I'll admit it: I'm addicted to HQ Trivia. Every day when I get the push notification at 3 and 9 PM (more on that later), I drop whatever I'm doing to play. IIt's not just me - Twitter is abuzz with HQ-ties from MLB and NFL front offices, PR firms, newsmakers and more.
Admittedly, there have been issues as the platform has launched - particularly, lagging and bandwidth - but last Friday, HQ had their first flawless game, with the questions streaming perfectly along with Scott Rogowsky's witty banter. It was a watershed moment for the app, who capped the weekend with a $10,000 prize for their 9 PM Sunday game. Over 400 thousand users logged in for the big prize Sunday night, one of the largest crowds that the app has yet obtained.
So the technology is there. The audience is there. The prize money is there for now, and I'm sure sponsorship is just a step away for larger prizes, more lives, and possibly more features. However, while HQ Trivia is growing and will continue to grow, the tech behind the app has me very, very excited.
Live video streaming TO devices is nothing new, but interactive streaming where the audience is part of the stream is a new frontier for digital marketers, and has huge potential in the world of sports. Live trivia, in arena applications, even player interviews could potentially be run through the HQ Trivia tech. I would love for a sponsored segment from a team that featured a player asking questions about their career, their team, or their sport.
Another great idea is halftime integration, as pointed out by Mark Gallo:
Halftime integration ?
— Mark Gallo (@guhlo) December 8, 2017
This would be VERY effective in an arena or stadium setting, where a captive audience would allow for a large, engaged audience right away - especially with the way they have deployed attention grabbing and timely push notifications.
HQ Trivia will continue to be my addiction, but the technology behind it is incredibly exciting. The sports world has plenty of applications for it, and I can't wait to see organizations start to use it.
Editor's note: I'm still looking for a new job in sports digital and social - if you know of any or want to connect regarding opportunities, my resume is here and you can contact me directly here.