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Welcome back to The Sports Road! You know the vibe… New week, New Newsletter – and trust us – you do NOT want to miss this one… Bringing you the very best sport and tech has to offer, enjoy!
Here's what we got for ya today:
AI is Taking Over
The Future of Broadcasting
The Revolution Has Only Just Started
The UFC, NBA, and NFL’s Mission
Most Valuable Sports Teams:
Let's get into it!
This Will Change Sport FOREVER…
Alright, now this is scary…
When we talk about AI in relation to sport, we tend to focus on its potential uses in improving specific elements of a game.
Acting in many ways as a subsidiary created to supplement certain areas of sport to take the toll off those competing, its changes usually presents athletes with benefits.
I mean, just listen to some of the work AI has already done in the sports world...
From improving training through predictive models, to its work in injury prevention, and innovation in the creation of equipment, we’re sure that very few people in the professional scene had any qualms about the technology.
Until now, of course…
Yep, enter the electrifying sport of (drumroll please 🥁🥁🥁) DRONE RACING!
Okay, okay... If you haven’t heard of the sport, it is quite literally EXACTLY what it sounds like.
Operated by a number of human professionals, participants control the device using a remote control. Needing to weave their drone through a usually complex course, competitors interestingly only see what would be available to the drone.
Mimicking a perspective similar to that of an actual pilot, players are equipped with a VR headset broadcasting footage from a live stream camera on the drone itself.
And to be honest, we like it. Combining core elements of sport such as reaction speed and coordination with some of the best technology has to offer, it’s classically pretty Sports Road if we may say so ourselves 😅
BUT, it could all be changing forever.
That’s right. Earlier this week, an AI pilot BEAT a champion-level drone racer at the sport…
The technology, named Swift, is powered through on board video, inertia sensors, and computation.
Being the first of its kind to achieve such a feat, Swift uses a number of simulations to find the fastest route at which it can complete the course. Being prepared to deal with any and every unexpected challenge thrown at it, this could truly change Drone Racing FOREVER!
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A Partnership For The Ages!
The monumental technological changes don’t just stop with Drone Racing, though. Just listen to the SailGP’s newest tech…
Also being created to help power faster and more intelligent ways to complete a track, the world's biggest Sailing competition enlisted the help of T-Mobile.
Yeah, the mobile telecommunications firm. Rogue, we know…
Surprisingly though, this isn’t actually the first big impact the company has had on sport over the last couple months…
Having already teamed up with the MLB and multiple regional Hockey sides, the company is dedicated to improving fan experiences.
Using a number of different technologies to do so, the company has utilised different forms of AR and AI to give fans new perspectives and looks.
And, guess what… That has NOT changed!
Attaching their unique Advanced Network Solutions (ANS) portfolio to all upcoming events, 5G enabled wireless cameras will be used to give broadcasters a new angle for streaming.
With the cameras being placed on each boat, the technology – powered through advanced AI – will bring an HD POV experience to fans.
That’s not all…
The 5G network will actually also play a defining role in connecting athletes to their team strategizing for them on land.
Using the onboard handsets created by the company, strategists will be able to use the newly introduced 125 sensors placed on each boat to analyse over 300,000 data points a second!
“SailGP and T-Mobile for Business are committed to pushing the boundaries on innovative ways to bring fans into the middle of the action through on-board, live camera views. Plus, our athletes can now access real-time data, which further accelerates the decision-making capabilities for our ten national teams.”
Warren Jones, SailGP Chief Technology Officer
With the partnership lasting until at least 2025, expect some big things in the future!
The Revolution Continues!
Jeez, talk about going from zero to hero…
Yet again, we find ourselves talking about Pickleball. I mean, at this point, when are we not!?
For context, Pickleball might actually be one of the fastest growing sports out there… With the rise of these lesser known padel-based sports making waves, from Pickleball’s numerous technological deals and Padel’s MASSIVE merger, the sky really is the limit.
And it looks like they know that…
Signing a deal with Genius Sports – one of the world’s biggest sports data and technology firms – The PPA Tour has launched the sector’s first official sportsbook product.
With Genius already working with some of the world’s biggest sporting organisations, the partnership makes sense.
To reach the next level, Pickleball has to make increasing its viewership numbers an integral part of their coming process.
As a result of the partnership, the PPA Tour will provide data and live video feeds to every sportsbook and online vendor participating.
This will, in turn, allow bettors to consume the content in real-time and see the sport like never before.
“Creating an official data-powered betting product for pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in America, is a crucial platform for the PPA Tour to engage new and existing fans… We’re excited to offer sportsbooks with valuable new content including low latency video feeds on PPA Tour events, starting with this weekend’s Vulcan Kansas City Open.”
Sean Conroy, Executive Vice President, North America at Genius Sports
Get ready guys, Pickleball could just become a major player in the sports world for a VERY long time…
We Need to Talk About: The Big Boys…
If we asked you what the three biggest sport organisations in the United States are, we’d probably get similar answers from everyone…
The NBA, NFL, and UFC.
Showcasing some of the best that sport has to offer, all three combine the highest levels of performance with equal expertise in production.
Being the case, as we’re sure you all know, all three also expect fans to pay a pretty penny to watch their stuff.
An amount that – considering considering other streaming options – doesn’t necessarily suit everyone…
And, I mean It makes sense… Naturally, fans are more likely to use illegal streams. They’re easy to find, easy to use, and most importantly, FREE!
But, obviously, that doesn’t bode well for the three companies we just mentioned. As such, the three are reportedly teaming up.
Planning to rewrite certain areas of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Wanting the government to ensure that illegal streams
will be taken down instantaneously or near-instantaneously, changes could come soon.
The problem? Well, fans will NOT be happy…
They should make sure their official streaming platforms actually work correctly first
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman)
Aug 29, 2023
However with the global sports industry allegedly losing $28 billion a year, something needs to be done…
“This would be a relatively modest and non-controversial update to the DMCA that could be included in the broader reforms being considered by Congress or could be addressed separately.”
An excerpt from the letter sent in by the three companies
Quick Bites
US Open: The Update
Boxing: A Massive Result!
F1: Another GP
Meme of the day
Chelsea have made more signings this window (17) than games won in the last 365 days (16 - from 49 games)
— Fredrik (@F_Edits)
Sep 2, 2023
Quote of the day
"I’d love to play for Barça. It's my dream."
New Barcelona signing Joao Felix back in July…
Picture of the day
Cyril Gane wins by TKO · R2 03:44 #UFCParis
— Hektic_One (@hektic_one)
Sep 2, 2023
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Chat to ya on Wednesday! ☮️
