last year , from producing CGI fans in stadiums , adding ambient noise to the broadcast , hosting zoom and team meetings with supporters , and replacing the spectators in stands with
cardboard cut-outs ,” notes Thierry Fautier , vice president of video strategy at Harmonic . “ Some of these features were hit and miss , and now we are finally seeing organisers bringing fans back to stadiums with limited capacity . Nothing will replace that ,” he declares .
According to James Carwana , GM of Intel Sports , covering sporting events without fans has reiterated the importance of creating immersive media experiences that connect fans to the teams , players , and action they love . “ With fans largely absent from major sporting events , we ’ ve strived to create unique media experiences in Intel True View that allows them to explore the most exciting plays of a game in unbound perspectives ,” he advises . “ Additionally , from a production perspective , covering events with limited onsite personnel has accelerated the importance of remote production capabilities . Prior to the pandemic , Intel Sports had already taken steps to transfer our volumetric video processing to the Cloud for fast and uninterrupted production while reducing our need for onsite personnel . In 2020 , the Intel Sports production team was unable to access
“ Sport is a social viewing experience . It ’ s about bringing people together .” - Jamie Hindhaugh , BT Sport
NFL venues due to pandemic restrictions , but being Cloud-ready enabled us to continue creating amazing storytelling content in True View for fans ,” he reports . ENGAGED . “ During a year without inperson attendance , sports needed to create unique viewing experiences and keep fans engaged — from wherever they were watching ,” says Mike Burk , general manager , LTN Create , LTN Global . “ This was the primary driver behind the adoption of new technology , and broadcasters have adapted to new ways of integrating consumer and prosumer devices into live production workflows . The pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated innovation in live sports broadcasting as broadcasters overcome several technology barriers to enable more immersive viewing experiences ,” he states .
“ With social distancing in place , broadcasters now need to be able to broadcast events with minimal infrastructure and with a system that can be handled by as few people as possible ,” notes Kieran Kunhya , CEO , Open Broadcast Systems . “ We ’ ve seen an increase in uptake of IP distribution this year as it is a low-cost and easily-utilised solution which has allowed flexibility within broadcast .”
“ Prior to the pandemic , it ’ s safe to say that the media & entertainment ( M & E ) sector hadn ’ t unleashed its full potential ,” asserts Dhaval Ponda , global head of media and entertainment services , Tata Communications . “ From the ways in which it was delivering content to fans to how it kept those fans engaged during the off season , there were many ways in which things could be improved . And when many of us were stuck indoors when the Covid-19 began last year , it became clear that audiences still desired content all the time and to feel fully immersed in the sporting experience , whether at home or in the stands ,” he notes . “ Adjacent to the upkeep of live content , we have seen a new form of entertainment gain more prominence out of lockdown – eSports . Sports federations faced a significant challenge around how to engage with fans . eSports and gaming have burst into the mainstream in recent years , transforming from a niche to a central form of entertainment around the world . With more people at home over the last year than ever before , there is no sign that the eSports boom will stop soon ,” he advises . “ With 2020 ’ s absence of inperson spectator sports , it ’ s clear that there
“ 5G will simplifythe content production process .” - Ronan Poullaouec , AVIWEST
is a huge pent-up demand for live sports , as evidenced by May ’ s FA Cup final , which received a record 9.1 million viewers ,” notes Darren Lepke , head of video product management at Verizon Media . “ Crowds
play an essential role in contributing to the atmosphere of live sports . Among the many challenges broadcasters faced during the past year was how they could evolve and make the live experience more interactive for viewers at home . Having fans feel as though they are part of the action has become a crucial differentiator for broadcasters who continue to look for new ways to engage and retain viewers . Content providers must continue to innovate and utilise technology to go beyond just replicating the traditional TV-watching experience for fans at home ,” he contends . TOGETHER . Given the enforced absence of fans from live events , what has been the effect of integrating ‘ watch together ’ social media capabilities into event coverage ?
“ Without the atmosphere of fans in the stadium , sports organisations need to extend that excitement into the viewer ’ s homes ,” says Accedo ’ s Gaydon . “ A ‘ watch together ’ approach leverages the intrinsic social nature of sports , but it ’ s crucial that the experience is active and not passive . Rather than simply syncing event streaming , content owners need to consider ways to drive conversations and meet fans in those spaces . By offering a wide variety of branded , sharable clips , they can leverage interactions with supporters on both sides . This is likely to offer sports organisations some valuable insights into fans viewing patterns , behaviours , and opinions on different content formats ,” he notes .
“ The main effect we have seen is a stronger demand for more live content and interactivity among people , as well as the need
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