PlaySight Interactive, a cloud-based video and analytics platform used by professional teams for training, will bring video assistant referees and broadcast services to Europe in a new multi-year deal with the Belgian Pro Basketball League.
The deal will make PlaySight the official broadcast, live streaming, and performance technology partner of Brussels-based EuroMillions Basketball League, operated by the BPL.
PlaySight will install its SmartCourt technology in each team’s arena to bring HD live streaming and automated video highlights to fans, something that PBL General Manager Wim Van de Keere said he hopes will increase visibility and elevate interest in the league.
“There is an insatiable hunger for sports content right now, and that is no different in Belgium where basketball is one of the most popular sports,” said PlaySight CEO Chen Shachar.
Interestingly, the PBL deal will include VAR replays, using a similar technology to the one that debuted at the FIFA World Cup this year.
The same tech will also be used to power athletic performance analysis tools for coaches and athletes via PlaySight SmartCourt, which leverages multi-angle video and proprietary analytics to help athletes improve their on-court performance.
PlaySight’s SmartCourt technology is currently used by a number of professional sports teams, including NBA teams such as the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors. The company’s video technology is utilized in more than 25 sports across 20 countries, including tennis, golf, soccer, and football.
SportTechie Takeaway
PlaySight earlier this year raised $21 million in a Series C funding round that included investment from SoftBank, the Japanese tech conglomerate. At the time, Jay Choi, a senior associate of SoftBank Ventures Korea, predicted that PlaySight would become “the technology platform of choice” across youth, amateur and professional sports. The company had said it planned to use the late-stage funding round to expand into new verticals, such as using its data-infused video streams to enhance fan engagement and broadcast. Its deal with the PBL shows an effort to provide an all-in-one package for leagues, from analytics to broadcast and even replay technology to assist referees.