Digital Video Tech Innovation - The Game Changer for Live Sports

Lorna Garrett

Author: Lorna Garrett

Published 4th June 2019

Digital Video Tech Innovation  - The Game Changer for Live Sports

Since the first live television sports event in 1936, when the Olympics was broadcast from Berlin, the sports industry has been an early adopter of the latest technology. The goal continues to be to deliver compelling content around the globe, now to multiple viewing platforms. It’s become a must-have that’s embedded in fan expectations and broadcasters’ marketing strategies.

The challenge is being able to affordably produce live events from a sports venue or an outdoor facility.

Sports broadcasters, production companies, and organisations are looking for are easy ways to increase the number of live broadcasts , with simplified work flows that don’t eat up their budgets.

Reliability and ease of use
It used to be that, in the world of video, ease of use and low cost came at the penalty of reliability and quality. However, o ne innovator has changed all of that — LiveU. The company was founded on a desire to make all these needs compatible rather than at odds with each other, and they’ve been leading in this area ever since with their cellular bonded solutions.

Let’s face it, viewers will quickly abandon a poor-quality video experience. But what control do you have over poor WiFi networks or limited cellular bandwidth? Actually, LiveU has made the technological advancements needed to ensure smooth and stable video delivery, including connection bonding, adaptive bitrate encoding, and the unique LiveU Reliable Transport (LRT™) protocol enabling reliable, low delay, live video streaming over non-guaranteed IP networks.

Take Cape Epic, an 8-day annual mountain bike stage race covering 658 km in South Africa's beautiful Western Cape region. Travelling via helicopters, motorbikes and e-bikes to gain the widest coverage, the LiveU LU600 HEVC and LiveU distribution technology provided the bandwidth and high-quality live video transport needed to live stream the entire event to multiple broadcast channels and social platforms — reinventing live sports coverage.

In the UK, more than 30 football clubs are working with LiveU and LiveU’s UK distributor, Garland, to deliver live matches, pre- and post-match interviews, training- ground action, women’s and academy matches, press conferences, and even a victory parade from the top of the bus! All made possible through the reliability and ease of use of LiveU.

Flexible and affordable
Affordability is key, particularly when your need to supply relevant content keeps increasing. Everyone is dealing with doing more for less. But

m aking the most of your video content opportunities also requires solutions that are flexible to changing environments and needs of different sports. From the main event feed, to news around the event, to fan engagement, LiveU have the solution. Their range includes the portable LU600 in 4K HEVC, the vehicle mount LU610-HEVC, the compact LU300-HEVC and even low- cost SOLO options for direct delivery to social media platforms.

Covering a live surfing competition will have its own special video requirements quite different from the live coverage needed for a snooker tournament , weight lifting, horse racing, or running marathon . The benefits of LiveU are that their tech is quick and easy-to-use, and means you’ll need fewer engineering experts to assist in production. LiveU solutions are designed to ensure that the delivery from the glass on the camera lens to the content viewer works flawlessly, whether it’s to TV, PC or mobile devices.

Simplified workflows
You don’t have to have your production team and equipment directly on site at the sports venue, but can leave them in the studio. This lets you cover more events with simplified logistics at a greatly reduced cost compared to traditional remote broadcasts.

It’s all available now
LiveU technology matched with ever improving cellular network connectivity is allowing the world of sport to dramatically increase productivity, reduce operational costs and maintain high-quality, reliable live video – all hugely important when trying to remain competitive while growing your audience base.

The sports world was the first to understand the power of live video. They know that power has only grown. It’s good to know technology innovators like LiveU are helping you stay ahead of the game.

Lorna Garrett, Co-Founder and Commercial Director of Garland, has been providing professional and profitable digital video solutions over the past 15 years. Contact her at +44(0)24 7610 2020 or info@gpl-uk.co.uk.

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