Biggest live streaming failures of all time?
Live streaming has become increasingly popular over the years, offering real-time access to events, conferences, concerts, and more. However, not all live streams have gone smoothly, and there have been some significant failures that have resulted in negative publicity for the organizers. In this article, we will take a look at some of the biggest live streaming failures of all time and discuss what went wrong.
- Apple's iPhone 6 Launch
Apple's live streaming event for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch in 2014 was highly anticipated by consumers around the world. However, the technical difficulties that occurred during the event led to a poor quality live stream, resulting in frustrated viewers and negative publicity for the company. The issues included interruptions in the stream and buffering, causing the stream to freeze multiple times. According to reports, the live stream had an audience of over 4 million viewers at its peak, which further exacerbated the issue. As a result, the poor quality of the live stream frustrated viewers and generated negative publicity for Apple.
- Mayweather vs. Pacquiao
The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight was a highly publicized event, and the failure of its live streaming caused significant financial and reputational losses. According to reports, approximately 4.4 million people paid to watch the fight through pay-per-view, generating over $400 million in revenue. However, due to technical difficulties, many viewers were unable to access the live stream, resulting in a significant number of refunds and chargebacks. In fact, it was estimated that the event had the highest number of chargebacks in pay-per-view history, with some estimates suggesting that the chargeback rate was as high as 10%.
The consequences of the live streaming failure were significant, with both the event promoters and the streaming provider facing negative publicity and legal action. Several class-action lawsuits were filed against the streaming provider, alleging that it was aware of the technical issues and failed to adequately prepare for the event. The event promoters also faced criticism for the pay-per-view model and the failure to provide a reliable live streaming experience.
- 2019 Eurovision Song Contest
The second example of live streaming failure - the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. This event is one of the most-watched television programs in Europe and is known for its elaborate stage designs, catchy songs, and fierce competition between countries. However, in 2019, the contest suffered a significant live streaming failure that left many viewers unable to watch the event.
The live stream of the contest was hosted by the official Eurovision website and was streamed to viewers around the world. However, due to technical issues, many viewers experienced buffering, stuttering, and lagging, which significantly impacted their QoE.
The live streaming failure affected a significant number of viewers. The contest is estimated to have a global audience of around 200 million viewers, with the live stream being a popular way for international fans to watch the event. However, due to the technical issues, many viewers were left frustrated and unable to enjoy the show. The official Eurovision website also saw a significant increase in traffic during the live stream, with some estimates suggesting that the website saw up to 5 million concurrent viewers during the event. The Eurovision team's failure to anticipate this high demand for the live stream resulted in a negative impact on their QoE and significant criticism from viewers.