Camera tech and mobile apps on show at DFL's SportsInnovation 2022 event By George Bevir
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 - 09:50
Print This Story
A two-way Spidercam and a remotely operated camera were among the new tools for covering football matches demonstrated at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf last week during an event hosted by the Deutsche Fu ball Liga (DFL).
The centre-piece of the two-day SportsInnovation 2022 event was the Innovation Games', where technology was demonstrated in a live environment allowing the DFL and its partners including DFL production subsidiary Sportcast to demonstrate new ways of capturing the live sporting events.
Some of the innovations could then be incorporated into coverage of the Supercup, a one-off match in August between the winners of the Bundesliga championship and the DFB-Pokal, a knockout cup competition.
SportsInnovation 2022: DFL, DAZN, NBA and TikTok on implementing new tech
Tim Achberger, head of innovation and technology at Sportcast, said the aim of the demonstrations was to understand what may be possible away from the restrictions of a live broadcast.
During the first match, a Spidercam system equipped with a camera as well as a speaker, display and microphone was used to interview one of the players immediately before taking a penalty.
Achberger, who led the presentation, described it as one of the most impressive moments of the demonstration. He said: I think it worked out very well. It shows us what is possible and how maybe we can open up and give viewers a bit more transparency. That was an aha! moment which the audience really seemed to like.
Other technology used during the first match included the use of first-person view drone. Again, it allows us to show what is possible, because there are usually strict regulations for drones in the stadium. We wanted to understand what a small drone can produce; they were able to fly in between and around the players when they were lining up, and over the spectators which looked really good.
Also on show was a rocket cam system installed above one of the stands on a wire, similar to a system used recently at Glasgow Rangers for swooping shots of the crowd.
A question we ask, is how can we produce more dynamic images in addition to our fixed installations, and I think it was a nice element to produce some dynamic pictures. But of course, it depends on the infrastructure of each stadium. But that's something I think our product management team will like, so maybe this is something we can implement.
Also demonstrated was a remotely operated camera, with the operator based in Hannover, some 170 miles away from the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
That's another aspect we want to understand, said Achberger. For sure we will continue to produce on site, but do we as an industry have enough camera operators in five to 10 years? So does it make sense to have the ability to operate out of decentralised hubs?
Content demands
Achberger also spoke of the demands of balancing host broadcaster obligations with request for additional content.
We are the host broadcaster for 670 matches of Bundesliga and Bundesliga Two, and we have our pay TV partners in Germany, which of course expect the highest quality best feed, we can produce including UHD HDR, which we produce for 180 matches. We have a standard concept of 21 cameras, but some matches are 26 cameras. And so it's a really high standard we have established in the Bundesliga.
And on the other hand, during the last two years and partly with the pandemic situation, we saw that there's rising demand for new forms of content for additional feeds to put on the OTT platforms.
Part of that demand also fuelled by greater interest in Bundesliga 2 following the demotion last season of some big-name clubs.
There were demands from, for example, ESPN. They said can you offer us a second Bundesliga with some commentary or some graphics, because we usually just do this for the Bundesliga. So we have looked at cloud-based systems with automised graphics and web-based commentary. Now, we need to understand in which way we can we use elements of the smaller leagues or the cloud-based production as additions for our general host broadcasting.
I don't think that will we say, okay, next month, or even next year Bundesliga will be permitted to be produced completely automised because this is the highest tier with very high standards, but we can look at how we might be able to bring both worlds together.
In-stadium mobile apps
Two 5G-enabled mobile apps were also showcased against a backdrop of a live football match, with DFL head of digital innovations Moritz M M cke providing a live demonstration of the Sky 5G Multiview app.
A collaboration between Vodafone, Smart Mobile Labs, Vodafone and the DFL, the app - which was also demonstrated during a Bundesliga game between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at the end of last year allows Sky Deutschland subscribers in a stadium to select camera angles and replays.
We expect in the future via virtual cameras or additional cameras to provide many more options for fans, said M cke. More features can be included in the app; this is the first iteration of many more to come.
A second showcase focused on the use of data and augmented reality, with an iOS and Android mobile app that allows users to view information such as lineups and live stats with graphics displayed next to players as they appear on the pitch.
We have all the standard stats, such as shots, passes, distance run and so on, but the AR screen gives additional context, said M cke.
With the power of 5G, we can render GFX live directly next to the players, which is a game-changer for fans in the stadium. We can provide the speed of the player in the moment and things like passing favourites', with info
North America Stories
18/03/2026
Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4.
Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...
18/03/2026
SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...
18/03/2026
The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...
18/03/2026
(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...
