Cricket-focused magazine show includes ECB’s Tom Harrison talking about the future of the highly anticipated The Hundred tournament. The first episode of Sky Sports’ The Cricket Show will TX at 2pm tomorrow (30 April). It features cricket ‘super fan’ Captain Tom Moore, who has raised more than £29m for the NHS through his garden walks. […]
Category archives: Production
Sunset + Vine furloughs almost 80% of staff
Sports indie operating with 30 employees as live events shut down. Sports indie Sunset + Vine has furloughed three-quarters of staff as production is put on pause, with senior execs taking pay cuts. Speaking to trade publication Sport Business, Jeff Foulser, who chairs the Tinopolis-owned producer, said around 100 individuals – 77% of its 130 […]
Eleven Sports Portugal creates new esports motorsports format
The esports event will be televised by Eleven Sports Portugal, with Eleven Sports prizes for the winners. Eleven Sports Portugal has created a new esports motorsports format, in partnership with GTC Race Centre and the Autódromo Virtual de Lisboa. The tournament will consist of six heats and culminate in a grand final on Sunday 7 […]
Behind the scenes: PDC Home Tour darts
Broadcast Sport gets the low down on how the innovative home darts tournament has been staged and broadcast. Loop Productions, based at The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol has revealed its role in getting the PDC Home Tour darts tournament on air. Speaking to Broadcast Sport, the company’s production engineer Adam Young, said: “We used […]
COMMENT: Hitting the right notes with music on sports productions
Charles Gadsdon, global director of growth EMEA, MassiveMusic on the importance of creating a sonic brand for TV sport. In football, music is arguably just as important as the club badges, colours and nicknames. Whether the chorus of fans in the Kop singing the moving You’ll Never Walk Alone to the playful I’m Forever Blowing […]
Sky Sports to broadcast ‘watch-along’ golf final with Rory McIlroy
Close fought final gets a re-run tomorrow evening, hosted by tournament winner McIlroy. Sky Sports is broadcasting a ‘watch-along’ screening of the final of the Players Championship 2019 golf tournament, featuring live insight and breakdown from tournament winner Rory McIlroy. McIlroy will join Nick Dougherty and Brandel Chamblee live from 9.35pm tomorrow (Tuesday, 28 April) […]
S4C lines up schedule of Welsh sporting classics
Welsh broadcaster goes big on Wales-focused sporting re-runs. Welsh broadcaster S4C is the latest to announce a series of archive broadcasts, to fill the slot left by live sport cancellations. Naturally, it’s focused on Wales’ sporting past, with the broadcaster commissioning a number of productions it will TX over the coming weeks. The programming includes […]
Podcast: Blast Premier CEO Robbie Douek on the growth of esports during the pandemic
Blast Premier esports CEO Robbie Douek talks to Broadcast Sport reporter Max Miller. In episode #9 of the Broadcast Tech Talks podcast series, Blast Premier esports CEO Robbie Douek talks to Broadcast Sport reporter Max Miller about the appeal of esports – what draws fans to the games, and how esports can capitalise on the […]
Industry responds to lockdown: watch virtual roundtable debate
You can stream the full BT Media & Broadcast sports industry discussion for free. BT Media & Broadcast has shared the full virtual roundtable webinar discussion it held last week to discuss the impact coronavirus is having on sports production and broadcast. The roundtable included representatives from BT Sport, Excel Esports, FACEIT and Noah Media […]
United World Wrestling brings in slomo.tv for video refereeing
The system has been undergoing testing by the wrestling governing body for the last two years. Amateur wrestling governing body United World Wrestling (UWW) has chosen Slomo.tv as its video referee for all its matches. The company’s videoReferee-SR systems will be used at 20 competitions as well as the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games. UWW, […]
Liverpool FC to repurpose archive content for fans during lockdown
It’s using cloud-based editing and publishing platform Blackbird. Liverpool FC is using remote video editing and publishing platform Blackbird to repurpose content from its archive, to provide fans with rarely seen clips during the Covid-19 pandemic. The archive content will be published on the Liverpool FC website and social platforms including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and […]
Alternative thrills: Why esports is like punk rock
Ross Video esports business development manager Cameron Reed on the anti-establishment appeal of esports. In the 1970s punk music offered a new home to young people looking for an alternative to the established norms; it represented a rebellion against a mainstream culture that its followers saw as conservative, traditional and saccharine. I think you can […]
