President of Propel Sports, Ed Simmons, has clarified issues concerning the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras in the broadcast of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The NPFL has embraced cutting-edge AI camera technology to revolutionize football coverage.
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 renowned NPFL football journalist Adepoju Tobi Samuel on X, formerly known as Twitter, 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 stated, “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.”
READ MORE: Propel Sports promises quality, improved coverage of the NPFL with multi-cameras
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.
UNDERSTANDING THE NPFL LIVE AI COVERAGE:
— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) October 6, 2023
– Projected financial figures for a traditional coverage with multiple cameras.
"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… pic.twitter.com/GkrLFwp5eh
“We are starting from the scratch because this is revolutionising broadcasting and we are not changing the stadia but making sure the stadia are fit for broadcast purpose. The chairmen of the clubs have been so welcoming at their stadia and so helpful as well because they can see the benefits.
“The more people who watch the games live, the more ability they will have to drive sponsorship to their grounds. This is all about bringing proper commercial revenues into the clubs because without the investment in the clubs then obviously the standard of football won’t grow. With proper investment in the clubs there won’t be a reason Nigeria won’t take its rightful place being one of the major soccer nations in the World.
“You’ve got 200 million people who adore soccer among whom have fantastic abilities. I mean look at some of the fantastic players who have come out of Nigeria without ever having the ability to see them in Nigeria from a young age. Now with what we’re doing these games will be broadcast around the World and people will be able to see Nigerian talents and realize how good it is.”
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.
“This revolution is not just happening in Nigeria. LaLiga has just signed for AI cameras. Bundesliga has signed for AI cameras.
“The Portugal premier division has signed for AI cameras. It happens in the case of Nigeria that it is first in Africa to deploy AI cameras to league games. It (AI camera) will be the future of broadcasting. What we will have to do is to make sure we can add a multi-cam which increases the cost not significantly.”
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.
The NPFL and Propel Sports have solidified their commitment to this groundbreaking initiative with a five-year contract signed in May, ensuring that the league’s live broadcast streaming remains at the forefront of technological innovation in football coverage.
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