Big 12 To Implement XOS HD Replay System for 2010 Football Season

The 12 Conference will implement XOS Digital’s next generation HD instant replay system for this upcoming football season. The Big 12 is now the second major conference to install XOS HD replay, joining the Southeastern Conference.

“The Big 12 was one of our original XOS Replay partners back in 2005,” says Mark Hudgins, president, Integrated Solutions Group, XOS Digital. “Maintaining an ongoing trendsetter’s pace, the Conference is now our second HD Replay partner. Commissioner Beebe and his staff understand the significance of a streamlined officiating process and the role that uncompressed HD video plays in that process. We’re proud to provide them with a means to do so through XOS HD Replay.”

The system leverages uncompressed video recording and playback, which provides officials with a clearer view of the play in question than what fans see at home.

“Big 12 football is paving the way for a new generation of officiating,” said Dan Beebe, Big 12 Commissioner. “As one of the first to implement the XOS HD Replay system, our conference is leading the advancement of the emerging HD trend for officiating. This strategic investment demonstrates our level of commitment toward providing our member schools with the most technologically advanced resources.”

XOS Digital relied heavily upon market research to design the XOS HD Replay system in a way that would most effectively streamline the officiating process for its conference partners. The system includes various features to accomplish that goal. Some examples include the use of uncompressed video to provide approximately 25 times the information that Blu-ray video provides, an integrated paging system for on-field communication, on-screen display of technician status, web-based user interface for customization, video card use, and automated video and data export capabilities from the system to media delivery platforms such as the XOS Vault or XOS Studio.

When a questionable call occurs on the field, the replay booth pages the on-field officials to stop the game. The review of the play is then sent up to the replay booth and XOS HD Replay. A three-person crew — a primary replay official, a communicator, and a technician — have at their disposal two video monitors providing several different angles of each play. As each camera angle comes in from the truck (varying from a minimum of four to more than 20, depending on the game’s importance), the technician uses a touchscreen to create and label a thumbnail of each angle for the replay official to review. The primary replay official then views these angles, discusses them with the communicator, and makes the final decision, which is then radioed down to the official on the field.

Previously, XOS has provided the Big 12 with several other digital technologies. These include the XOS SportsPro digital video editing software and the XOS Studio media delivery platform for use by the Conference’s officials and media partners. In addition, XOS integrated the Conference’s Video Command Center in 2006, installing workstations, video towers, an AMX control system, and wall mounted LCD monitors.