The NBA, NFL, NHL, and Major League Baseball have embraced player-tracking solutions over the past three years and have begun integrating graphic visualizations of the data into broadcasts and streaming content. The four major U.S. sports leagues join a rapidly growing global bandwagon of leagues, teams, and broadcasters beefing up data-analytics teams and investing in tracking/visualization. Despite the treasure trove of data available, however, the key remains adding context to make it digestible for both fans and professionals alike.
You have to be very, very careful to provide context, because data in and of itself is just an overwhelming amount of zeros and ones that don't mean anything, cautioned Perkins Miller, chief digital officer/head of media operations, NFL, at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference this month in Boston. That is where people will confuse data with insight. We spend a lot of time taking this data and making sure we provide the right context so you can develop the right insight. As Mark Twain said, There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.' You have to be very careful about how you provide that context and insight.
NFL, Zebra Report on Deployment of Next-Gen Stats
The NFL partnered with Zebra Technologies to install player-tracking systems at all 31 NFL stadiums (as well as Wembley Stadium in London and Aloha Stadium in Hawaii) last year. NFL players wore RFID chips that delivered data points to these systems, serving the league's Next-Gen Stats system. In all, Zebra's system tagged and tracked 2.500+ NFL players and collected more than 180 billion bites of position data during the 2015 campaign.
We spent a lot of time working with Zebra, said Miller, and they have done a great job to provide that level of fidelity so that the data that comes out is predictable and consistent. If it's not predictable and consistent, it's not trustworthy.
A screen from the NFL Next-Gen Stats system
With a full season of league-wide player-tracking in the books, coaches, scouts, and strength/conditioning staffs; the league's broadcast partners and NFL Media; players and even fans are beginning to reap the benefits of deeper data.
Not only does [data-analytics/visualization technology] work at the really granular level with player development, health, and safety and at the coaching level, we also look at it through the lens of how we can tell the story for our fans better on television? Miller added. How can you understand how hard it is from a quarterback's [perspective] to throw to an eligible receiver in a split-second decision?
He also stressed the importance of selecting specific scenarios in which to use the data within an NFL telecast, rather than forcing mountains of incomprehensible information on the fan.
You're not going to get someone really thrilled talking about a change-vector speed, but they might want to understand how much separation a wide receiver had on coverage and has he been able to maintain that separation throughout the first quarter and is that why his team has gotten so many first downs? Miller explained. If you can find a way to package that right, [such as] a separation index that is easy to digest, you can get to the vernacular, and it becomes part of the story.
NFL Hackathon Delivers Deeper Insights
In San Francisco last month, the NFL hosted a 24-hour hackathon, handing its Next-Gen Stats data to an army of software developers and challenging them to develop the next generation of engaging NFL stories. Given raw location data, developers were tasked with creating real-time, in-game pattern-recognition systems to provide deeper insight into the game. The winning group came up with a pattern capable of determining the probability of a successful pass immediately after the ball is snapped, based on the configuration of eligible receivers and the defensive line.
That is just a fascinating piece of evolution, said Miller. [It] makes the game more interesting if you are able to understand the decision-making the quarterback has to make as he drops back to throw. Now, how soon we can make that a reality is still many leaps to the future, but there are ways to make the game even more exciting than it already is on television by using the data to tell a story and showcase how hard it is for some of these players to perform on the field.
More on Sports Tracking: The Next-Generation Panel
In addition to Miller, a panel on sports-tracking solutions offered insights ranging from the benefits of data analytics for evaluating player performance and the potential impact on fantasy-football games to player strength, conditioning, and medical evaluation. Here are a few highlights from the session:
Dean Oliver, VP, data science, TruMedia, on the potential impact of data analytics on fantasy football for fans:
I think we can come up with all sorts of new fantasy stats for positions that have never really been measured. For [a player like New York Jets cornerback] Darrelle Revis, who is denying and clogging the passing lanes, we can add more to that conversation. Some of the players have rebelled against I didn't get the touchdown, but I ran 87 yards to the 1-yard line, and people were upset because I didn't get the touchdown.' I think we can add a few more meaningful statistics to that, and the consumer fantasy [market] is certainly going to be interested by some of these.
