90% of sports go unseen – Here’s how tech is changing that

Authored by Sidhhant Agarwal, Founder, CEO, SportVot.

What We Can Call the 90%-Club

We all know that one friend who always says, ‘I could have been a big deal in sports, if’, and that “if” represents 90% of all sports matches happening across the country, where there is no coverage or digital footprint. In these cases, talent only becomes a nostalgic memory shared over drinks, rather than a visible record. Considering that India is a country of 29 states with diverse talent, it’s alarming to think about how much potential shifts from the playing field to corporate roles, simply due to the lack of exposure or opportunity.

Cloud is the Limit

With such a vast challenge to tackle, it’s imperative that technology takes centerstage, keeping six pillars in mind: inclusivity, affordability, compatibility, scalability, ease of use, and TV-grade output. The answer lies in cloud production technology, which addresses this by minimizing human intervention on the ground to just two resources per match with basic training. It’s compatible with mobile devices, video cameras, and automated cameras, allowing for streaming to begin in just 10 minutes, and has the capacity to produce 1,000+ matches simultaneously. This scalability is the true revolution, enabling the grassroots sports ecosystem globally at a fraction of traditional costs.

For the Developed, Developing & Underdeveloped

From a remote grassroots volleyball league in Assam, where bamboo tripods were used to mount mobile cameras for streaming, and 500 volunteers learned the art of capturing the energy of sports, becoming bonafide broadcasters of the Brahmaputra Volleyball League, to the National Cricket Association of Japan, where cloud production is used to stream every single grassroots match, the impact has been profound. In Japan, the objective was to increase local awareness of the rules and spark interest in the sport. As a result, over 85% of the current national men’s team is made up of native Japanese players, compared to less than 50% just a decade ago.

The First Beneficiaries

On one side, the backbone of this growth lies with sports event organizers, associations, federations, sports management companies, and corporate grassroots programs. A new category of local groups – players turned organizers – has also emerged, recognizing the commercial value of adding cloud production technology. This approach boosts player participation, offers opportunities for monetizing broadcast ad inventory through sponsorships, and allows them to reach a wider audience.

Creating Future Stars

On the other hand, players participating in grassroots and sub-elite tournaments are experiencing something new: seeing footage of themselves in action. This isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s a tool for self-improvement, as they can share this content with coaches, loved ones, and even use it to analyze their game. With every competitive sport optimized for coverage through customizable graphics, real-time scoring, and detailed player, match, and tournament statistics, millions of grassroots athletes are now being profiled and tracked using cloud technology. In the coming years, this sports CV will likely become the first choice for players at every level – from casual to professional – to monitor their progress.

Expanding the Field of Play

The turning point for cloud production technology – when it shifted from being available to becoming revolutionary – came during the COVID-19 pandemic. This technology promises to democratize sports coverage in a way never seen before.

Looking ahead, if we consider the sheer number of sports fields globally where this technology could be deployed, including one near you, cloud production could very well shape the future of sports streaming and content consumption.

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