Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight was streamed by thousands of people on Periscope

A "fight of the century“, between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao moved millions of people and millions of dollars. No official figures were revealed, but pay-per-view sales could reach a yield of more than $300M monthly only in the United States. There, it was only possible to watch through cable TV, acquiring access to US$ 89, in standard quality, and US$ 99, in HD.

Many people weren't willing to spend on pay-per-view, others weren't cable subscribers. What ended up generating an impressive number of spectators in transmissions in apps Periscope and Meerkat. And the audience didn't just come from the United States, but from around the world, which followed the fight through broadcasts at parties, bars or in quiet rooms. There was even one person who streamed direct from the MGM Grand, where the collision took place.

The quality was not the best and in many transmissions little could be heard. But for many, it was the only way to participate in one of the biggest events boxing has ever provided.

As the broadcast gained audience and the “likes” increased, it was normal for it to be taken down. The app's curators were keeping an eye on who was broadcasting the event and tried to prevent illegal reproduction. But it was like drying ice.

Once again, the discussion about online content distribution platforms and copyright is opened. Cable companies and broadcasters are already eyeing streaming apps. HBO (one of the channels that aired the fight) declared last month that Periscope could be a tool for “mass copyright infringement.”

It will be interesting to see how the entertainment industry handles this new form of piracy. On the other hand, how will the applications act? That was the moment when Periscope e meerkat gained more attention since launch.