Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Liverpool FC Come Into Focus As English Soccer Clubs Embrace Technological Revolution

Liverpool FC is leading the way as Sports Revolution installs a new generation of high-definition television (HDTV) networks in football stadia across the UK. The move follows Sports Revolution's acquisition of the trading assets of Sports TV, which had networks in 45 grounds in the English leagues.

Liverpool will have a concourse television network for the first time as part of major new investment. Boosted by a £2 million investment in new audio-visual equipment, Sports Revolution is now upgrading many of these grounds to HDTV systems. It is now the largest provider of match-day content to UK stadia, streaming material tailor-made for each club's advertisers and fans.

As well as upgrading clubs from their old Sports TV networks, such as Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane, Sports Revolution is also introducing its compelling TV service to grounds that have not previously had a concourse TV system, including Liverpool's Anfield.

Sports Revolution has equipped the famous 45,000-seater ground with 200 42" BEKO HDTV screens, and is streaming club and branded content on match days.

All content on the new Liverpool FC TV system is tailored to both the club and the specific match, with output concentrated into pre-match and half-time slots. Content is scheduled around commercial advertising spots, delivering value to the club and its partners.

Sports Revolution will use its software to distribute news, statistics and live score data supplied by the Press Association throughout the ground.

"For us, the most important thing is to offer a TV service that enhances the match day experience," said Ian Ayre, commercial Director for Liverpool Football Club. "We want it to add value for the fans, not only for the club commercially. The old model for this type of network tended to be a one-size-fits-all system, not sufficiently tailored to a particular club.

"The good thing about this solution is that Sports Revolution creates and streams content that engages our fans and fits it around our existing LFC TV channel. The result is a bespoke package that the fans enjoy and that advertisers and the club’s commercial stakeholders want to buy into. It is an excellent addition to our media inventory, using state-of-the art technology."

Sports Revolution is already the largest media rights owner in UK football stadia, bringing advertiser money into the game through exclusive media rights with 72 clubs across all the leagues, including 16 in the Premier League. It is also a major player in the sale of Premier League digital perimeter advertising space, and has a media planning consultancy expertise through its sister company, Sports Insight.

Sports Revolution commercial director Vange Kourentis said: "Many business models have failed in this area before, so we have focused on delivering a service that is club and fan focused, ensuring that we deliver an engaging product that fans enjoy and that advertisers and the club’s commercial stakeholders want to buy into. Clubs working with Sports Revolution have a lot to gain, not only in terms of new equipment, but new commercial opportunities surrounding a truly fan and club-centric model."

No comments: