Fox Sports broadcasters, including the network’s NFL crew, will have new data tools via Sportradar. (Courtesy of Fox Sports)
Fox Sports has partnered with Sportradar to develop new research tools, data products, and machine learning technology to enhance live game broadcasts and editorial content.
Powering the initiative is Sportradar’s research intelligence tool, Radar360. The data company unveiled Radar360 two years ago in support of its NFL coverage. Sportradar is the league’s exclusive statistics distribution partner, and Fox carries a larger inventory of NFL games than any other broadcaster.
“Sportradar is in a position to provide information to our networks with cutting edge technology that is easily accessible by the staff in our production trucks and studios,” said Brad Zager, Fox Sports’ EVP of production and operations, in a statement. “This will allow our production teams and announcers to stay at the forefront of storytelling using new data and analytics.”
This collaboration will reduce the analytics workload for the Fox production team to better use the statistical data as a foundation for qualitative and narrative storytelling.
“Sportradar is obsessed with the fan experience, and driven by the opportunity to be a good partner to today’s sports storytellers” said Steve Byrd, Sportradar’s head of global strategic partnerships, in a statement. “Media partners use our turnkey services to tell unique, data-driven stories. With these expanded capabilities, it will be even easier to comprehend trends and produce amazing content for pre-, in-, and post-game consumption.”
SportTechie Takeaway
Ever since Sportradar acquired AI-powered Mocap Analytics last year, the company has emphasized the use of artificial intelligence to improve storytelling in sports. Fox Sports is now one of the first broadcasters to tap into this new array of data research to identify patterns and trends that will guide reporters and producers in explaining how and why plays and games occurred the way they did.
