Amazon Introduces an Augmented Reality Take on Champions League Broadcasts
In a groundbreaking move, Amazon has entered the sports broadcasting arena with a new pay-per-view service in the UK market, focusing on Ligue 1 matches. This marks Amazon's foray into European football, following its successful venture into the NFL in the United States.
Under this new service, fans can expect to watch the highly-anticipated Le Classique between Paris St Germain and Marseilles on Amazon's pay-per-view platform later in the season. The cost for each match is priced individually.
Amazon's innovative approach to sports broadcasting doesn't stop at pay-per-view. The tech giant has introduced a new augmented-reality and data-enhanced broadcast mode, aiming to offer a more engaging and insightful viewing experience.
This mode debuted during the Champions League clash between Tottenham and Vilarreal in the UK, and it's set to revolutionize the way fans consume sports. Viewers can access a wealth of information such as player names, sprint speeds, pass distances, ball speeds, expected goals (xG) metrics, live positioning maps of all players, and momentum indicators.
The visuals are inspired by video games and are designed to appeal to younger or data-oriented viewers. Amazon's aim is to provide deeper insight into the game, making it more engaging for fans who appreciate statistics, tactics, and understanding more of what's happening under the surface.
This new mode is not limited to Ligue 1. Plans are to further roll out the coverage into Germany and Italy.
Meanwhile, in the world of tennis, Amazon Prime has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships for Germany and Austria, starting from 2024. Sky, on the other hand, will continue to broadcast the Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2024 in Germany and Austria as part of a five-year agreement covering ATP and WTA tournaments, with live coverage on Sky Sport via Sky Q and Sky X.
In the Premier League, Amazon has secured four-year deals with Sky, TNT Sports, and BBC Sport for their respective rights. This means that while Premier League matches will still be shown on TNT Sports and BBC Sport, Sky will broadcast all 10 matches on the final day of the Premier League season under a new agreement.
Up to three Ligue 1 matches will be made available each weekend on Amazon's pay-per-view service, promising an exciting lineup for football fans in the UK. With Amazon's innovative approach to sports broadcasting, the future of sports viewing is looking more engaging and data-driven than ever.