Matt Sheldon, director, football analytics and research, Chicago Bears, on where player-tracking systems must improve to deliver more-valuable data:
So many of these systems are really tuned towards open-field running. In American football, 45% of the players don't open-field run on every play. We would like to see orientation to know when a player is running forward or backward. In the passing gam
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
30/04/2024
By Adam Piron
In anticipation of this edition of the Indigenous Program's Native Lab, it actually dawned on me that this will be our lab's tenth year i...
30/04/2024
Launch of SBS South Asian channel and SBS Spice, a new English language offering...
30/04/2024
LOS ANGELES (April 30, 2024) Light Iron, the post-production creative-services division of Panavision, is excited to announce that lodie Ichter has joined th...
30/04/2024
Now streaming on Netflix, Good Grief marks the feature-film directorial debut of Daniel Levy, well known as the co-creator and costar of the series Schitt's...
30/04/2024
The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy's sweeping portrait of a wealthy British family in 1880s London, is getting its third TV adaptation in less than 60 years....
30/04/2024
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
30/04/2024
CAMPBELL, Calif. Streaming media company Plex and T-Mobile will work together to expand T-Mobile's connected TV (CTV) inventory and advance the connection b...
30/04/2024
SAN JOSE, Calif. & BELLEVUE, Wash. Roku, Inc. has announced an expanded measurement partnership with iSpot.tv, the cross-platform TV measurement company....
30/04/2024
NEW YORK As Paramount Global wrestled with management turmoil and ongoing negotiations for a proposed merger with Skydance, the company managed to report improv...
30/04/2024
Cobalt Digital Receives Trifecta of Awards at NAB 2024
Company adds two 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year awards and one Best of Show from TV Tech to long list...
30/04/2024
arkona technologies GmbH, provider of IP core infrastructure solutions for top-tier broadcast productions, has announced that its BLADE//runner IP Audio Engine ...
30/04/2024
OpenDrives, Inc., the global provider of software-defined media workflow solutions and data management capabilities, announced today that it has joined the glob...
30/04/2024
The first norm conform sustainability service dedicated to the needs of the events industry
Easy-to-use, intuitive platform for venues, event organisers and su...
30/04/2024
Dejero GateWay enables Stream7 to create independent internet connectivity at any venue or location, including UK teaching hospital for live streaming of surgic...
30/04/2024
Excitement is building as farmerswife, a leading software provider for resource scheduling, project management, and team collaboration in the media industry, ha...
30/04/2024
XL8, a leading deep-tech startup specializing in AI-powered machine translation technology, proudly announces the successful completion of a System and Organiza...
30/04/2024
Test & measurement innovator, Leader Electronics of Europe, has announced that it will exhibit at CABSAT, which takes place this year from 21-23 May 2024 at the...
30/04/2024
MRMC Debuts Cinebot Max Camera Robot at NAB 2024
Brie Clayton April 30, 2024
0 Comments
Expands its range of live-action, motion-control camera robots...
30/04/2024
Next Jazz Legacy Announces 2024 Cohort of Women and Nonbinary Awardees The program was created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender J...
30/04/2024
European telecom satellite company SES announced today that it is acquiring rival Intelsat for $3.1 billion. The deal, unanimously approved by both companies...
30/04/2024
Bob Bakish, chief executive of Paramount stepped down on Monday, effective immediately. Bakish, who was a staunch ally of Shari Redstone, controlling shareholde...
30/04/2024
Hotspring said the breakthrough had been achieved through the acceleration of machine learning technology
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 30, 2024
Ho...
