As the new football season kicks off, broadcasters are using web TV and live video streaming to broadcast live games.

Although most clubs have offered video streaming content on their websites for many years, it is only recently that live matches have begun to be streamed live, legitimately over the net.

This is due in part to 2 factors. Firstly, the increased availability of fast broadband services now makes live video streaming possible. Previously, due to the slower speed of dial up connections it was simply not feasible.

BskyB and its Sky Sports network has traditionally held a monopoly on live football coverage, but this has recently been challenged by a rival in Setanta sports. This rivalry has forced both networks to roll out live video streaming coverage via IPTV.

England's recent draw with the Czech Republic was streamed live by Setanta Sports, meanwhile, over in Germany, Vodafone has announced that it will offer all 612 of the nation’s Bundesliga fixtures to subscribers with 3g mobile phones.

A spokesperson for live webcasting providers Streaming Tank stated: “More and more people are embracing Web TV and live video streaming online. It is no surprise that broadcasters are meeting this demand by offering live streaming of football matches. This is only set to increase in the future.