Automated sports video production company Pixellot has announced a new $16 million funding round. The funding will be used to grow the presence of Pixellot’s AI-powered camera system at sporting venues around the world.
Pixellot’s system requires a one-time installation inside a sporting venue and uses computer vision to follow ball and player movement during the flow of a game. The system can automatically film, produce and stream live games without any human operators required on-site. Pixellot’s AI can also select and distribute highlights and game stats to add to a broadcast.
Social distancing protocols that come from coronavirus could exacerbate the need to have AI-powered production capabilities at sporting events, as organizers limit the amount of people attending events. Pixellot, which is based in Tel-Aviv, normally streams more than 40,000 live games each month. The company has broadcast deals with more than 140 leagues and media organizations, including the National Federation of State High School Associations, FloSports, and Brazilian media company Grupo Globo.
Shamrock Capital Investors, an existing investor in Pixellot, led the latest fundraising round alongside participation from existing investors Grupo Globo and the Arkin Family. Israeli investment firm Altshuler-Shaham Group also contributed as a new investor.
“Pixellot has a winning proposition that will enable teams to return to play while interacting with their fans easily and safely in a cost-effective manner,” Alon Werber, Pixellot CEO, said in a press release. “We are happy that our investors realized this unique situation and unanimously agreed that there is a need to double-down on our commercial activity.”