30/04/2024
Speaking about the deal, Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, said: it will bring value-added, efficient, and reliable offerings for both companies media customers
By Je...
30/04/2024
Paramount said the Office of the CEO is working with its board to develop a comp...
30/04/2024
LOUISVILLE, Ky. In another sign that broadcasters are finally using NextGen TV broadcasts to offer viewers new features instead of simply simulcasting existing ...
30/04/2024
OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame will induct Blaise Labbe, a group news director for Sinclair Broadcast Group, May 2 at the 54th Anniversary I...
30/04/2024
ATLANTA and ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Cox Media Group and Dish have ended a dispute over retransmission fees that lasted nearly a year and a half with a new multi-year ...
30/04/2024
Video transport solution provider LTN has announced that it is working with TelevisaUnivision to help the Spanish-language media giant migrate to IP-based video...
30/04/2024
ALAMEDA, Calif. Clear-Com has released details about how it played a pivotal role in the seamless coverage of the recent solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 by NBC K...
30/04/2024
CINCINNATI The E.W. Scripps Company is adding Seth Walters to its sales leadership team as head of CTV sales, effective April 29....
30/04/2024
The force was strong at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Saturday night, April 27, 2024, as the night netted the ballpark's first official sellout crowd of...
30/04/2024
Revry, a network celebrating queer culture. said its second annual NewFront presentation will be a cabaret-type spectacle showcasing the spirit of the LGBTQ+ co...
30/04/2024
Family Entertainment Television (FETV) said that the Western series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp will be joining the network's afternoon lineup startin...
30/04/2024
Bob Bakish, president and CEO of Paramount Global, will depart the company as Paramount explores a merger, according to numerous published reports. The reports ...
30/04/2024
April 30th, 2024 Press Materials Available Here
TRIBECA FESTIVAL 2024 ANNOUNCES TALKS, REUNIONS, & RETROSPECTIVES
Live Conversations with Judd Apatow, Andy C...
30/04/2024
6 minute read
Share
alt=Alternative descriptive text class=lazyload main main-lazyloaded responsive-image data-v-1a5ebb10>
Telenor showed good momentum...
30/04/2024
SES Acquiring Intelsat to Create New Satellite Giant; Will Offer Improved Reach ...
30/04/2024
Wuppertal April 30, 2024
WDR Filmhaus to Implement Riedel Infrastructure Award-Winning MediorNet HorizoN Hybrid Processing Platform Serves as Bridge to IP
Ri...
30/04/2024
Back to All News
Tilda Swinton Joins Colin Farrell in Edward Bergers The Ballad...
30/04/2024
Back to All News
Netflix Reveals First Look Images and Teaser from Senna, Inspi...
30/04/2024
Back to All News
Top 10 Week of Apr. 22: Baby Reindeer' and Rebel Moon - ...
30/04/2024
Dr. Nicola Hodson, Chief Executive, IBM UK & Ireland introduces the UK findings of an IBM study on female leadership in the age of AI
Advances in Artificial In...
30/04/2024
Channel Expansion, and New Codecs, Compression and Transport Technology Among Latest Updates...
30/04/2024
Accel-KKR Credit Partners today announced that it has provided debt financing to support Dalet in its next chapter of innovation and growth. Accel-KKR Credit Pa...
30/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Monday's episode, 29 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soa...
30/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lewatle witnesses an explosive fight between Sthoko and B...
30/04/2024
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of David Murphy as its new Economics & Public Affairs Correspondent. David is currently RT 's Political Cove...
The NBA, NFL, NHL, and Major League Baseball have embraced player-tracking solutions over the past three years and have begun integrating graphic visualizations of the data into broadcasts and streaming content. The four major U.S. sports leagues join a rapidly growing global bandwagon of leagues, teams, and broadcasters beefing up data-analytics teams and investing in tracking/visualization. Despite the treasure trove of data available, however, the key remains adding context to make it digestible for both fans and professionals alike.
