Telestrator + Replay = Better Sports Storytelling
Since making its way onto our televisions back in the 60s, instant replay has become weaved into the very fabric of sports broadcast. At its most basic, a replay clip serves as a second look at a critical play that viewers might not have fully registered. At its very best, a replay can serve as a timeless snapshot of the most legendary moments in sport – a game-winning Superbowl touchdown, an upset goal in the World Cup, an unbelievable knockout in a boxing match – the list goes on and on.
However, as we said, replay has been gracing our television screens for nearly five decades. So what can you do to differentiate yourself in the eyes of sports fans from the rest of the pack? Take replay to new heights with telestrator technology that brings the story of sport to life.
Scratch More of the Itch That Makes Sports Fans Love Replay
The reason replay became such a staple in live sports production is that fans love stories – and every single game is chock full of them. During the average sporting event – whether it’s football, soccer, basketball, or anything else you can name – there are more twists, turns, drama, triumph, and downfall than a Shakesperean play. Replay is excellent for highlighting those big dramatic moments, whereas a telestrator allows you to shine the spotlight on the subplots that are building up to them: the intention behind a team’s formation, how teammates are subtly working together to progress the play, the strategic missteps grinding away a team’s chance at victory, or the sheer brilliant intuition of a star player.
Illustrated replays provide another chance to get your audience invested in the game.
Telestration Helps You Tell The Stories Behind a Game
Compared to the rough marker-style of old, today’s telestrator systems provide a variety of templates for illustrating different game elements and look a lot sleeker. For example, Chyron’s PAINT Illustrated First-Replay & All-Sports Analysis solution comes complete with a feature-rich toolset for visualizing different parts of the play or highlighting individual player performance. The comprehensive feature set includes freehand drawing, highlights, zooming, marking, and other telestration and 3D graphics tools that you can use to
- Highlight key players and their movements
- Create passing and shot trajectories
- Connect and track multiple teammates working in tandem
- Transition-in name and stat cards above moving players
- Dynamically zoom in on key moments during the play
- And much more!
Additionally, with the latest 9.0 release of Paint, users have access to a newly redesigned formation tool that gives commentators and analysts the power to illustrate and enrich stories beyond the replay, with virtual lineups and plays.
Visualize the Stats Viewers are Putting Stakes On
If the tidal wave of fantasy leagues and sports betting platforms didn’t make it clear enough, sports fans love to flex their stats muscles in the pursuit of bragging rights and a little bit of spending cash. If you can be their go-to source for understanding how stats are trending and making an impact on the game, sports fans will find a viewing home with your network.
Data-capable telestrator systems can help you truly bring the stats to life. For instance, Paint supports data connections to industry-standard providers such as NFL Next Gen Stats, Sport Radar, Opta Sports, and many more. Transition vital game and player stats into your dynamic illustrated replays to help people understand the changing numbers behind every play.
[READ: How to Leverage Data in Your Sports Betting Broadcasts]
Leverage Player Tracking and Live Game Data
Another exciting opportunity is to leverage data the players are generating themselves on the field with tracking technology. With unique integration to TRACAB player tracking systems, Paint allows producers to create heat maps, zones of play highlights, and other fascinating visual analyses from live game data.
See how TUDN – a sports broadcast division of Univision – utilizes PAINT to engage their fans with illustrated replays and data-driven visual analysis of the game. Watch the video
Your Staff Can Master Illustrated Replay With Ease
In the world of replay operators, change can be a prickly thing. Every operator has their preferred system and can be reluctant to learn a new one. Thankfully, modern telestrator systems are taking a page out of all the right playbooks to deliver an easy-to-master experience. Editing interfaces like Paint adopt the timeline-style editing of widely-adopted programs like Adobe, making it easy to craft illustrations across a clip. Meanwhile, the latest Paint 9.0 update introduces AI-supported algorithms to automate player tracking – saving time and reducing manual effort. It’s also dead-simple to calibrate your playing field into a 3D canvas for graphics within the interface.
Because these are software-based interfaces, you can forgo some of the hardware-based limitations of traditional replay stems – with remotely accessible control, customizable HTML-5 based interfaces, and even direct publishing to social media channels like Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
[READ: Why Creative is the Next MVP in Sports Broadcast]
How Can Illustrated Replay Engage Your Audience?
Today, sports telestration technology is providing an unignorable avenue for broadcasters to up their game in the eyes of their viewers. With more illustration capability, data integration, and ease of use than ever before – today’s telestrators make it easy to produce something that looks fantastic during a fast-paced sports production.
Learn more about creating stunning illustrated replays and visual sports analysis with Paint.