Podcast: BT Sport COO Jamie Hindhaugh on creating a virtual studio during lockdown
BT Sport has decentralised production to enable presenters and crew to create, produce and broadcast live shows from their homes. Episode 8 of the Broadcast Tech Talks podcast series sees BT Sport COO Jamie Hindhaugh talking with Broadcast Sport editor Jake Bickerton about how the broadcaster has responded to lockdown. Working to a very tight […]
The tech that could breathe life into an unattended game
Rosh Singh, managing director at ‘innovation production studio’ Unit9 (pictured below) reveals the tech innovations that could breathe life and energy into the broadcast of an unattended game. VR is a terrible medium for watching sports. Even ignoring the fact that the distribution of headsets is too far too low for it to be meaningful, […]
Live darts returns to television
The Professional Darts Corporation’s home-staged tournament, Home Tour darts, is being televised each night from 7:30pm. One of the few examples of live sports still on our screens is the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Home Tour darts tournament, which began on Friday. The competition runs for 32 consecutive nights, broadcasting live and on-demand for free […]
Podcast: Ronnie O’Sullivan & Eurosport’s Jamie Steward
O’Sullivan talks about what he’s been up to during lockdown, including recording a series of 30-minute vodcasts for Eurosport, while Steward reveals Eurosport’s sports strategy to fill the live sport void during the pandemic. The latest episode of Broadcast Tech Talks podcast series sees Ronnie O’Sullivan join Eurosport UK senior director of production and broadcast […]
Arsenal launches TikTok account with exclusive content and mini-series
The football club will use the platform to target a younger audience. Arsenal has launched an official account on social media platform TikTok. The club aims to use TikTok to target a new audience and younger demographic with “exclusive access to first-team stars, behind-the-scenes content, current trends, challenges and exclusive mini-series.” Arsenal has 70+ million […]
Real Estelí FC adds English commentary to YouTube matches
English commentary will help expand the global audience for the club. Nicaraguan club Real Estelí FC has teamed up with virtual commentary studio Spalk to make its matches available in English. The games will be streamed in English through the club’s YouTube channel in an attempt to expand its fan base. Spalk will be providing […]
LaLiga unveils three new programme formats during lockdown
Spanish football league is rolling out new programming to its domestic and international audience. LaLiga is creating three new programmes to enable fans to get closer to LaLiga stars. The shows – LaLiga StayAtHome, LaLiga Clubs and LaLiga Nations – will air on LaLiga’s national and international broadcasters, including LaLigaTV. LaLiga StayAtHome is a 30-minute […]
Viewpoint: The appeal and thrill of esports
Amanda Lawson, global head of content at esports company Gfinity on the thrill of the game. Having spent 20 years working in sport, from football through combat sports and more recently in esports, I thought I had seen everything. I am sitting in our broadcast gallery in Fulham, sitting in a different room to my […]
Former ESPN CEO joins board of interactive streamer Maestro
The company adds Steve Bornstein to its advisory board during a period of growth. Live interactive streaming platform Maestro has added Steve Bornstein, the former CEO of ESPN and former CEO of NFL Network to its advisory board. He will help guide Maestro as it aims to grow from its heartland of esports to traditional […]
Eurosport reveals snooker content to replace World Snooker Championship
The broadcaster, which calls itself the Home of Snooker, has created new content with snooker legends, as well as new formats that enable fans to delve into its extensive snooker archive. Eurosport has unveiled its snooker programming over the next two weeks to replace the postponed World Snooker Championship season finale. The broadcaster has created […]
Viewpoint: Encouraging diversity in production
Words: Anna Ward, head of production for Premier League Productions, IMG Stockley Park is not only home to the much talked about VAR, it’s also the base for IMG’s Studios production outfit. We employ over 600 technical and production staff with a client and programming portfolio of many of the world’s top sports federations and […]
Whisper chief sacrifices entire salary
