Broadcast
BT’s coverage of the English Premier League from 2013-14 could introduce technology that enables viewers to edit their own version of the live match feed.
This brief will feature prominently in a tender document issued to indie sports producers by the end of the year.
BT Vision chief executive Marc Watson said: “We are setting our minds to what innovation we can introduce.
“Clearly there is an opportunity to offer a personalised, rich, interactive experience to customers, and to deliver this to other devices in and out of the home.”
One technology that fits the bill is second-screen application C-Cast, launched by EVS last year and being trialled by several European broadcasters.
“With multiple cameras recording every match, hours of footage are captured that never get aired,” said EVS general manager of new media broadcast Johann Schreurs.
“With C-Cast, we can use this content to deliver an interactive viewing experience that can begin long before kick-off. Viewers can decide what they watch and from which camera angle.”
Likely bidders include IMG Sports Media, which co-produces the international feeds of the EPL with Premier League Productions and holds the current ESPN EPL contract; and Sunset+Vine, which produces Europa League matches for ITV Sport.
Other candidates may include North One and Input Media. According to one senior manager at an OB supplier: “IMG is usually very aggressive on price and tends to get things of this scale - it also has the track record.”