plan can create their own Watch Together rooms and invite any other BT Sport customer to join them to create a unique match viewing experience . For those EE customers who take out the large screen access add-on , Watch Together can now be enjoyed on their living room television by pairing their mobile phone with an Apple TV .
• A new ‘ pinch and zoom ’ functionality enables fans to home in on their desired areas of interest to make customers feel like they are at the ground . 360 offers viewers the chance to select different camera angles and viewpoints , not normally seen in broadcast . 360 provides a completely different viewing experience from the usual fixed-camera positions , allowing viewers to look around in a 360-degrees .
• Match Day Live – EE 5G customers can access team line-ups , formations and ingame stats brought to life through stunning Augmented Reality from wherever they are watching the action .
• Stadium Experience - Customers can use an Augmented Reality doorway in the BT Sport app to be transported from wherever they are into exclusive behind the scenes experiences of leading football teams and sporting stadiums . Depending on the club and stadium , these include areas such as dressing rooms , dugouts , trophy rooms and tunnel areas .
• Dolby Atmos – Launching later this season for select events , Dolby Atmos sound brings the game to life in full multi-dimensional audio , so customers can get the stadium experience on the go .
• Manager Mode – EE customers will have the choice of adding real-time graphics as
“ Our new Match Day Experience features will provide an amazing array of ways to enhance sports viewing .” Marc Allera , BT
part of the match coverage augmented on the pitch . The feature provides informative and insightful stats , such as a mini-map tracking the positions of all players for a tactical viewpoint , plus player names , player speeds and more such as tracers marking the path of shots .
“ We continually look for ways to offer customers new and innovative services , allowing them to make the most from their smartphone ,” commented Marc Allera , chief executive , BT ’ s consumer division . “ Our new Match Day Experience features will provide an amazing array of ways to enhance their sports viewing .”
“ They can now watch the action live with their mates thanks to integrated video chat . Get closer to the game with the best ever 360 ° views , and view real-time stats and graphics projected on the pitch and around each player with Manager Mode . What ’ s more - only with us can they also get up-close and personal , with advanced Match Day Live AR features – ensuring that when they ’ re out and about , they can always get the best seats in the house .”
“ At this moment of social distancing and crowd-less stadia , Match Day Experience gets fans closer than ever to the sports they love ,” added Rio Ferdinand , BT Sport pundit and former England captain . “ The features build on what is already the best sports App anywhere and will enable EE customers to enjoy the most immersive sports broadcasts seen to date .”
As Major League Soccer ( MLS ) returned to action with the MLS is Back tournament , Los Angeles Football Club
( LAFC ) began delivering what it says are new innovative video experiences for fans to connect with the club after soccer ’ s hiatus .
Using cloud video platform Grabyo , LAFC produced and delivered live and real-time video content to engage its fans across all of its digital channels .
With the tournament being played behind closed doors , LAFC leveraged Grabyo ’ s advanced live streaming platform to host pre and post-game live shows on social media , to enrich the experience of following the club and replicate the matchday experience . These shows are highly interactive , encouraging fans to give their opinions and comments for the show ’ s guests to discuss . Leveraging the interactive nature of live social broadcasts will drive longer watch times and engagement with the club – as well as connecting fans with a focal point for online support .
LAFC is also giving fans more access to the club than ever before , with player interviews and behind the scenes content from training delivered to its digital channels . The club has also begun hosting pre-game shows on YouTube TV and a live member tailgate on the LAFC app . During the Covid-19 pandemic , fans have responded positively to more raw , personal content from players and broadcasters , a trend that LAFC plans to continue .
“ At a time where we need to be more connected than ever , Grabyo has helped the Club seamlessly transition from our home at Banc of California Stadium to the digital space that is now our reality ,” commented LAFC chief technology officer Christian Lau .
“ We ’ re delighted to be working with LAFC to bring its fans closer to the club at this time of social distancing ,” added Mike Kelley , president of Americas at Grabyo . “ The club ’ s video strategy is executed with the fans at the centre of everything , and this type of fan engagement is where the game is going .
Fans are realising the true value of live social video and appreciate a raw , unfiltered look into the team they follow . This appetite for more access won ’ t be going away anytime soon .”
“ We ’ ll bring fans closer to the game and players they love with new personalised experiences .” - Satya Nadella , Microsoft .
The National Basketball Association ( NBA ) and Microsoft announced a new multiyear alliance , which they say will transform the way fans experience the NBA . As part of this collaboration , Microsoft will become the Official
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