Sports Reporter: Summer 2024
Posted on Jul 26, 2024 by FEED Staff
Bringing the latest developments in sports tech and broadcast
Box to Box Films opts for EditShare
Emmy-winning production company Box to Box Films has extended its partnership with Editshare and will keep leveraging Mediasilo during production. Producer of documentaries and other factual, unscripted content, Box to Box creates dramatic and inspiring stories – like Diego Maradona and Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
Editshare’s video collaboration HQ, Mediasilo, allows Box to Box to move WIP clips between stakeholders. The solution provides ample storage space, enabling crews to remotely manage each project and give and receive feedback in real time. Box to Box uses Mediasilo for all its productions. “We’re honoured to be an integral part of their workflow,” commented Editshare’s EVP of marketing & strategy, Eric Wynalek.
Skandha’s AI-based ad verification
Skandha Media Services has launched Evince, an AI-based ad verification tool that automatically detects and captures ad elements on live sport streams. With Evince, advertisers, broadcasters, rights holders, OTT platforms and other stakeholders can ensure that all contractual obligations are being met by seeing exactly where and when an ad appeared on air.
Evince uses AI to detect ad elements, record each as a time-stamped video or image file and automate file names, storing it in the cloud. With advertisers spending lots of their budgets on ads, proof of delivery is vital.
Unreal Engine launches version 5.4
Epic Games’ latest version of Unreal Engine, 5.4, packs a range of new features and fixes, with substantial improvements to animation and rendering as well as additional support for virtual production. The new Motion Design Mode is an ecosystem dedicated to motion design, giving creators specialised tools for motion graphics. Hundreds have already beta-tested this mode, including CBS Sports, who used Unreal Engine to enhance the Super Bowl LVIII.
Crucially, Unreal’s Virtual Camera tool is now production-ready, with workflows supported on macOS, iOS and Androids and the mobile app – renamed Unreal VCam – available on both the Apple Store and Google Play. VCam allows filmmakers to translate cinematographic techniques like framing and lensing into Unreal Engine’s digital space, aiding them in previs through post.
The update brings other key benefits to developers, such as the Neural Network Engine switching to beta status, a new Unreal Cloud Derived Data Cache (DDC) – a self-hosted storage system that allows creative teams to share data across public network connections – and enhancements to the existing Zen Storage server. Unreal is also moving closer to full SMPTE 2110 compliance.
Pixellot bolsters women’s basketball in Germany
Germany’s Baden-Württemberg and Westdeutscher Basketball Associations (BBW and WBV, respectively) have opted for Pixellot as their official AI camera system – meaning more than 600 women’s clubs will have access to the state-of-the-art technology. The cameras will be used in multiple venues to cover practices and matches, automate highlights, create clips and more, allowing players to review their performance while simultaneously appealing to sponsors.
BBW and WBV are dedicated to fostering community and promoting equal opportunity. Girls’ and women’s basketball are on the rise in Germany, with WBV experiencing a 20% annual growth rate. Thanks to Pixellot, coaches and referees will have the support of professional-grade analytics to improve gameplay and further expand the clubs’ impact. A true game changer for Germany’s local and regional basketball, Pixellot’s AI-driven, accessible solutions make sport more engaging at every level.
Vivaro teams up with Appear
Vivaro Media has selected Oslo-based Appear to support its live coverage of a ‘major sporting event’ happening this summer. Vivaro, which supplies AV content to Latin American broadcasters and service providers, will deploy Appear’s X20 Platform to decode over 30 HD channels during the Parisian competition, ensuring fans remain connected throughout.
The X20 Platform will replace Vivaro’s SDI equipment, relying on technologies such as 2022-7, 2110 and NMOS to deliver low-latency signals. “Investing in the X20 Platform reflects Vivaro Media’s commitment to delivering resilient, adaptable and secure live media processing – perfectly suited for a global audience,” said Luis Perez, Appear’s sales director, Latam.
Runner with MS livestreams London Marathon
Joe Ramsden, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), 360° livestreamed his experience running the 2024 TCS London Marathon – the first to ever do so. With help from LiveU, Transmission TX and the Grip Company, Ramsden managed to finish the race. “It was incredibly tough, but I did it!” he enthused.
Three years prior to the 2024 Marathon, Ramsden was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with an aggressive form of MS, having lost the use of his left arm. He’s since regained use of that arm, but his MS continues.
