’t up to the very last second, you’re not going to be winning very often. How’s that for a segue?

You see, the special aspects of sports that make it so timely—games every day, tournaments, league standings, etc.—should be reflected as often as possible in an EPG in order to convert and keep sports fans that want to view their particular brand of program. Sports fans are ravenously enticed or stimulated by the associated information that plays such an important part of sports.

Here are five ways failing to keep sports TV listings accurate, specific, and up-to-date could have you playing in the minors.

1. Undisputed heavyweight champion of having a low sports I.Q.

When a guide isn’t aware of the importance of a game, the teams playing, if it’s a tournament or a league game, or even if it’s the playoffs, that says something to the big sports fan. It says, “We’re not paying all that much attention to sports, sports fan.”

More robust information is critical to a sport fan’s viewing habits, and to your bottom line. When sports fans are the ones who’ll potentially be paying for special pay-per-view events and viewing packages, showing your sports mastery becomes very relevant. And, if you’re not showing off that mastery, you may be neglecting to include information that could drive serious viewers to watch.

Like a player who is going for a record. Or the fact that the last time the two teams met, they set a new scoring record. Or a number of other facts.

And, even a casual sports fan will have a general idea of how the local team is doing. Properly presented, the team’s standings could actually generate increased interest inside an EPG, while that viewer is more receptive than ever to watching something of interest.

Then, there’s this example. (Just click on the images to blow them up to a larger size for your review.) On one hand, we have a complete, full, and glowing description of the ESPN documentary on Sheryl Swoopes (demonstrating a fine sports IQ.) And then on the other hand, we have…

Absolutely nothing. And that’s what a viewer will use to make their choice.

2. All-Star confusion—do they even have my sports program?

If a sporting event (a tournament game, a race series, or even a playoff game, for example) doesn’t have up-to-date information—or, if the titling of the event isn’t specific—then, the viewer may not realize it’s the event they want. Or, they might just wonder whether a certain channel even has their event.

Because of the proliferation of sports and sports channels, it’s easy to wonder whether your particular event is elsewhere—unless the information is up-to-date and specific.

In our example, we see that on one hand, the program has been appropriately defined so that the generic title of “Texans” has been attributed to the NFL team. In the other example, since the genre is “Sports & Fitness” one could mistake this for an exercise program aimed at residents of the Lone Star State. Here, opportunity has been missed to accurately and completely define the program’s content in the mind of the potential viewer.

And that won’t win in any league.

3. Gold medal lack of context.

NEWS FLASH: Tournaments and playoffs are winner-specific things.

So, when people are trying to decide what to watch—knowing who’s playing at what stage of a tournament or a playoff is simply indispensable information. Without it, a viewer can watch a channel and not know whether they’re watching a past tournament, a replay of a previous game from the current tournament, or something else altogether.

What’s playing on the screen should match what’s in the guide as closely as possible—so the potential viewer can make the most informed decision possible.

Our good example in this case gives appropriate leaderboard information updated from the previous round. In our not-so-good example, a laundry list of “potential” competitors has been given with no inkling as to the competitive stage for that day’s play whatsoever.

Which means our bad example will, yet again, be taking a mulligan.

4. Record-breaking strikeout on current events.
The most immediate sports information—when incorporated into a guide—can actually drive viewing. If a player set a record for strikeouts, or is going for one, that’s important information which could drive viewers.

If two teams are vying for the last playoff spot, or if one team just completed a historic upset, or if one of the players in a golf tournament hit three holes-in-one the previous day, it might be a good idea to mention it in the guide.

Because it’s sports—constantly timely, constantly updated, and voraciously followed. Good sports content—as timely and relevant as possible—makes it easier for sports viewers to keep on viewing.

For instance, our good example sets the stage for that sporting event’s viewing with result information from a previous meeting between the two starting pitchers. This gives the viewer a context by which to judge whether they want to view the program—allowing them to make an INFORMED decision.

The bad example screen? Sadly, it’s pretty self-explanatory without saying much of anything.

5. Hall of Fame oblivion to fan chatter.
Whatever “the buzz” is in the world of sports, that’s the kind of stuff that should be in a well-updated EPG or print listings guide. Well beyond the material facts of a sporting event.

Our good example shows just the kinds of things fans will chatter about before a game. And, it makes use of the big-name players and announcers to draw even more fan interest. The bad example simply lists the game, the teams, plus where the game is being played.

And that’s just not championship caliber.

As we mentioned before, sports is constant. Constantly changing, constantly updated, constantly surprising, constantly refreshed with new stories and headlines each and every day.

The big stories in sports all come with their very own inherent controversies, philosophies, and schools of thought. They’re rabidly debated and considered amongst sports fans. That’s part of what makes a lot of people a sports fan in the first place.

Sports TV listings that are up-to-date. Relevant. With information that drives sports viewing.

If your EPG contains this kind of information, that’s a winning combination. If not? Well, you’re not GUARANTEED to lose that viewer, but let’s just say you’re not giving yourself the best possible chance to win.

Just click below and FYI will demonstrate championship teamwork, coach.