The Ultimate Guide to Developing a Fantasy Sports App Like CBS Sports

Gone are the days when sports were only meant to be enjoyed in the stadiums. Now, live streaming, real-time score updates, and extensive sports broadcasting networks have made them accessible to everyone, everywhere. As digitalization expands, the sports industry has started finding new ways to engage fans worldwide. And one such innovation is fantasy sports, which allows fans to make their own virtual team, earn points based on individual players’ performance, and win real cash. Isn’t it exciting? The popularity of fantasy sports apps like CBS Sports is enough to highlight the lucrative opportunities in the industry. As the fantasy sports industry is thriving like never before, we don’t think there’s a better time than today to invest in Fantasy app development like CBS Sports. 

Let’s start with an interesting fact - over 50 million US people actively participate in fantasy games every year. Even a new study by Grand View Research has revealed that the global fantasy market would be worth around $62.80 billion by the end of 2032. 

CBS Sports is a leading sports streaming and fantasy platform, probably the trendsetter in this industry. Its user-friendly interface, easy-to-find menus, real-time score updates, and reliable performance have resulted in millions of loyal users. As the market is growing rapidly and CBS Sports holds just 3.2% of it, there are a lot of opportunities waiting for you. 

But here comes the real test - Who to approach for a fantasy sports development? How much will it cost? How much time will it take? What technologies will it be integrated with? Which features will work best for it? We know there might be many questions going through your mind, but this detailed guide to fantasy sports development will settle your doubts and give you a clear overview of what it takes to develop an app like CBS Sports. 

But before that…

Market Overview of Fantasy Sports Apps 

• The global fantasy sports market was worth $26.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $62.80 billion by the end of 2032, growing at a CAGR of 18.9%. (Source: Grand View Research)
• 19% of US people aged 18+ participate in fantasy sports games. (Source: FSGA)
• 79% of US fantasy game participants play fantasy football, followed by cricket (32%), basketball (31%), baseball (22%), hockey (12%), and Golf (9%). (Source: FSGA)

What is CBS Sports? 

CBS Sports is an all-in-one sports app for avid sports lovers. It lets you watch live sports streaming of all major events, making it possible to watch games and matches in real-time from anywhere. 

Additionally, CBS Sports features a fantasy sports section. This feature enables users to create their own teams using real players and compete against others based on the players’ actual performances. 

Another significant aspect of CBS Sports is its sports betting option. This allows users to place bets on various sports events, predicting outcomes such as which team will win or how many points will be scored. 

That’s not all; there’s a lot more – CBS Sports also provides real-time score updates. Furthermore, the platform offers detailed schedules and fixtures, helping fans keep track of upcoming games and plan their viewing accordingly.

Understanding the Business Model of CBS Sports

Ever wondered how Sports apps like CBS Sports, Sportsurge, and ESPN make money? Well! It is all because of their unique and lucrative business models. Before investing in this niche, it is important to understand the business models of successful apps. 

So, here’s how CBS Sports makes money: 

• Advertisements: If you think CBS Sports offers free sports streaming, remember there’s nothing free in this world. While streaming your favorite sport on CBS Sports, you surely have encountered a number of ads during games and on their website. This is a big part of how CBS Sports makes money.

• Subscriptions: CBS Sports has a streaming service where you can watch live sporting events and other shows. People pay a monthly fee to use this service. This steady income helps CBS Sports run its operations.
• Cable Fees: CBS Sports is also available on cable TV. Cable companies pay CBS Sports to include their channel in their packages. This is another important revenue stream for the company.
• Fantasy Sports and Betting: The platform offers fantasy sports and sports betting. Users can bet on games or join fantasy leagues, sometimes paying participation fees. 
• Licensing and Merchandising: CBS Sports owns the rights to show many sports events. They can sell these rights to other networks or platforms. Also, they can sell sports-related merchandise like clothing and accessories, which further adds to their earnings.   

Is It Profitable to Develop a Fantasy Sports App?

If you still doubt yourself about whether your fantasy sports app will make it through the tough competition, you probably need to read the statistics again. The industry is thriving and holds a promising future for new players. Additionally, the business model and monetization opportunities for such apps are endless. 

Sport is not a trend but an emotion that won’t fade away with time. It continues to be people’s favorite, and we think technology will play a crucial role in revolutionizing the industry further. However, it is not a get-rich-quick scheme but a business that will make you a good fortune.

Here are some potential benefits of investing in fantasy sports app development: 

Opportunity to Expand

Fantasy sports apps have become very popular. In 2022, there were 50.4 million users of fantasy sports apps in the U.S. alone. This is a significant increase in users compared to previous years. Also, the number of businesses in this sector has grown. There are now over 610 businesses, up from 545 the previous year.

