Felipe Hoyos BeIN SPORTS
One of the great technological innovations that beIN SPORTS is implementing with its FAST channels, beIN SPORTS XTRA and beIN SPORTS XTRA en Español, is producing and operating them in the cloud. This task is led by Daniel Lago, senior director of Operations Production.
Felipe Hoyos, director of Sports Programming for beIN SPORTS North America, explained that this project means more flexibility and state-of-the-art technology to improve the quality of their channels. “We are also implementing a new graphics system in the cloud. Now we can not only integrate information from social networks but also statistical data to improve and generate new content. On the other hand, we have acquired a new EVO server to speed up processes such as content sharing and trimming capabilities”, he highlighted.
Hoyos also mentioned that there is an important threat in the market of sports content: piracy. “In the US we continue facing this challenge and working together with our partners in other areas to tackle it.”
The pandemic forced them to adapt quickly and also taught them many lessons, particularly regarding operations. “Technology allows us today to cover a match across the ocean, to have our talent in different places, and to be able to integrate and distribute it from a different location. It was a dream that came true. The positive spin-off of this is the added value that our talent gives to the content. Before, accomplishing this was almost impossible because we had to book flights, which meant costs, time, and distances. But now they can be on the match and broadcast from their homes. Being able to interact with audiences, listen to them, and able to integrate them into conversations are other great improvements that technology has allowed us during the pandemic,” Hoyos said.
Among the new releases for the upcoming months, Hoyos mentioned new seasons of Ligue 1 in August, Liga de Los Talentos (Talent League), and SuperLig, “with some of the best players in the world before they depart to perform their duties with their national teams at Qatar 2022.”
Additionally, beIN SPORTS continues the coverage of tournaments such as Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, including the final matches of Torneo de Clubes in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and the final of the Copa Sudamericana, which will be held at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in the city of Córdoba, Argentina, with a special broadcast.
“We are also proud to broadcast Premier Padel with the inaugural tournament, Ooredoo Qatar Major 2022; Premier Padel Italy Major; and Greenweez Paris Premier Padel Major, which began on July 1″, he said.
Regarding the combat sports segment, they’ve closed good deals with partners like MLW, Bare Knuckle Boxing, Tuff-N-Uff: The Future Stars of MMA, World Cup Boxing Series, and soon another new property in this segment.
They also broadcast the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco from 2 to 23 July 2022. The tournament also doubled as the African qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
beIN SPORTS also works with Sabbatical Entertainment for the production of exclusive soccer vignettes. “Through the alliance, both companies produced and created more than 100 vignettes leading up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Available in English and Spanish,” Hoyos explained.
