Recently, sports fans may have noticed a new type of replay where the play stops and rotates to a new angle. Those replays have been made possible with technology from 4DReplay that has been shown by CBS Sports, FOX Sports, NBC Sports. A company created in South Korea and part of the K-ICT Born2Global Centre startup incubator, 4DReplay does exactly what the name suggests with a time slice video production system enabling four-dimensional, 360-degree viewing of movements with any shot, at any time.
The company debuted its technology at the 2014 Asian Games. In the following years it worked with broadcasts of Japanese and Korean baseball. Now 4DReplay is expanding to the western markets where it hopes to diversify its portfolio and expand to most sports, signing contracts with sports associations and broadcasting companies in the United States and Europe.
“The difference in scale between the Korean and global sports markets is significant, especially in terms of broadcasting rights,” CEO Hongsu Jung said in a statement. “So, to make it easier for us to enter overseas markets, we decided to establish our headquarters in Silicon Valley.”
CBS Sports debuted the 4DReplay technology in the U.S. in December during broadcasts of the CBS Sports Classic featuring men’s college basketball games between Ohio State and North Carolina and also Kentucky and UCLA.
CBS Sports, together w/ 4DReplay, debuted replay technology never before seen in US national broadcast during today’s @OhioStateHoops v. @UNC_Basketball game in the @CBSSports Classic.
The replay system creates a 360-degree video of moving objects with any angle and depth. pic.twitter.com/wFCUsFypG5
— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) December 23, 2017
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One of the first major applications of the tech was for the 2018 NHL All-Star Game last month. The technology works for hockey because it allows dynamic views of one of the hardest sports to capture. For the All-Star Game, 4DReplay set up 100 cameras, 50 on each side of the ice.
“We are excited to partner with the NHL and 4DReplay to bring an exciting new look at replays to our fans,” John McGuinness, Coordinating Producer at NBC Sports, said in a statement. “Being able to seamlessly move around an entire play without switching shots, will give the viewers at home an incredible look at the action on the ice.”
“Seconds after key plays, fans will see four-dimensional views of the action from any angle, and experience the game like never before,” Jung said in a statement. “Working with NBC and the NHL provides 4DReplay with a significant platform for wide adaption of our technology in North America.”
FOX Sports and UFC have seen 4DReplay enhance the viewing experience.
Check out the cool 360 replay of Myles Jury’s flying knee in his big win over Rick Glenn! #UFC219 https://t.co/cQt2U8OQ0w
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) December 31, 2017
Intel has its own version of immersive replay in True View Technology. According to 4DReplay, it differentiates itself by creating and playing these 360-degree videos for broadcast in only five to 10 seconds.
“The main reason for 4DRReplay’s growing visibility in the industry is its unparalleled technology, which compares favorably in terms of quality and performance than that of the Israeli startup that was acquired by Intel,” according to the K-ICT Born2Global Centre, referring to Replay Technologies.
Be on the look out for 4DReplay integration in many sports broadcasts in the future.