High User Engagement

A good strategy is essential to keep users interested. An app with a great design and advanced technology can keep users engaged. High user engagement is important for any business. With an app, you can attract and connect with many users, even globally.

An app also helps to build trust and a positive image for your fantasy sports business. This trust encourages users to stay loyal and continue using your app.

Revenue Generation

Making money can be challenging, but creating an app opens up many opportunities for generating multiple income streams. You can use various monetization methods, such as crowdfunding, advertising, in-app purchases, and more. These sources of revenue can help ensure a steady income and create a sense of profitability for your business.

Competitive Advantage

A sports fantasy app allows you to connect with a large audience and gain an early advantage. You can stand out in the competitive market by including the right features. Creating a fantasy sports app can revolutionize the dynamic sports market.

Provides Global Reach

Investing in a fantasy sports app can help you reach your target audience and expand your international reach. By tapping into the growing popularity of sports, you can successfully expand your business network. This can also enhance players’ trust in your app and improve your brand’s global connectivity.

10 Essential Features for a Fantasy Sports App Like CBS Sports

To make your fantasy sports app stand out and attract a dedicated user base, it needs to offer an engaging and feature-rich experience. Here are 15 essential features for a successful fantasy sports app:

1. Easy User Registration and Profile Management

Signing up should be simple and quick. Users should be able to sign in with their social media accounts or create a new profile effortlessly. Profile management should let users personalize their avatars, usernames, and team names, making them feel more connected to the app. You can get inspiration from the CBS Sports Login feature. 

2. Live Game Updates

Keep your users engaged with real-time scores, detailed statistics, and updates during the game. This keeps them engaged and lets them make strategic decisions as the game progresses.

3. Draft Management System

The draft is a minimum feature a fantasy sports user demands for. Provide an easy-to-use draft system with clear player rankings, detailed projections, and real-time average draft position (ADP) data. This will help users make smart choices and build strong teams from scratch.

4. In-Depth Player Stats and Analytics

Don’t just offer basic statistics. Give users access to advanced analytics, including past performance data, injury updates, and matchup analysis. This helps users make better team decisions by spotting breakout players, sleepers, and valuable waiver wire pickups.

5. Comprehensive League Management

Give users full control over their leagues. Allow them to easily create, join, and manage leagues. This includes setting up league rules (like draft type, scoring system, and roster size), inviting friends through social media, and managing multiple leagues at once.

6. Live-Scoring and Leaderboards

Keep users interested with real-time scoring updates and dynamic leaderboards. These leaderboards should show standings, point projections, and head-to-head matchups. A visually appealing design will help users track their progress and encourage healthy competition throughout the season.

7. Trade and Waiver Wire Management

Make it easy for users to manage player trades and waiver wire pickups within their leagues. Allow users to propose trades, negotiate deals with other league members, and claim available players. This helps users optimize their rosters and adds a strategic element to the game.

8. Customizable Push Notifications and Alerts

Provide users with personalized alerts for game updates, scoring changes, trade offers, waiver wire activity, and important league announcements. Customizable notifications ensure users only receive relevant information, keeping them actively engaged in the fantasy sports experience.

9. In-App Messaging and Chat

Encourage a sense of community and friendly competition by including chat features within leagues. This lets users connect with friends, discuss game strategies, negotiate trades, and celebrate wins or support each other through losses.

10. Granular Customizable League Settings

Appeal to a wide range of users by letting league commissioners customize league settings according to their preferences. This can involve tailoring scoring systems, roster positions, waiver wire rules, and trade deadlines. This level of customization allows commissioners to create unique and personalized league experiences for their groups.

How to Build an App Like CBS Sports?

After seeing the positive market statistics and opportunities, you probably have made up your mind to invest in fantasy sports app development. If so, here are some typical development steps to build an app like CBS Sports. 

Determine Your App's Value 

Does your fantasy sports app offer something valuable for users? You need to research the market to see if there's a demand for your app in the competitive fantasy sports industry. This step will help you shape the idea of your app and understand why it's important. You can look at what users need and identify gaps in the market.

Build an MVP First 

Create a basic version of your app to see if it can attract users. Start with minimal features to engage early users. This basic version, known as a minimum viable product (MVP), helps you build a community and attract users. An MVP is cost-effective and helps you understand how your app can reach and appeal to your target users.

Choosing Platforms 

Decide which platforms you want to launch your app on. You can choose Android, iOS, or both, and even go for a hybrid app that works on multiple platforms. Picking the right platform is crucial to reach your target audience. The more platforms you use, the better your chances of reaching more users. This step is essential because you need to know the platform before starting the app development process.