Ramsden livestreamed the London Marathon to shine a light on his own struggle. “I wanted to find a way of showing what it looks like when people are having a really rough time; we shouldn’t hide away from those things. I wanted to inspire people,” he said.
After contacting LiveU, the company supplied an LU300S, a portable 4G/5G field unit that facilitated live coverage on the go, and LiveU Studio, which allowed Ramsden to stream directly to YouTube. Meanwhile, Transmission X offered video and audio equipment, while the Grip Company developed a bespoke rig, keeping in mind the added fatigue of running 26.2 miles.
“In a heartbeat, I knew we could help and we are very, very pleased to do so,” said Matt Stringer, LiveU’s sales director.
Panasonic prepares for key role in olympic and paralympic GAMES
Panasonic Connect is set to supply pro-grade displays, projection systems and broadcast production equipment to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games this summer in Paris. The company’s Kairos platform will deliver video content to LED screens across almost every venue – of which there are 26 – while remote cameras will connect all 29 press rooms at the Main Press Centre. Plus, Panasonic will install 130 laser projectors, including the world’s smallest and lightest model, reducing resource allocation and thus the event’s overall carbon footprint.
For over 30 years, Panasonic has provided audio-visual solutions to the Games, starting with Barcelona 1992. A Worldwide Olympic Partner, Worldwide Paralympic Partner and charter member of the Olympic Partner Programme, Panasonic is committed to equality, especially in athletic competition.
Gravity Media captures Crankworx Cairns
From 22 to 26 May, Gravity Media Australia provided global coverage of Crankworx Cairns, the world’s largest mountain bike festival, via Red Bull TV. A multi-day festival and competition, Cairns is one of four stops on the Crankworx World Tour.
Gravity Media deployed 23 cameras – including specialist cameras and drones – to capture the Cairns-based spectacle across five unique courses and four days. Having broadcast the festival for the past three years, Gravity Media continues to expand its coverage of Australia’s major cycling events, including the Tour Down Under, Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, UCI MTB World Championships and UCI BMX Racing World Cup.
Videosys hits the water
Videosys Broadcast deployed a pan-and-tilt camera system at this year’s Boat Race, an annual competition between Cambridge and Oxford Universities held on the River Thames. Designed by Videosys’ custom engineering division Presteigne Broadcast, the camera system – a compact, secure set-up for stability during the race – offered full pan-and-tilt control over IP.
With over 250,000 in-person spectators and millions of at-home viewers, the Boat Race is a regular fixture in the spring sport calendar. This year’s competition saw Cambridge triumph twice over Oxford.
Videosys installed four pan-and-tilt systems – one in each boat – to capture the action, which included two mini cameras mounted behind the coxswain and at the rowers’ feet. The feeds were sent to a Videosys Broadcast STX transmitter and switcher, and again to an OB van onshore.
Videosys made sure to stay out of the way when it came to the races. “Feedback from the crews was very positive,” began Ben Peach, one of the system’s engineers. “They liked the new design and how unobtrusive it was. It was literally plug and play straight out of the box.”
Hot for Sony Ci
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) ensures the safety of its drivers; this translates to its media asset management. Sony’s Ci Media Cloud platform supports the NHRA’s global production workflows, allowing teams to ingest race footage, remotely edit files and deliver final assets under tight deadlines.
The NHRA broadcasts events on Fox Sports and other Fox networks, as well as social media. The team also manages in-venue experiences, post-match shows and marketing content, as well as a FAST channel. “We’re dealing with multiple days of event footage,” said Megan Sewell, director of post-production at the NHRA, which all comes via Sony Ci.
The software also lets the NHRA upload footage straight away, which proves invaluable for high-profile moments. “Timeliness is everything,” said Nykki Schele, the NHRA’s senior social media manager.
The NHRA has been using Ci since 2017, reaping benefits such as uploading and storing content, feeding in live signals, logging timecodes, delivering footage and automating much of the above. “To say we’ve scratched the surface of what Ci can do is an understatement,” commented Stephen Reintjes, the NHRA’s vice president of broadcasting.
Relo Metrics backs British basketball
Relo Metrics (formerly Gum Gum Sports), an AI-powered analytics platform, is teaming up with the British Basketball League as its official brand valuation partner. As such, Relo will provide social media and broadcast analytics to the League’s interested and existing sponsors until the end of the 2023/24 season.
