YouTube to Live streame IPL 2010

After streaming U2 gig Live on YouTube last October, Google has now gone a step ahead and will offer live streaming of Indian Premier League Cricket season 3. Despite the ongoing splat with Chinese Government, Google hasn’t let that affect its other plans regarding other countries. Google will now stream IPL matches on YouTube and there will be an ‘On-Demand’ option too.

IPL matches scheduled between March 12 to April 25 will be streamed through unique ‘YouTube View’ on YouTube at this exclusive link – http://www.youtube.com/ipl. This is expected to be a two-year Internet broadcasting contract. Google is expected to make money from advertising and sponsorship deals as per the people familiar with the matter.

Alternatively, users will also be offered On-Demand streaming if they choose not to watch it live or not able to catch up with live action. Along with live streaming, social media interactivity options like chat room and contests would also be mashed up.

So now, users can watch IPL matches on PC, Mobile and even YouTube enabled TVs (select models only). However, one thing everyone must consider is the bandwidth requirement. Whether you watch it on low speed connection on PC or GPRS over the phone, the connection might be an issue. Even during the U2 gig, several users complained about continuous buffering and cracked Live streaming. Not to forget, that was first of it’s kind streaming for YouTube.

Cricket is religion for billions across the globe and hence, YouTube servers ought to be ready to handle the traffic. Also, YouTube access has been barred in majority of business organizations and educational institutions. That might be a concern for cricket fans but the positive side of this online broadcast deal is that the fans from all corners of the world can watch matches where no TV broadcast coverage is offered.

Source : TechTree