Insider Series takeaways: Five ways data and technology are advancing OTT

Drawing on the expertise of rights holders, broadcasters and technology providers from across the sports ecosystem, SportsPro's latest Insider Series event returned to the theme of over-the-top (OTT) and broadcast, providing a wealth of insight into the technology that the industry is tapping into to put live sports on our screens. With much to unpack, SportsPro writers select five key takeaways from across the two days, covering piracy, machine learning and remote production. Cameron Andrews, BeIN Media Group's legal director for anti-piracy, said sports rights holders "were slow" to react to the incursion of BeoutQ, but described the Saudi bootlegging operation as "a very good case study" for piracy "and the impact it can have". "I think some rights owners are certainly aware of that and are very engaged," he said. "But unfortunately I think a lot of other rights owners are still quite some way behind." The emergence of BeoutQ has shone a light on the threat piracy poses to the sports industry, and Andrews called on rights owners, such as leagues and governing bodies, to come together to tackle the issue.