Designing the App 

Choose the app design that best suits the type of software and the needs of your users. A good design is key to attracting and keeping users engaged. Create a wireframe and prototype to find the best design. This step includes making easy-to-use navigation and a consistent visual look. It's important to focus on user-friendly features, accessibility, and responsive layouts.

Choose the Right Technology Stack 

It's time to pick the right technology stack for your project. This stack should match your project's goals and objectives. It includes the programming languages, libraries, patterns, and essential components like hardware modules and development tools. You need to consider factors like cost, user needs, and industry requirements to choose the best tech stack.

Develop the App's Front-End and Back-End 

You need to build both the front end and the back end of your app. Hiring mobile app developers can help turn your idea into reality. Start by visualizing the app and then build the tech stack accordingly. Developing the front end and back end will result in a fully functional app. This streamlined approach improves productivity and allows for rapid updates, leading to a better developer experience.

Test Your Mobile App 

Testing your mobile app is crucial to finding and fixing errors and bugs. You should run different tests, like program testing, functional testing, security testing, usability testing, and compatibility testing. This helps you spot any issues that could affect your app's performance and user trust. Fixing these errors will enhance your brand's reputation.

Launch and Maintain Your App 

Have you set a launch date for your fantasy sports app? Sticking to your launch date is important. It helps you reach potential clients and prevents competitors from gaining an advantage. After launching, regular maintenance is key to keeping your app running smoothly and meeting user expectations.

Tech Stack for Fantasy Sports App Development Like CBS Sports

The technology behind your fantasy sports app will have a great impact on its success. Nobody wants a slow, lagging app with outdated features. Today’s generation likes fast and advanced apps, and to build one, here’s a table highlighting the tech stack for advanced, fully functional fantasy sports apps like CBS Sports. 

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App Like CBS Sports?        

The cost of developing a fantasy sports app like CBS Sports can differ largely based on factors and considerations, such as the features you want to integrate, the technology you want to use, the platforms you want to build for, and, lastly, the complexity. 

Advanced, fully-featured fantasy sports apps with AI integration are more expensive than basic apps. Calculating based on the industry trends and current cost to hire app developers, here’s an overview of the average cost of fantasy app development:

• Basic App - $10,000 – $30,000
• Mid-range App - $30,000 – $80,000
• Advanced App - $80,000 – $200,000+

Still confused? Here’s a cost breakdown for developing a basic fantasy sports app: 

How can Mtoag Technologies Help with Your Fantasy App Development Project?

Although the idea of developing a fantasy sports app seems profitable and convincing, it isn’t the effort of a single person. To get the best of the market opportunities, you will need a dream team, and Mtoag Technologies can be your partner in success. We have over 16 years of experience in the development domain and have completed 2500+ successful projects so far. 

Our commitment to quality, timely delivery, and advancement has earned us the trust of over 650+ happy clients who always turn to us whenever they need any help. So, it's your chance to be a part of our growing client base and outsource your project to experts. Fill out the contact form and avail your first consultation free. 

Conclusion

The best sports fantasy app isn’t about having many features. It’s about how users feel when they use it, as we have learned from the CBS Sports example. To make a great app, you need to understand your audience. Study their habits and what they need in a sports app.

Focus on creating an easy-to-use and nice-looking app. Include only the features that really improve the user experience. Keep updating the app based on user feedback to make sure it stays useful and engaging.

FAQs

How Do I Watch CBS Sports for Free? 

You can watch CBS Sports for free through CBS Sports HQ, a 24/7 streaming network available on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app for connected TV devices, and mobile devices. It offers live sports news, highlights, and analysis.

What Does CBS Sports Do? 

CBS Sports provides comprehensive sports coverage, including NFL games, college football and basketball, golf tournaments like The Masters and PGA Championship, and soccer matches from the UEFA Champions League. They also offer original programming, news, and fantasy sports on their network and digital platforms.

Is the CBS Sports App Free? 

Yes, the CBS Sports app is free to download and use. It provides access to live streaming of CBS Sports Network, CBS Sports HQ, and on-demand content, including highlights and analysis.

Where is the CBS Sports Channel? 

The CBS Sports channel is available on the CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network in the United States. It's also accessible through various live TV streaming services like Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, and DIRECTV STREAM.

What Does the CBS Sports App Do? 

The CBS Sports app offers live streaming of CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ, as well as on-demand content, live scores, news, stats, and fantasy sports games. It provides a comprehensive sports experience on mobile and connected TV devices.