New Zealand Football (NZF), the governing body for the sport of football in New Zealand, has partnered with Sportway, an AI-automated sports video and data production company.
The new pact gives Sportway rights to broadcast over 200 live games throughout 2024. This marks the largest domestic football broadcast offering in New Zealand history.
This includes extensive broadcast deals that will see all National League and cup competition matches streamed live and free on FIFA+. This strategic partnership aligns with NZF’s vision to expand domestic football coverage in the coming seasons progressively and broadcast every match across all three leagues (Northern, Central, and Southern) alongside every National League Championship fixture.
Sportway brings innovative technology to the table. AI-powered fixed cameras with stunning 4K resolution will be installed at grounds throughout the country. These cameras will ensure automated filming of National League games, with club commentators providing the match narrative for an immersive viewing experience.
Andrew Pragnell, CEO at New Zealand Football, said, “We want to make football as accessible as possible, and our broadcast and content strategy is an important part of that. To go from only broadcasting one domestic game per week a few years ago, behind a paywall, to delivering over 200 this year is an impressive change and will transform competitions like the National League which is now much easier for fans to discover and follow.
“Working with AI cameras is a new approach for us but broadcasting domestic games on this scale would not be possible with a traditional model, so we have been keen to adopt this technology and are excited for how it develops as the technology evolves. It is also great to provide opportunities for people who want to get involved in broadcasting with the chance for a new generation of commentators to experience working in live sport.”
Sportway is a sports video production company that uses AI technology to automate the filming and broadcasting of live sporting events, particularly for lower-tier leagues and youth divisions.