Services
- Strategy
- Content Consultancy
- UI/UX Design
- Data Analysis
- Development
- SEO Forensics
- Backlink Recovery
- Custom Laravel Development
- Live Streaming Integration
- Payment & Authentication Systems
- Hosting & Infrastructure
Results
The impact of the Hive Live platform was immediate and significant, delivering both crucial revenue and meaningful engagement during the height of the pandemic. Key results include:
- Generated hundreds of thousands of pounds in vital club revenue during the pandemic.
- Tens of thousands of fans engaged worldwide, with many calling the service a “lifeline”.
- Hive Live service praised by The Daily Telegraph as “amongst the best in the league”.
- Successfully hosted major events, including end-of-season awards & promotion celebrations.
The Brief
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut stadiums, Watford FC – then a Premier League club – lost a major revenue stream almost overnight. With ticket sales gone, the club needed an urgent digital solution to generate income and keep fans engaged. The brief: design and launch a robust streaming service in just six weeks, capable of handling tens of thousands of simultaneous users, integrating secure payments, and offering a seamless experience to a wide fanbase, many of whom were unfamiliar with digital platforms.
The Solution
Scout led the accelerated design, build, and launch of Hive Live, a custom streaming platform built on Laravel and integrated with third-party APIs for payments, authentication, and rights management.
- Resilient Infrastructure: Stress-tested hosting ensured stability at peak match traffic.
- Project Leadership: Scout orchestrated complex project management across multiple stakeholders, leading daily collaboration with Watford’s in-house team to hit the strict launch deadline
- Technical Delivery: Built to perform across laptops, PCs, and smart devices, Hive Live was optimised for reliability and scalability, ensuring smooth streaming even at peak matchday demand.
- Engagement Strategy: Interactive fan messaging, live Q&A, and social integration created a sense of community, while subscription and pay-per-view models ensured flexibility for different audiences.
- Content & Engagement: Pre-match shows, exclusive interviews, tactical analysis, and live fan interaction created a true matchday atmosphere online.
The Outcome
Hive Live became both a financial lifeline and an emotional bridge for fans during lockdown.
- Generated essential streaming revenue that sustained the club through the pandemic.
- Fans worldwide described it as a vital connection, with audiences calling the coverage “fantastic.”
- The platform flawlessly supported key fixtures and celebrated Watford’s return to the Premier League, proving its scalability and resilience.
For Scout Digital, Hive Live stands as a showcase of rapid, complex delivery under pressure – where failure wasn’t an option, and success meant safeguarding both club finances and fan connection.
Key Features
- Analytic & Reporting
- Audience Modelling
- Content Consultancy
- Custom Web / CMS Development Utilising Laravel Framework
- Custom Web / CMS Development
- Digital Strategy & Consultancy
- Data Analysis
- Sitemap & Structure Design
- Maintenance, Support & Optimisation
- UI/UX design
- Technical SEO
- SEO Forensic Research & Analysis
- Enterprise AdTech Integration
What People Say
-
Absolutely outstanding work on our new platform. They handled everything from web copy to complex features with incredible expertise.
John Doe
Warner Bros. Discovery