This document discusses how new technologies are changing live sports broadcasting. It describes the large scale of the broadcast operations for the 2012 London Olympics, including over 1,300 cameras, 37 concurrent feeds, and data transmitted at 230GB/s. It then outlines several startups that are disrupting sports broadcasting through automated camera production, live graphics/stats overlays, cloud-based production/management, and virtual commentary from remote studios. These technologies allow entire broadcasts to be produced remotely and delivered to viewers worldwide, representing a virtual and automated future for live sports production.

1. THE FUTURE OF
LIVE SPORTS
PRODUCTION
How new technologies & virtual production techniques
are changing sports broadcasting for good.
Ben Reynolds | ben@spalk.co

2. This 85,000 sq.
meter warehouse
is the IBC
(International
Broadcast Center)
for the 2012
London Olympics
2

3. NUMBERS
BEHIND THE
IBC
EQUIPMENT
- 52 Mobile Production Truck Units from 6 countries
- World’s Longest Cable Cam (2,340m) at Rowing Venue
- 1,300 cameras utilized across all venues
- 25,000 km of fiber optic cable laid between venues
- Drones used for live coverage
DATA
- Up to 37 con-current feeds
- 230GB/s of data in/out from the IBC
PEOPLE
- >7,100 people directly involved by Olympic Broadcast
Services
- A further 5,000 people from the 50+ broadcast partners
INNOVATION
- Live Ultra-HD Content Produced for the 1st time
3

4. The IBC produces 5,600 hours
of live action from the games
and is watched by over 4.8
billion people in 220 countries…
4

5. And here’s
what’s going
on inside the
IBC…
5

6. “The Olympics have always been a
platform for the introduction of new
broadcast technology…”
NBC Olympics President, Gary Zenkel
BUT DISRUPTION IS COMING
6

7. So let’s explore
the startups
that are
disrupting this
workflow…
7

8. FIRST UP…
Automated Cameras
& Video Production
FEATURED STARTUPS
Keemotion, Playsight, Hawkeye, Spiideo, Hudl &
Pixellot
1.
8

9. HOW DOES IT WORK?
Cameras mounted in venues
can use various technology,
such as Computer Vision and
Live Stitching, to follow the
action & automatically
produce live broadcasts.
AUTOMATED
CAMERA
PRODUCTION
9

10. TO ENHANCE THE FEED..
Graphics & Live
Stats Overlays
FEATURED STARTUPS
LIGR & Singular.live
2.
10

11. Live Statistics & Automated Graphics
can be produced from the Broadcast
Data Feed & be overlayed directly
onto live content.
11

12. TO DIRECT & PRODUCE THE FEED…
Cloud Production &
Management
FEATURED STARTUPS
Dazzl, Tellyo & CloudMix
3.
12

13. CLOUD PRODUCTION &
MANAGEMENT
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Remote Producers are able to produce feeds –
including camera switching, audio management &
overlays – all from a cloud based Dashboard made
up of various data and audio visual inputs.
13

14. MULTI-LINGUAL COMMENTARY…
Commentary
Production
FEATURED STARTUPS
Spalk & Suitcase TV
4.
14

15. LIVE
Commentators are able to call
matches from Home Studios utilizing
advances in low-latency &
synchronization technology.
15

16. BRINGING IT TO LIFE…
Other Production
Enhancements
FEATURED STARTUPS
HIGHLIGHTS: Reely, WSC, Snappy TV, Thuze & GrabYo
VR: NextVR
CUSTOM ADVERTISEMENTS: UniqFeed
5.
16

17. HOW DOES IT WORK?
Advances in Virtual Reality &
AI Highlights clipping have led
to a rise of offerings for
broadcasts to deepen their
coverage.
OTHER
PRODUCTION
ENHANCEMENTS
17

18. The Future of
Broadcasting
is Virtual…
18

19. In 1936, the first Olympic Games was
broadcast live, and only to crowds directly
outside the venue…
In less than 100 years since this feat, we will
see entirely automated, immersive & virtual
broadcasts piped directly to every
smartphone & TV on the planet!
19

20. ABOUT SPALK
We founded Spalk to solve an important problem – why is it so difficult to produce
sports content that speaks to every sports fan in their preferred language or style?
Our Virtual Commentary Studio is used by leagues and broadcasters like the NBA G
League, World Rugby & FIBA to offer dozens of different commentators on their live
broadcasts -- without the travel costs of flying commentators around the world.
Our partners use us to save thousands of dollars on every live broadcast, reduce travel
and organizational overhead and, most importantly, to increase their audience through
multi-lingual and influencer commentary.
Reach out to have a conversation about Virtual Production!
Ben Reynolds, CEO & Co-Founder
ben@spalk.co | +1 646 659 6509 | +64 21 101 4896
London 2012 Statistics & International Broadcast Center Workflow Diagram sourced from OBS – Olympic Broadcast Services (obs.tv). No relationship
should be assumed between the Spalk & OBS or any other company mentioned in this presentation. While some companies are commercial partners of
Spalk’s, this presentation is intended as a robust market overview. Please send corrections, omissions or comments to ben@spalk.co