The broadcast partner of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Propel Sports Africa, will make history in the league following the announcement of eight matches to be streamed live during the weekend.
Propel Sports began their live coverage of the NPFL last weekend with five matches across five different centres in Nigeria, which was a record for any league season in the country.
Despite concerns over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) cameras that show only one camera angle and no replays, the broadcast company is on the verge of expanding its coverage in the second week.
Matches are expected to be broadcast live through the NPFL Live application for Android users and the official website of the company for desktop and other users.
The NPFL matches are as follows:
Saturday, October 7, 2023
- Kano Pillars vs Katsina United
- Bendel Insurance vs Shooting Stars
- Doma United vs Bayelsa United
Sunday, October 8, 2023
- Kwara United vs Abia Warriors
- Remo Stars vs Rangers International
- Akwa United vs Sporting Lagos
- Gombe United vs Enyimba
- Plateau United vs Heartland FC
Meanwhile, the President of Propel Sports, Ed Simmons, has clarified issues concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) cameras in the broadcast of the NPFL.
The NPFL has embraced cutting-edge AI camera technology to revolutionize football coverage.
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The adoption of AI cameras is set to usher in a new era of broadcasting, offering cost-effective solutions and expanding the reach of Nigerian football on a global scale.
As reported by The Athletic NG, Ed Simmons shed light on the project’s financial aspects, emphasizing the substantial cost savings achieved through AI cameras.
Traditional outside broadcasting (OB) units with multi-cam setups can incur expenses ranging from $25,000 to $35,000 per game, making it financially unviable to broadcast multiple matches each week.
Simmons said: “It’s been a mammoth undertaking for us at Propel Sports. We are working on multi-cam productions. There is an issue incorporating it and that will be resolved in due course.
“In this instance we had to start from the scratch. It’s not the stadia, we are enhancing the stadia with such infrastructure as Starlink Internet but not the stadia itself.
“The barrier to showing multiple games on Nigerian television up on till now has been the cost of broadcast. To use a traditional OB unit with multi-cam will cost anything up to $25,000 or $35,000 (per game).
“So, to do eight games will cost up to $240,000 each week (matchday) and that’s impossible and no one can make a commercial return from that. What we did was to sign an exclusive licence for these new AI cameras, and in using these cameras we can substantially reduce the cost of production. Therefore, we have the ability to film multiple games.”
Recognizing this financial hurdle, Propel Sports sought an exclusive license for AI cameras, enabling a significant reduction in production costs and the capacity to film multiple games simultaneously.
Simmons clarified that the focus is on enhancing the infrastructure necessary for broadcasting rather than modifying the stadiums themselves. The response from club chairmen has been overwhelmingly positive, as they recognize the potential benefits of increased viewership for attracting sponsorship and commercial revenue.
The adoption of AI cameras aligns with a global trend in football broadcasting, with leagues such as La Liga, Bundesliga, and the Portuguese Premier Division also incorporating AI technology into their coverage.
Nigeria takes pride in being the first African nation to deploy AI cameras for league games, paving the way for the future of sports broadcasting.
Propel Sports, as part of its expansion plans, has trained over 40 Nigerians as camera operators, contributing to job creation and skill development in the country’s sports industry.
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