Enrique Lozano and Richard Briant de FOX Deportes
Enrique Lozano, Executive Director of Broadcasting, and Richard Briant, Executive Director of Operations and Technical Services, both in charge of the Production department of FOX Deportes, believe that the world has become smaller and smaller as fans can watch sports events worldwide.
“We’ve seen the demand for live sports content continue to grow. This demand has led to an incredible availability of live sporting events for the public. It’s impossible to ignore fans’ desire to watch premium sporting events that lead to unforgettable moments,” they said.
With this greater availability of sports content, the Spanish-language sports TV industry is seeking to generate more active participation of viewers. “Viewers are no longer passive subjects, but experts who want to be heard. These voices can be included via social media in broadcasts or in separate discussions on social media as part of the already common ‘second screen’ approach that allows them to have a say in the latest news and debates.
Lozano and Briant mentioned that with the arrival of streaming services to the already ‘competitive television landscape’ they have seen an ‘incredibly active market for sports property rights’. “As live sports gain attention, particularly in Spanish, we’ve seen leagues and events move between channels and streamers due to demand and cost.”
They said that streaming has revolutionized the viewer experience. “Now viewers can easily consume content in many ways. The ability to stream and watch TV from anywhere on multiple devices suits FOX’s concept as a leader in live events. So, fans can watch FOX Deportes on the FOX Sports app and multiple popular TV streaming services and never miss a moment.”
They added that, despite the streaming capability, the company’s mission remains to produce high-quality TV, regardless of its live events or studio shows. “Whether the viewer watches TV on a big screen at home or over the phone, their desire for high-quality productions remains the same.”
Regarding new technologies used now in production – artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, and virtual production – they mentioned that it is essential to pay attention to them. “At FOX Deportes we have always been looking to develop efficient and optimized workflows while maintaining quality standards. These methods range from remote streaming to on-site live streaming via advanced flypacks. This approach became essential during the pandemic, as broadcasters were forced to find creative and often simplified ways to create live TV.”
They are currently exploring opportunities regarding virtual reality and artificial intelligence. “As with all channels, the key is to use these new technologies not just for the sake of using them, but to find the ways they fit the needs of the channel.”
