How Today's Advances in Interactive Engagement Have Improved The Sports Fans' Viewing Experience

In particular, the term commonly refers to the use of such devices to provide interactive features during broadcast content, such as a television program, especially social media postings on social networking platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. This type of technology is designed to keep an audience engaged in whatever they are involved in. The use of a second screen supports social television and generates an online conversation around the specific content. Several studies show a clear tendency of the user to use a device while watching television. They also show a greater frequency of use of tablet or smartphone when watching television, and other studies distinguish a higher percentage of comments or posts on social networks, about the content that's being watched (Nielsen ratings). Other studies show apparently new behaviors on the part of users when consuming content via multiple devices. For instance, Hayat & Samuel-Azran have demonstrated the interplay between using devices while watching television, and online political discourse. Active tech companies in the markets this week include Versus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ VS), Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ CZR), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ CMCSA), Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE MSGS), Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ PENN).

Beside the benefit of keeping the audience engaged in multiple ways (polling, chatting, background info about the contents being shown and its participants etc.) and generating revenue via advertising, second screen can also be very effective metering solution to get information about the audience. Being much more far reaching and very inexpensive, second screen may replace people meters in the future. Sports broadcasters, to stem the flight of the TV audience away from watching the main screen (new name for the television) to the second screen, are offering alternative content to the main program. The idea is to present content related to the main program, such as unseen moments, alternative information, soundtrack, and characters. Proposed new technologies allow the viewer to see different camera angles while watching the game.

Versus Systems Inc. (NASDAQ VS) BREAKING NEWS Versus Systems to Power Fan Engagement in the NHL Playoffs - Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Nashville Predators all using Versus and Xcite to drive fan engagement on the way to the Stanley Cup - Versus Systems announced that it will be working with Xcite Interactive, a company that Versus recently signed a definitive agreement to acquire, to power the fan experience for a number of the teams playing in the NHL playoffs for the Stanley Cup.

Six of the sixteen NHL playoff teams, including the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Nashville Predators are using Versus and Xcite's predictive platforms, engagement tools, and games throughout the playoffs. Versus and Xcite's second screen engagement platform will augment fans' participation during the Stanley Cup showdowns that determine which teams will play for the Cup. The interactive experiences will include a range of games from predictive trivia games, traditional arcade games, social interaction, and games that enable fans to play along while watching the game in-venue or at home.

According to NHL.com, the NHL saw record viewership at its season's opening this year, when 1.73 million viewers watched the Washington Capitals versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Stanley Cup playoffs is a huge global event with millions of fans worldwide, and Versus is thrilled to support multiple world-class teams and their fans as the teams skate for the cup, says Matthew Pierce, CEO of Versus Systems.

The playoff games start this week and continue through May culminating with the Stanley Cup finals to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup in July 2021. Fans can view the playoff schedule at https//www.nhl.com/schedule and can take part in the gaming action at https//versussystems.com/players/