SVG Year in Review: September
Story Highlights
After serving up its first match in late August, the US Open kicked into gear in September and ESPN’s second year at the event featured an expanded presence and enhanced workflows. Joining ESPN in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s reinvented broadcast space were CBS Sports, the Tennis Channel, the USOptimum world feed team, and a host of international broadcasters including Sky Sports. And fans at home had a new way to see all the action as the online availability of matches continued to gain traction and ESPN’s interactive TV service became available for the first time to viewers who were not DirecTV subscribers.
September also marked a new era in US Open tennis coverage as DirecTV, with the financial backing of Panasonic and production help of CBS Sports and Pace 3D rigs, delivered the US Open weekend coverage in 3D. Over two weekends, CBS Sports beat the heat and the rain to deliver a winning 3D production. The men’s and women’s finals were also streamed in 3D on USOpen.org.
Meanwhile, broadcasters overseas and NBC Sports geared up for the Ryder Cup, which turned out to be a rain-soaked affair that challenged even the heartiest cameraman, fan, and golfer. The event also marked the launch of BSkyB’s 3D channel in European homes.
Earlier in the month the industry gathered in Amsterdam for the IBC exhibition, which was highlighted by the presentation of technology achievement awards to HBS and OBS by the Sports Video Group. The awards were in recognition for coverage of the FiFA World Cup and Winter Olympics. The show floor also featured the latest in audio, IPTV, and 3D products.
Lastly, sports content delivery via the Internet, mobile devices, and more were front and center at the 2010 SVG Digital Sports Summit in New York City. Topics discussed include mobile devices, streaming formats, the evolving living room, in-venue digital strategies, and digital content’s cannibalization (or rather the lack thereof) of television ratings.