Sunil Patel forgoes income as Sony indie faces £30m shortfall Whisper chief executive Sunil Patel has given up his entire year’s salary to help staff as the indie reacts to having almost £30m of revenues placed on hold. The directors of the Sony-backed business, which also include Jake Humphrey and David Coulthard, were each […]
COPA90 tackles mental health in latest episode of The Groundbreakers
New episode of popular COPA90 series sees Michael Keane discussing his own mental health. The latest episode of COPA90 series The Groundbreakers sees Everton and England player Michael Keane talking about his struggles with mental health. The production was made in association with mental health charity Calm, and focuses on how Keane reacted to an […]
Roundtable: How to Build A Fan Base
The rise in new sports formats has focused attention on the best way to combine traditional media with social and digital platforms to engage with and retain audiences. In recent years, a plethora of newly devised sports formats have launched. Formats like Sail GP, Extreme E, the Six Day Series and Roborace or major one-off […]
Eleven Sports goes free in Italy and Portugal
The OTT broadcaster removes subscription costs for the rest of April, and – in Portugal – all of May too. Eleven Sports has frozen all subscriptions in Italy until 3 May and in Portugal until 31 May. The full archive of content on the platform will be made available for free during this time. Eleven […]
Sky Sports updates schedules with archive, docs and a series of new shows
Archive material, new shows and documentaries to be unveiled by Sky Sports over the coming weeks and months. Sky Sports is launching a weekday mid-morning football show and adding a range of content across its 11 channels, digital and social platforms in an attempt to “give viewers their sporting fix during these times of national […]
Sports industry experts join webinar to discuss the impact of the pandemic
Sign up now to hear experts from BT Sport, Noah Media, Excel Sports and FACEIT at 4pm on 14 April. BT Media & Broadcast is running a virtual roundtable webinar, The changing content landscape, at 4pm on Tuesday 14 April. The event will discuss the way the sports industry is evolving in its response to […]
Otro receives investment from Eleven Sports backer Aser Ventures
The investment comes as the sports content creator transitions away from a subscriptions model Aser Ventures has made an equity investment in the sports-focused content studio Otro. The investment company’s portfolio already includes a number of sports businesses such as Eleven Sports and Leeds United. The investment in Otro is a ‘strategic partnership’ between Aser […]
BT Sport launches live show to re-run last year’s Champions League
Archive material to be aired by BT Sport in a new live show format, preceded by highlights from classic European finals BT Sport is re-running key UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League moments for British clubs through two new productions. The first new series – Throwbacks, on BT Sport 2 – is focused on […]
Rakuten TV unveils feature-length Sadio Mané doc Made in Senegal
The 72-minute documentary will be streamed free-to-air on Rakuten TV. Rakuten TV is debuting a 72-minute documentary about Liverpool FC’s Sadio Mané, called Made In Senegal. The film goes live tomorrow (8 April) as part of the OTT service’s free ad-supported Rakuten Stories doc strand. Made in Senegal documents Manés’ origins from humble beginnings in […]
COVID-19’s effect on football: Spotlight on the Women’s Game
Rebecca Smith, global director of the women’s game, Copa90 gives her opinion on how the coronavirus crisis could impact the growth of women’s football. The effects of the coronavirus pandemic is being felt across the globe and the consequences for football and in particular women’s football are multifaceted and complex. The recent announcements that the […]
BT Sport unveils schedule of original sports docs for April
Broadcaster to screen one original sports doc a week. BT Sport is to showcase one original sports documentary a week during the coronavirus crisis. Its schedule of BT Sport Films covers sports stories across a wide range of sports, including football, rugby, boxing and MotoGP. The first of the weekly series was broadcast yesterday with […]
Almost 5m tune in to the Virtual Grand National
The virtual version of the real thing pulls in around half the audience of last year’s real race. ITV’s Virtual Grand National reached a peak audience of 4.8m, with an average of 4.3m (a 28% audience share) tuning in to the broadcast. The computer simulation of the annual horse race – which ran at the […]
Arsenal FC chooses Blackbird for quick-turnaround social content
