Netflix is Going LIVE

June 14, 2023

It’s Summer! Come on, we all love it. Good vibes, nice weather, it has everything but lacks in just one area… SPORT! Don’t worry though, we got you. Bringing you the latest and most wild stories in the sports tech world, welcome back to The Sports Road – Enjoy!

Here's what we got for ya today:

  • Netflix: We Are LIVE

  • NHL at it Again

  • AI, AI, AI

  • For The First Time Ever…

Most Valuable Sports Teams:

Let's get into it!

NETFLIX ANNOUNCED WHAT?!

Live sports and Netflix. While maybe not seeming related at first glance, it could just be a match made in heaven…

Using streaming services to broadcast live sporting events isn’t something new. From Amazon Prime to Youtube, they’ve actually shown themselves to provide a viewing experience different – and in many ways better – than that of traditional TV.

Just look at how the Premier League is being broadcasted in the UK. With viewers being forced to jump between 3-4 different broadcasters, not only is it not user friendly and more expensive, but most fans can’t even watch their favourite teams play! No one wants that. Well, unless you’re a Spurs fan, of course 😂

Simply put, under the current landscape of sport broadcasting, it just makes sense for the next step to be a transition to streaming services.

So, enter Netflix…

With a reach extending globally and to hundreds of millions of people, as we’re sure you know, Netflix is considered the biggest service out there. And with that comes potential to do some VERY interesting things.

Having already worked in the industry, the sports scene on Netflix is actually pretty big. From F1’s Drive to Survive, to Golf’s ‘Full Swing’ docuseries, recent moves have heavily focused on what goes on behind-the-scenes of our favourite sports. Showing fans a whole new side of the games, Netflix’s attention seems to have shifted…

Announcing this week that they're looking to get into the world of live sport, this is what we know so far…

  • The move into live broadcasting would likely begin with a celebrity Golf tournament. I mean, did we really expect anything else?

  • Mixing two of the site's biggest sporting successes, the tournament is likely to combine F1 drivers with other celebrities and professional Golfers.

While still in the early stages of talks, the progression from such a move could spell some huge changes in the way we consume sports.

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Sale starts 1st June at 8am here https://futureicons.sportsicon.com/

The NHL Are Back…

The NHL knows exactly what they’re doing…

Look, here at The Sports Road, we feel as though we’ve done a pretty good job at tracking all the wackiest news coming out of the NHL recently.

Whether it be their deals with Disney, innovation in the world of AR, or more, it feels as though – for the last while – there’s been a clear strategic transition.

Clearly placing an emphasis on creating clearer avenues for the next generation to engage with their content, most recently we saw them strike a deal with Roblox. Launching a unique virtual experience on the app, the Hockey league seemingly are looking to bring the partnership to another level.

Heavily utilising tracking technology announced in early April, the NHL are planning to further leverage AI to see out yet another crazy idea – Roblox recreations of Stanley Cup goals.

Ah, NHL. Never change…

Although sounding pretty outlandish, if there’s any time to pursue something like this it would be now.

“The introduction of 3D goal re-creations in NHL Blast furthers our commitment to use innovation to engage with new and existing fans… After years of investing in NHL EDGE technology, we are continuing to uncover ways in which the data can create entirely new fan experiences for younger audiences.”

David Lehanski, NHL EVP

Seeing as game 1 of the Stanley Cup reached all time high viewing numbers for a finals opening, it seems as though the company is doing something right.

The best part is, it looks like they’re only getting started…

AI Strikes Again

If the last couple of months have shown us anything, it’s that there is most definitely a place for AI in sport.

The crazy thing? Well, it seems as though it has a place in every single aspect of sport.

With all that, you may not be too surprised to find out what this next story is about…

Being announced this week, for the first time ever, Eurovision Sport will be teaming up with European Athletics to bring AI to the forefront of sport.

How, you ask?

As we spoke about just a couple of days ago, AI now has the capability to clone voices. I think you know where this one is going…

Yep, cloning the voice of former World silver medallist, Hannah England, the upcoming European Athletics Team Championships will be commentated by none other than AI!

Working across a 24 hour livestream, the technology will allow consistent engagement no matter the conditions or situations that surround the event.

Wanting to grow their fan base, Hannah (you know, the real life version) has claimed that the innovation will bring more eyes to the competition and will only spell good things for its future.

“Everyone is excited about the possibilities offered by AI in extending access to our content. We believe that well-tailored AI strategies can help both public service broadcasters and our partner sports federations connect with wider audiences and will be looking closely at the results of this experiment.”

Andreas Aristodemou, Head of Summer Sport at Eurovision Sport

We Need to Talk About: The Denver Nuggets

I mean, how could we not?

Just like that, another season comes to an end.

Winning the series 4-1, the Denver Nuggets have secured their first ever NBA title!

Coming into the Finals as favourites, the win – despite being their first – did not come as a surprise to many.

Charged by Nikola Jokic, the star has now reached unprecedented levels. Cementing his place in the history books, being only 28, it feels as though there’s still far more to come…

Ending what can only be described as a fairytale run, it would be unfair to discount the Miami Heats efforts.

Being the league’s biggest playoff underdogs in the last 30 years, sadly, it just wasn’t to be.

On a broader scale, though, we feel that there’s something going under the radar…

Listen to some of these. The Nuggets’ NBA win, LA Rams’ 2022 Super Bowl, Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup win, Colorado Mammoth NLL win…

What do they all have in common? All these teams are owned by Stan Kroenke.

Having won five trophies since the start of 2022, Arsenal fans, it could be time to get excited…

Quick Bites

Meme of the day

Quote of the day

"I'm gonna ask Josh [Kroenke] to give me a plane! I put him under pressure, yes I did. I don't feel bad at all!"

Nikola Jokic

Photo of the day

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Chat to ya on Friday! ☮️