This morning’s news has been spreading fast about upgrades to the much-anticipated and slightly controversial streaming platform Altitude+, which, from the onset, offered an exclusive look into most Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Rapids games, among other programming.
It sounds like the app has been revamped to include some features that I have been pining for. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.Last year’s launch of the Altitude+ app was met with a bit of apathy as fans were quick to realize that the streaming platform (in its former version) was essentially just a gateway to Altitudes to regular live programming. It lacked DVR capabilities and didn’t function like a paid-for product. It sounds as though we have left the lackluster origin of Altitude Sports’ attempt at a streaming app behind and can now look forward to common-sense capabilities from this service.
DVR is the past and the future
The way sports fanatics consume their entertainment television these days is as scattered as it’s ever been. Still, one thing has always stood out throughout the chaos of the “cut-the-chord” era: unlimited watchability.
In the ’70s and ’90s, people loaded their VCRs with blank tapes (look ’em up, kids) to record the most basic programming ever. We also scoured the hallowed halls of our local Blockbuster, looking for one prominent feature: being able to watch your favorite film over and over and over again. That turned into TeVo, and that turned into DVR, a feature Colorado Sports fans have longed for. The ability to watch their team’s most extraordinary and most triumphant moments at a moment’s notice again and again. That is exactly what the new Alititude+ is offering this season.
Multicasts make total sense.
Take a peek at this year’s Avalanche and Nuggets schedule and you’ll notice they have frequent overlapping game times. Now don’t get me wrong, I am certainly not above wheeling another TV into the room to turn my humble living room into my very own Hernandez Sports Book, but if I can just put both games on one monitor, I might not make my loving wife so anxious.
It’s a win-win for me personally to be able to watch the Nuggets and Avalanche on one monitor, and I can’t wait to flip the audio from “what a play from Nikolaj Jokic” to “Nathan MAAAAACKINNON” with the touch of a button.
Never stop improving
I, for one, feel as though KSE and Altitude have finally started to acknowledge and address fans’ outcry for more accessible and involved coverage, and these improvements to their dedicated streaming platform are proof of that. All I say is thank you, but please don’t stop here.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it: the real treasure trove of possible content on a dedicated streaming platform is access to archival glory. I’m talking about the whole playoffs from all three cup runs, legendary individual performances, and of course, hall-of-fame documentaries. It’s a complicated (and likely expensive) endeavor to conjure the rights to all of this content, which a litany of networks will have broadcast initially. That said, invest, because it will make your product invaluable to your most dedicated demographic, a die-hard fan!
Let us know what features you would like to see improved on the Altitude+ app in the comments!
