The National Hockey League is testing an animated recap show aimed at drawing young viewers. “NHL Hockeyverse Matchup of the Week” uses NHL Edge Positional Data to turn NHL player into avatars, creating “a visualization of the on-ice action with stunning realism and dynamic movements,” the league says. The half-hour show premiered February 1 featuring a recap of a January 25 game between the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals. Episodes air on the NHL Network and on the NHL YouTube channel in the U.S. and on Sportsnet in Canada and are expected to continue in the Saturday slot. Continue reading NHL Is Turning Players into Avatars in Game Recaps for Kids

At CES this year, Canon and Sony both showcased multi-camera capture technologies with an eye towards attracting a younger generation of viewers. Canon’s Free Viewpoint video system (using an AI-powered ring of high-resolution cameras in a stadium or arena) and Sony’s combined tools from its Hawk-Eye vision processing company and recently-acquired AI-based data visualization firm Beyond Sports can create low-latency virtual reproductions of live sports. The capture from multiple angles enables the virtual reproduction to offer interaction that a simple video stream does not, though each technology is distinct in what it offers. Continue reading CES: Canon and Sony Tools Provide a Virtual Take on Sports