May 5, 2021

Supporting the Sports Broadcast Sector

Sports broadcasting

Sports broadcasting is big business, and it’s a business that is changing fast. The way in which sports content is being consumed has been transformed from a linear, scheduled experience into one that is immersive and that can be taken with you wherever you go. Sports content is now available on every device imaginable, and broadcasters have had to adapt and evolve with these fundamental changes.

Satellite has always played an important role in sports broadcasting. Its ability to be transported and put into action at different sporting events no matter where they might be taking place, has always been its strength. We’re very familiar with SNG vehicles parked outside sports stadia, enabling broadcasters to cover events and to bridge gaps that might exist in terrestrial infrastructure using satellite. Outside Broadcast (OB) or SNG trucks have become increasingly sophisticated, enabling broadcasters to set up and start broadcasting within minutes and to deliver their broadcast back to the studio via a contribution link. This is a result of the advent of IP and the internet – enabling broadcasters to utilize a mix of technologies or multiservice communications links. This ability to use multiple networks, such as 3G and 4G or Ka- and Ku-band satellite, is essential for broadcasters – a contribution link alone is no longer sufficient. OB operators require access to phone lines, the Internet, email and file transfer services. The key to going all-IP is successful transmission, with satellite being at its core.

Today, we must also factor in the increase in sports delivered over OTT networks. The disruption of the past year has meant that sports broadcasters have had to become very creative to retain their viewer’s interest. With a complete ban on sports early in the pandemic, it was very challenging for broadcasters to retain fans’ interest. Again, satellite has an important role to play here, in terms of content delivery and offloading congested networks, enabling OTT providers to scale easily and cost-effectively, increasing their subscriber base.

Media and broadcast is at the core of ST Engineering iDirect’s business. We have over 30 years of experience in the market. We offer a wide variety of products for distribution and contribution as well as turnkey broadcasting solutions. With an 80% share in the DTH market, we are the leader in modulators for this sector and our large installed base proves that end-users benefit from our products and technologies. Working with the biggest names in the broadcast sector our technology and innovation enables sports broadcasters to achieve highly efficient operations whilst keeping costs down.

Sports BroadcastingTo help further increase our engagement with and support for the sports broadcasting sector, we have joined the Sports Video Group, a professional community that relies on video, audio, and broadband technologies to produce and distribute sports content. Leagues, owners, teams, players, broadcasters, webcasters, and consumer technology providers have joined the SVG to learn from each other, turn vision into reality, implement new innovations, while sharing experiences that will lead to advancements in the sports production/distribution process and the overall consumer sports experience.

The mission of the SVG is to engage the community with educational events on the creation, production and distribution of sports content; to provide a knowledge resource for the growing community of sports professionals and to encourage dialog with manufacturers and technology

The way in which sports content is being consumed has been transformed from a linear, scheduled experience into one that is immersive…

developers that will improve the quality and profitability of sports programming. The Group opens up new business opportunities and informs members so that they can better understand the state of the sports production marketplace and the needs of customers. In turn, this will help inform our decision making as an organization.

AT ST Engineering iDirect, we realize that sports broadcasting is evolving, as is the entire broadcast ecosystem. Our involvement with communities such as the Sports Video Group will enable us to engage with key players, so that we can ensure that our innovation fully supports and enables the sector, helping find solutions to most pressing challenges.

Read more on how we are supporting OTT delivery and how satellite can improve Quality of Experience (QoE) and expand your footprint for both live and SVOD in our whitepaper.