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Remote Commentary: How major sporting rights holders are using cloud production tools to deliver localized commentary

As broadcasters and media rights holders shift to more hybrid and remote production workflows for live sport, the flexibility of remote commentary has led to more engaging and tailored live content for audiences. 

With hybrid and remote production workflows now commonplace in live sport, many major media rights holders and broadcasters are finding new and innovative ways to produce engaging live sports broadcasts for global and local audiences.

Grabyo’s remote guest contribution app is giving organizations more flexibility in recruiting on-air talent for major sporting events. Using Grabyo’s Producer Guest, commentators can join live broadcasts using just a laptop and a microphone, from anywhere in the world. 

Removing the need for talent to travel to a fixed location is providing more opportunity and flexibility for broadcasters. This increased flexibility is enabling production teams to create localized broadcasts for specific audiences. 

Whether packaging a global feed, or redistributing a live broadcast to another territory, broadcasters are recruiting local talent with more relevance to their target audience – this could be to provide multi-language commentary, or to give the program local flavor. 

Reducing the need for on-site commentary drives down the cost of travel and transport of personnel and equipment while reducing the carbon footprint of live sports broadcasts. 

Over the past year, many have learned that creating engaging live broadcasts remotely takes a nuanced approach. Those who have experimented and adapted using cloud-based production tools have seen the benefits. Here are a few examples:

Korean K-League 1 returns to action with commentary provided in Australia

After a postponed season, the K League 1 used Grabyo’s cloud video platform to produce and deliver its season to its YouTube and Twitter channels. The K League was the first major football league to resume action after postponements and cancellations due to the COVID-19 health pandemic. 

With restrictions on public gatherings, only essential personnel were present at the match. Grabyo’s cloud-native live production platform enabled K League’s team to work remotely and safely from anywhere in the world, collaborating in real-time to deliver the match broadcast. 

Renowned commentator Simon Hill covered the match entirely remotely, using Grabyo’s remote contribution capabilities. Hill was based in Australia and appeared on the broadcast using a laptop with a microphone. 

K-League’s approach to remote commentary has acted as a blueprint for sporting events worldwide even beyond the current health pandemic. 

The Carribean Premier League repackages classic matches with live talent

In an industry-first, the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) broadcast their classic matches from the past, but with a difference. The games were broadcast with live commentary.

CPL enlisted its world-class broadcasting team, including Tom Moody, Danny Morrison, Ian Bishop, and Alex Jordon, to commentate live on the action. Using Grabyo’s cloud video platform, the commentators were able to join the broadcast from locations all over the world.

To make each match as realistic as possible, the commentary team wasn’t provided with any match information before taking part in the live stream. Reactions from the team were live as if they are watching the match for the first time. Featuring some of the greatest T20 cricketers, fans could re-live their performances with the commentary creating an authentic feel to the experience.

Broadcasting to Facebook and YouTube allowed fans to remain part of the experience, through the comments and engagements, without being at the match.

Sports Flick localizes UEFA Women’s Champions League broadcasts

Sports Flick Global, the worldwide OTT and pay-per-view platform for live sports, partnered with Grabyo to create bespoke viewing experiences for its subscribers.

With a growing global subscriber base, Sports Flick chose the use of Grabyo to remotely produce and tailor its international live broadcasts for regional audiences, including the use of local talent for presentation and commentary.

The platform uses Grabyo’s remote production tools to provide local commentary for its other properties across the globe.

The sports OTT platform utilized Grabyo’s remote contribution tools to bring some local flavor to its UEFA Women’s Champions League match broadcasts for its Australian audiences. 

Using Producer Guest, Grabyo’s remote contribution web app, Sports Flick, leverages local talent for commentary, like the legendary voice of Australian football Simon Hill, who contribute to broadcasts using their own personal devices from anywhere in the world. The commentators can interact with each other and view the program live as if they were in the stadium.

For more information on how Grabyo can support your remote commentary and social content strategy, get in touch.

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