Since 1987, the League has represented the highest level of men’s professional basketball in the UK. It consists of ten teams situated in major cities throughout the country, including London, Manchester and Newcastle. As a rapidly growing federation, the League places high value on sponsorship revenue, which allows it to gather a global audience.
New partnership for South America
Supponor, a market leader in virtual advertising, and TGI Sport, a technology-led global sports media agency, unveiled a groundbreaking partnership in South America.
This strategic collaboration will enable Supponor and TGI Sport to combine their expertise and resources to offer tailored virtual advertising services to different sports partners in South America. Leveraging Supponor Air and TGI Sport’s extensive media services experience, the partnership seeks to change the way in which virtual advertising has been delivered in South America.
Supponor and TGI Sport will build a remote operating centre in the territory to ensure seamless and cost-efficient delivery. This will serve as a hub for driving the development of virtual advertising services to meet the evolving needs of sports rights holders, advertisers, and broadcasters.
The partnership has been presented and launched at Sportel Buenos Aires, where Supponor and TGI Sport are sharing a co-branded exhibition space. Attendees can visit to learn more about the potential of the sports virtual advertising landscape.
France Télévisions upgrades live set-up
Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Grass Valley announced that France Télévisions, now France TV, has selected its Kaleido KIP-X240 IP multiviewer, part of an enterprise-wide transition from SDI to SMPTE ST 2110.
The France TV group, which includes five national, 24 regional and nine overseas channels, has taken immediate delivery of 12 KIP-X240s as part of a three-year contract Grass Valley won in response to an RFP. With two of its channels – France 2 and 3 – already broadcasting in UHD, France TV anticipates acquiring more units to eventually replace its SDI-based Grass Valley Kaleido-X and Kaleido-MX multiviewers. The KIP-X240 IP multiviewers will be configured with Mellanox 2110 cards that enable ST 2110 UHD as well as HD/3G video monitoring.
“We are thrilled to support France TV as they continue to enhance their broadcast capabilities, using the latest products and services from Grass Valley to enable them to deliver efficient productions,” said Mark Gardner, VP of sales for EMEA at Grass Valley. “The integration of our KIP-X240 multiviewers into their SMPTE 2110 workflow is pivotal for dynamic video monitoring; we are proud to be part of this visionary project.”
FA Cup rights renewed by BBC
Starting from the 2025-2026 season, the BBC will broadcast 14 games per season co-exclusively with TNT Sports.
The broadcaster will air two live matches from each round through to the quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final. The BBC will also showcase highlights and digital clips across its platforms as part of the deal.
TNT Sports signed a new four-year agreement with the FA for the UK broadcasting rights to the football competition in February. The BBC currently shares coverage of the FA Cup with rival broadcaster ITV as part of a previous deal with the football organisation, which started at the beginning of the 2021-22 season.
ARRI showcases at SportsInnovation
Earlier this spring, Arri took a trip to Sportsinnovation, an annual sport and media showcase held in Düsseldorf. Arri presented its portfolio of pro-grade cameras and stabilisers which elevate sport broadcasts to cinematic levels.
During the event’s Innovation Games, Arri gave live demos of a 12-camera Multicam System set-up with Signature Zoom lenses, the Trinity Live and the 360 Evo, capturing the Deutsche Fußball Liga and National Football League – and showing the benefits of Arri technology for every sport.
Arri’s systems easily integrate with third-party equipment – such as Blackcam’s rail camera system, the Panther dolly and the Spidercam – to bring spectator sports to the masses in HD.
Biggest night in football
This year’s Super Bowl looked slightly different, especially if you were tuning in on Nickelodeon. The live broadcast used augmented reality – provided by Stage Precision’s SP tracking – to create an alternate (and arguably more entertaining) version of America’s biggest TV event. Attempting to appeal to younger audiences, Nickelodeon broadcast the Super Bowl’s first-ever simulcast. Thanks to AR, the game appeared as if it were taking place in Bikini Bottom, otherwise known as the Spongebob Squarepants universe.
For the traditional Super Bowl broadcast (which aired on CBS), Silver Spoon handled the AR, using 36 Unreal Engine servers to enhance touchdown celebrations, scorecard signage and more. “SP’s technology provided peace of mind, knowing that we could deliver a flawless broadcast to the largest audience in the world,” said Dan Pack, managing director at Silver Spoon.
Super Bowl LVIII broke ratings records, seeing 123.7 million viewers across CBS, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite and Univision.
This feature was first published in the Summer 2024 issue of FEED.