Cloud video editor to be used by the club for editing and distributing live and archive content on social platforms. Arsenal Football Club has announced it’s to use cloud video platform Blackbird for the speedy editing and publishing of content to fans. The club, which has a combined following of 70+ million fans across its […]
BBC fills sports void with wealth of sports archive content
The broadcaster is replacing live sports events with classic sporting moments. With coronavirus putting a stop to all live sport, BBC Sport is the latest sport broadcaster to turn its attentions to archive sports footage. It’s scheduling a whole calendar of archive sporting events, including the London 2012 Olympic Games. BBC1 will show both The […]
Wimbledon 2020 cancelled, Women’s Euro 2021 postponed
Two more huge sporting events affected by the coronavirus pandemic In somewhat inevitable news, the All England Club (AELTC) announced earlier today that Wimbledon 2020 wouldn’t go ahead – the first time the iconic tennis competition has been cancelled since World War II. A decision has also been made to move the Women’s European Championship […]
Blast esports tournaments to move from stadiums to online
Esports tournament promises “an immersive live broadcast unlike anything done before”. Global esports network Blast is adapting its forthcoming Premier Spring Showdown and Spring Final events to be played remotely, in response to the coronavirus crisis. The events, which are both scheduled for June, were previously due to be held live in stadiums in front […]
LiveU and Tencent partner to broadcast live sport despite covid-19 lockdowns
LiveU supplied remote production equipment to film the event LiveU and Chinese broadcaster Tencent managed to bring some live sport to viewers recently, in the form of speed skating. The 2020 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in South Korea were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and in reaction, the China Short Track Speed […]
2020 Tokyo Olympic Games confirms rescheduled 2021 dates
The event has had to reschedule due to the coronavirus pandemic The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games has confirmed that it will run from 23 July until 8 August, 2021. Despite the move to next year, the organisers have decided to keep the 2020 name. The Games has had to be moved due to the coronavirus […]
BT Sport Early Kick Off to be produced live from home using 4G network
BT earlier produced Scottish Football Extra from home, and is now moving this onto other production BT Sport is to produce its Early Kick Off show live from home this Saturday. Presenter Jake Humphrey revealed on Twitter that the show will be created with one crew member with him at his house – who will […]
Tech Talks podcast: Duncan Alexander on the power of football stats during the pandemic
Episode #3 of the new Broadcast Tech Talks podcast is with Stats Perform/OptaJoe football statistician, broadcaster and author Duncan Alexander In this eight-minute interview – the third in the new Broadcast Tech Talks podcast series – Stats Perform chief data editor Duncan Alexander provides some fascinating insight into how historic football data consistently unearths new […]
French sports minister signals Tour de France could go ahead
The race could go ahead behind closed doors as it doesn’t rely on ticket sales French sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, believes the Tour de France could still go ahead behind closed doors this summer. With ticket sales not a major source of income for the race, the event could still go ahead without fans attending. […]
Mediapro to temporarily lay off 1200 employees, covering salaries
It is taking advantage of Spain’s ERTE programme, which covers salaries during the country’s coronavirus lockdown Mediapro will temporarily lay off 1200 employees, covering their salaries in the meantime with help from the Spanish government’s ERTE programme – according to reports. The initiative helps companies to continue paying salaries during the country’s coronavirus lockdown. It […]
Globecast seals partnership with Outdoor Sport Channel
The deal includes an exclusivity agreement in the US Globecast has sealed a multi-year partnership with the Outdoor Sport Channel for distribution of its HD and 4K content to multichannel video programming distributors. The deal is for worldwide distribution and means Globecast will be the exclusive distributor in the US. It covers linear channel and […]
The emerging world of AI-driven solutions in sports broadcasting
Paul Cramer, managing director, enterprise broadcast solutions, Veritone, reveals how the latest in AI technology can help sport broadcasters with advertising and more It’s nothing short of astounding how much – and how quickly – artificial intelligence is transforming our world. Today’s most innovative AI solutions are the ones that amplify human effectiveness, taking people […]
