Breaking traditions
For the last few decades, sports broadcasts have been produced by editors who individually sit through all the video fragments to find the most memorable and exciting moments during a sports-event. Although this strategy has proven effective and has been automated more and more, it’s still slow and sometimes lacks the instantaneousness the viewers crave these days. in 2021 Wimbledon overhauled its production, but production was still done personally by editors (Ringrose, 2021). It was only In 2024, that IBM Watson first introduced some exciting AI-driven innovations in sports broadcasting, trying to provide for sports-fans around the world.
(A traditional Editor’s room at Wimbledon) (Ringrose, 2021)
Turning Heads (literally)
The sports broadcasting industry is changing. IBM Watson is introducing AI-driven match highlights and analysis in real time during the games at the Wimbledon Grand Slam (IBM, 2024)(Wimbledon, 2024). This has been a process of multiple years in the making. In-house algorithms and machine learning has been used to optimise data-analysis. During the tournament-games, IBM Watson is using their AI-application to provide the broadcast with instantaneous generated highlights by using collected match data points (IBM, 2024). At Wimbledon, these consist of shot speed, player reactions, and match intensity. This reduces editing time while also enabling broadcasters to present relevant and exciting events as they happen in real time. Every aspect of the tennis-match, whether serves, rallies, smashes or other moments are available for fans to see instantly.
AI-driven sports analysis
In addition to highlights, IBM has expanded their AI technology to provide detailed analysis during the matches. Player performance metrics have been on display throughout the Wimbledon broadcasts. Data such as serve/ace ratios, unforced errors, and predictive analytics about the likelihood of a player winning a particular point based on their past performance are shown in real-time. Not only can the players themselves benefit from these statistics (Kaur, 2021), viewers get a better experience through AI-generated commentary on screen, providing strategy breakdowns. The IBM AI Draw Analysis feature, as presented on their website, will also provide statistics to define how favourable the path to the final might be for each player in the singles draw tournament (IBM, 2024). These statistics are not only commentated on during the match but are also available to view in the Wimbledon app on your phone, this adds another layer of accessibility to the data.
(Data analytics in the Wimbledon application) (IBM, 2024)
The Future of Sports Broadcasting
For me, this development is very exciting. Being able to view both instant highlights and data analytics adds another layer to the experience of watching sports. Something that in the past took significant human effort can now be provided almost instantly, making the viewership more interactive. Who knows what AI can provide for us in the future. I look forward to other developments in this field. Maybe in the future, AI can predict player-injuries or simulate alternate game outcomes based on one significant play.
A personalised fan broadcasting experience seems not that far off right now. In my mind every viewer will be able to watch their favourite sports in a distinct digital environment, where AI offers an experience based on the user’s preferences and interests. Inevitably, AI sports broadcasting is here for the long run and I am very excited to see this technology expanded throughout the world of sports broadcasting.
Literature
Ringrose, F. (2021, 16 augustus). New Balls Please: Video and Audio Innovation at Wimbledon 2021. NAB Amplify. https://amplify.nabshow.com/articles/new-balls-please-video-and-audio-innovation-at-wimbledon-2021/
IBM Brings Generative AI Commentary and AI Draw Analysis to the Wimbledon Digital Experience. (2023, 21 juni). IBM UK Newsroom. https://uk.newsroom.ibm.com/2023-06-21-IBM-Brings-Generative-AI-Commentary-and-AI-Draw-Analysis-to-the-Wimbledon-Digital-Experience
Kaur, A., Kaur, R., & Jagdev, G. (2021). Analyzing and Exploring the Impact of Big Data Analytics in Sports Sector. SN Computer Science, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42979-021-00575-y
Wimbledon | IBM. (z.d.). https://www.ibm.com/sports/wimbledon