18/03/2026
SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations
Brie Clayton March 18, 2026
0 Comments
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...
18/03/2026
Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K
Brie Clayton March 18, 2026
0 Comments
LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...
18/03/2026
Brainstorm transforms productivity and sustainability with Suite 7 at NAB Show 2...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, today unveiled its educational presentations for the 2026 NAB Show. This year SMPTE will ...
18/03/2026
Maxon, maker of powerful, approachable software solutions for creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, gaming, and more, today ann...
18/03/2026
Digital Alert Systems
Preview
2026 NAB Show
April 19 - 22
Booth C3452
At the 2026 NAB Show, Digital Alert Systems will showcase Version 6.0 of its DASDEC ...
18/03/2026
Setplex today announced that it will showcase its complete, fully integrated Zapflex platform for the first time at the 2026 NAB Show, introducing powerful new ...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking DP for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Director of Photography for Low Budget Dramedy Fe...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Gaffer for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Gaffer for Low Budget Dramedy Feature Film- I...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Location, Sound for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Location/Sound for Low Budget Dramed...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Child Wrangler for Low Budget Film - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Child Wrangler for Low Budget Dramedy Fe...
18/03/2026
Calrec Redefines Broadcast Workflows at NAB 2026 with its Most Powerful Hardware...
18/03/2026
Oscar Nominated Two People Exchanging Saliva Posted with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio handle...
18/03/2026
Boston Conservatory Presents Celebrated Musical Satire Urinetown Performances for this Center Stage production will take place at Boston Conservatory Theater ...
18/03/2026
Charlie Puth Joins Switched on Pop at Berklee NYC The Berklee alum spoke with host and Berklee NYC professor Charlie Harding for a live taping, answering audi...
18/03/2026
Back to All News
Preparatevi Alla Terza E Ultima Stagione De La Legge di Lidia ...
18/03/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Drops Teaser and First Look Images for The Chestnut M...
17/03/2026
NASA+'s Rebecca Sirmons and Brittany Brown offer unique look at live streami...
17/03/2026
The transition to IP has fundamentally reshaped professional media infrastructures. Video, audio, and increasingly metadata now circulate as independent, precis...
17/03/2026
Live sports streaming can push every element in your video delivery chain to its limit, exposing every potential weakness in seconds. When the Super Bowl, the O...
17/03/2026
Texas Athletics sought to modernize its media production, enhance fan experience...
17/03/2026
Ikegami USA will demonstrate the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast...
17/03/2026
TNA Wrestling and iHeartMedia announces a new multi-platform collaboration that will integrate iHeartMedia across TNA's premium live events, weekly televisi...
17/03/2026
The goal was to transform Hard Rock Stadium into a global leader in sports and e...
17/03/2026
Spectrum has announced the launch of its new Multiview feature in the Spectrum TV App, giving customers the ability to watch up to four NCAA men's or women&...
17/03/2026
Genius Sports deal also covers data technology, AI, fan engagement, and performance analysis....
17/03/2026
Net Insight is supporting the rollout of a new state-wide centralized operation with Rede Massa, which is an SBT affiliate, the Brazilian regional television ne...
17/03/2026
Featuring audio from practice sessions, qualifying races, and Grand Prix races, the film represents Apple's sports-media ambitions
At Sunday night's Ac...
17/03/2026
Live broadcast has always been one of the most demanding environments in media a...
17/03/2026
DirecTV is introducing several new viewing features, including a multi-screen March Madness Mix channel and an updated Sports Central mobile app hub, ahead of...
17/03/2026
Deltatre has announced a multi-year partnership with ATP Media, the media arm of the ATP Tour, covering broadcast graphics, data, and production across the 2026...
17/03/2026
The Detroit Pistons have announced a third consecutive season partnering with Sc...
17/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/03/2026
3D streaming infrastructure provider Miris today announced the launch of a public beta for its new 3D asset streaming platform. Miris is building the infrastruc...
17/03/2026
As media organizations face mounting pressure to produce more content, faster, while maximizing value and operational efficiency, Tedial, a leading provider of ...
17/03/2026
Brainstorm, a leading manufacturer of real-time graphics, augmented and virtual production, is launching the newest version of its platform, Brainstorm Suite 7,...
17/03/2026
Limecraft today announces the release of Limecraft 2026.2, the second platform update in its 2026 release cycle. Limecraft is an AI-powered production platform ...
17/03/2026
Broadcast Solutions, a leading system integrator and provider of innovative solutions for the broadcast and media industry, showcased its latest broadcast and V...
Camera tech and mobile apps on show at DFL's SportsInnovation 2022 event By George Bevir 