Deltatre strengthens global commercial team with double hire
The company is continuing to bring people in despite the coronavirus troubles in sport Deltrate has brought in two new hires to its global commercial team. Former Perform executive Adam Bowley joins the company as commercial manager, and will perform account management duties for its LIVE clients in the UK. Meanwhile, Adam Bigwood has come […]
Discovery releases statement on Olympics postponement
The broadcaster had been planning to show the event this summer on Eurosport Discovery has released a statement on the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe revealed that the competition will be suspended on Tuesday, leaving the broadcaster with a large gap in its schedules this summer. In the […]
Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponed until 2021 to leave broadcasters’ schedules bare
Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe announced that the games will take place next year The 2020 Tokyo Olympics has been postponed until 2021, announced Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe. The IOC had given itself a four-week deadline to make a decision earlier this week, but it has only taken just two days since that announcement […]
Tech Talks podcast: Sunset+Vine launches Scottish Football Extra From Home
Sister site Broadcast Tech talks to Sunset+Vine executive producer Grant Philips about producing sports content during the coronavirus outbreak, in the second of its podcast series – Tech Talks Following the first Broadcast Tech Talk podcast with Coffee & TV CEO Derek Moore, the second in Broadcast Tech’s new podcast series is a conversation between […]
Sports Content Summit: How the FA integrated esports into its digital channels
FA senior content innovations manager, Damien Cullen, explained how the governing body has revolutionised its digital output, at the Broadcast Sport Content Summit The FA has seen its online output grow in popularity and quality in recent years, and this has been in part thanks to its tie in with esports competitions. Speaking at the […]
Southampton chief claims Premier League could be broadcast before restrictions end
Chief executive Martin Semmens thinks games could be shown every day while people are at home Southampton chief executive Martin Semmen believes that the Premier League could return before coronavirus restrictions are lifted from daily life. Semmens, speaking to BBC Radio Solent, appears to think that play could be possible sooner than expected – despite […]
Sports Content Summit: Liverpool FC on how to design digital content as a club
The club has seen major growth online with through its social media channels Speaking at the Broadcast Sport Content Summit this month, Liverpool FC head of social media, Adam Hulme, and head of digital video, Mark Volante, revealed how the club thinks when designing content for fans. The club has seen major growth in followers […]
Sports Content Summit: How to create social content for 18-34 age group
Copa90 and Little Dot reveal top tips for targetting key 18-34 audience online Copa90 and Little Dot revealed their audience targeting strategies while talking at the Broadcast Sport Content Summit this month. The two companies largely work through YouTube, creating original and branded content for viewers. However, with so many people trying to gain a […]
Premier League and UK football suspended until 30 April, season extended
This will give broadcasters more idea of how long they will have to plan for The Premier League, EFL, WSL, and FA have decided to further postpone their competitions until 30 April at the earliest. In addition, the FA’s board has agreed to alter the rule that states “the season shall terminate not later than […]
Figures across esports eye opportunity during and after coronavirus crisis
The industry is aiming to take advantage of the postponements in traditional sports Several esports figures are looking at the cancellation of traditional sports events worldwide as an opportunity for the industry. With high profile live sport on hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, a sport that can largely be played online is one of very […]
Sunset+Vine reveals coronavirus production measures
The company is adapting to cope during the uncertain times Sunset+Vine has revealed the measures it is taking amid the coronavirus crisis to keep production running. With many live sports competitions and events not going ahead for the foreseeable future, the company has had to focus on other content. For example, studio-based production and branded […]
Will Carling blog #6: The odds of placekicking
