Sportvision has renewed its partnership with MLBAM, signing a deal to maintain use of its Pitch f/x pitch-tracking system in all 30 MLB ballparks for the '15 season. The agreement also includes MLBAM obtaining a long-term license to use Sportvision’s Field f/x in potential future integrations, and establishes the defensive tracking system as the exclusive platform for MiLB through '19. The deal, agreed to orally late last year but only recently documented in full, arrives a few weeks after the widespread rollout of MLBAM’s own Statcast player tracking system developed in partnership with ChyronHego Corp. and TrackMan A/S. Both Sportvision and MLBAM last year said that Statcast and Sportvision’s own set of analytics products could co-exist, and the new deal lends some support to that notion. But industry sources said MLBAM is fully committed to using Statcast in major league ballparks. Statcast and Field f/x each remain in their early stages, and reliable, widespread defensive metrics that have long eluded baseball executives are still a work in progress. Statcast is now in all 30 MLB ballparks after a test in three stadiums last year. Field f/x is no longer in any MLB ballpark after previously testing in five facilities, but the new deal continues its development path, albeit on a markedly different course. The difference between the two systems largely lies in the use of radar technology. Statcast uses it to track ball flight and buttress video-based data collection. Sportvision has not embraced radar-based technologies, and its products are camera-based. Statcast also carries a prominent broadcast component, with data being used on MLB Network and Fox. Field f/x data is being targeted primarily for coaching and evaluation. “We’re very focused on the coaching side with Field f/x, and the relationship for the minor leagues really enhances that,” said Sportvision CEO Hank Adams.
PITCH F/X STILL AROUND: Pitch f/x has been around since '07 and is widely used by broadcasters, by team scouting and coaching personnel, and by MLBAM itself for its suite of fan-facing products. MLBAM execs were not available for comment. MLBAM Exec VP/Business Kenny Gersh in a statement said, “Sportvision continues to be a valuable partner and we look forward to additional collaborations as we introduce new applications to the marketplace.”
