FS Indiana has "started live streaming" Pacers games and the net's pre- and postgame shows to mobile devices on the Fox Sports Go app, according to Anthony Schoettle of the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. Pacers officials "are hopeful the viewing option will grow the team’s fan base and increase ticket and other sales," while Fox Sports execs "are optimistic it will increase advertising revenue." Fox Sports "has reached deals with AT&T Uverse, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable and Wow! cable TV providers." However, it "hasn't yet with central Indiana’s two biggest cable providers: Comcast and Bright House Networks," nor with Dish or DirecTV in the Indianapolis market. FS Indiana GM Jack Donovan said, "We’re optimistic a deal will get done with those providers soon." Schoettle notes the net and the team "have started promoting the viewing option." The Pacers recently "began running in-arena ads at Bankers Life Fieldhouse" along with ads on their website, social media accounts, and direct e-mails to ticket buyers. Fox Sports "is promoting its app and live streaming during Pacers games and other sporting events." For now, Fox "is running the same ads through the mobile feed as it does on television." If viewer numbers "are significant through mobile devices, that could allow Fox to bump up its ad rates." Or, the net "could choose to sell separate ads for the mobile feed." Fox Sports officials "declined to reveal how many people are watching Pacers games via mobile phone or tablet." Media experts "estimate the number at a few hundred to a couple thousand." Fox is "already considering adding features to the digital stream, including the ability to choose from multiple camera angles and access views of the arena not available through the conventional TV broadcast" (INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/26 issue).