Will Carling continues his exclusive blog series for Broadcast Sport during a Six Nations tournament now abruptly halted by coronavirus. This week he looks at the insight provided by the new kick predictor on-screen graphics. To say the Guinness Six Nations Championship has been a little unusual this year is an understatement. While the last […]
UEFA creates committee to discuss revised European football calendar
Committee aims to remake the calendar to ensure completion of European football leagues in 2020. LaLiga, the Premier League, European Club Association, UEFA and European Leagues have all confirmed they will take part in a UEFA-created committee to discuss the revised European football calendar for 2020. LaLiga president Javier Tebas will represent the league’s interests, […]
Timeline reveals post-production work on Sport Relief docs
It worked with BBC Sport on Greg James’ Sport Relief Heroes and 2020: Gareth Thomas’ Tour de Trophy Timeline Television North has revealed it provided full post-production to both Greg James’ Sport Relief Heroes and 2020: Gareth Thomas’ Tour de Trophy for Sport Relief. The company, based in MediaCityUK, Salford, provided offline, online edits, and […]
Euro 2020 joins sporting events suspended due to coronavirus
It opens the opportunity for domestic leagues to be finished in the summer The European Championships has been suspended until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After a meeting at UEFA, the Norwegian FA revealed that the tournament is now planned to go ahead next summer – from 11 June until 11 July 2021. This […]
Bowls Premier League ramps up digital coverage
Australia’s fast-action bowls tournament created live social video highlight clips to help attract a new, younger audience to bowls. The Bowls Premier League (BPL), held in Moama, New South Wales, Australia last month, used cloud-based live video production platform Grabyo to create, edit and deliver real-time social video highlights. The highlight clips were used to […]
Extreme E appoints head of broadcast and technology
Dave Adey will be hoping to bring cutting-edge technology to the sport Extreme E has appointed Dave Adey as its head of broadcast and technology. Adey will be in charge of sourcing cutting-edge technology for remote broadcast and race control vision – with the race series aiming to be environmentally friendly while filming in remote […]
Sky Sports follows BT Sport with coronavirus statement
The broadcaster is also refusing to refund customers Sky Sports has released a statement regarding the coronavirus’ impact on the sporting calendar. With major sporting events from around the world cancelling or postponing their events, it has left the broadcaster without much live content for its channels. This had left customers wondering if they would […]
BT Sport responds to coronavirus cancellations
All professional football in England has been cancelled until 4 April BT Sport has responded to the news that all English football has joined many major European competitions and leagues in postponing games. The Premier League, EFL, and WSL announced on Friday that matches will be suspended until 4 April. Across Europe, the Champions League, […]
Premier League suspended: European football’s reaction to Covid-19
Professional football has been suspended across Europe The Premier League, EFL, and WSL have announced that they will suspend professional football in England due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is currently planned to return on 4 April but will be subject to medical advice and conditions at the time. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea […]
Amazon Prime Video fields Paris Saint Germain doc
Four-parter will go behind the scenes with the French football team. Amazon Prime Video is to explore the heart of French football club Paris Saint-Germain in an upcoming series. Over four-parts, the series, produced by PSG TV and CAPA, will offer an insight into the team, replete with exclusive footage filmed over a season and […]
Amazon announces Fernando Alonso documentary
The series will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Formula One champion Amazon Prime Video has announced the creation of a new documentary about two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso, named Fernando. The series will follow the driver and his team’s journey over the last year in five episodes. His manager Luis Garcia Abad, […]
Project Access launched to boost women in sport broadcasting
It was started on International Women’s Day Project Access, a cross-industry initiative to help women enter and progress in sports broadcasting – has been launched this week. The organisation is starting off with the help of Host Broadcast Services (HBS), IMG, the English Football League (EFL) and Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT). In addition to […]