MLB Advanced Media Every Detail Available to Fans

MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM) has taken a huge step into the sports statistical world.  Each year MLBAM tracks every pitch, hit and out in about 17,400 games.  These statistics are easily sortable and quickly sent out to any fan, player or coach at any given time.
The biggest change has been in the tracking of pitches.
MLBAM uses Pitchf/x, which is a tracking technology developed by Sportvision.  It captures 36 data points on every pitch of every game.  It is then used to calculate and sort pitches according to speed, location, type and trajectory.
This information is extremely valuable to scouts, coaches and general managers when they are evaluating players for the future of their organization.

Media Giants Convergence

With a crowded field of sports networks currently engaged in the broadcasting world, Fox Sports 1is not altering their strategy.  ABC's ESPN, who currently owns the majority of the sports broadcasting market, might be in for a bit of a rivalry should the CBS Sports Network and Fox Sports 1 converge.  The two companies all but left the door closed on the possibility that they may merge to try to take down the sports giant ESPN.
With CBS and Fox taking technological steps to challenging ESPN, especially with extra game-time features for watching games live online, there could soon be a shift in the leaders in sports coverage.  CBS sports chairman Sean McManus has not closed the door on the possibility at all.
He said that it may be that in the future there is a merger with NBC, Fox Sports 1 or the NBC Sports Network.
  

Roc Nation Sports Official

Roc Nation, the newly-founded sports agency by rapper Jay-Z, is ready to take on NBA and NFL clients.  Jay-Z, who was a partial owner of the Nets and one of the main motivating factors for their move to Brooklyn, has now been cleared to move forward in signing players from the NBA, MLB, and NFL.

The convergence of the sports and music industry that Roc Nation illustrates the same thing as what is going on with companies such as Google and Facebook.  Each industry is slowly turning into one large industry in which the main competitors are all technological giants.  

Roc Nation is just the first of what will probably be many music/sports agencies.  Soon enough artists will align themselves with other sports superstars and new teams will form.  

Sports Tracking Camera

Researchers at the University of Tokyo are currently in the midst of creating a camera that can track fast moving objects by itself.  The camera would revolutionize the way sports coverage is broadcasted to its audience.  The camera has the ability to keep the main object or ball in the center of the screen at all times.



After successful tests inside the lab, researchers will be moving the tests outside to see if it is still successful.  Should the tests succeed the technology would be broadcast ready in two years.
This poses a real problem to sports cameramen, as this technology would make the majority of them obsolete.
While the elimination of human cameramen due to the new technology seems inevitable, sports companies should still hold on to cameramen to cover everything but actual gameplay.  

Media Conversion Through Video Games

The multimedia world is slowly colliding into one big clump of companies trying to compete with one another.  EA Sports is no exception.
Teaming up DirecTV and Amazon.com Madden's 25th anniversary game, set to release in August, will be one of the first games to offer more than just the game.  Offered exclusively through Amazon.com, the 25th anniversary edition fo Madden will be $99.99 retail and will include rare Madden Cards, the game and a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket.  This media conversion makes this deal a must-buy for football fans that do not have DirecTV.  Sunday ticket which is valued at $299.99 already pays for itself when buying Madden.
More and more companies are seeking partnerships in order to complete on three levels: internet, mobile and television.  EA Sports, DirecTV and Amazon are the first companies to begin this trend.  It is only a matter of time before more companies begin to do this.

Students Develops New Speed Skating Technology

According to an article on indianasnewscenter.com, a student invention has lead to speed skaters to obtain more accurate readings on their lap times.  

The IPFW students partnered with local speed skaters and developed a radio frequency timing system.  Here is an excerpt from the article on how the technology works:

"Here’s how it works: each racer wears a chip that can be read by the "reader,” so every time the racer crosses the start and finish line, the system picks up their times and stores them automatically."—Rachel Martin and Emily Dwire

The technology chips stores every single time that the skater records per lap.  It allows the speed skaters to look back on every single lap they did in the past and obtain an accurate reading to base their performance off of.  The new technology would allow skaters to see where they rank nationally and if they were able to qualify for nationals.  

No More Freezing or Buffering: Seahawks Partner With NetRover

The Seattle Seahawks don't want their fans to suffer anymore.  The Seahawks recently agreed to a partnership with NetRover to use their technology Opanga and integrate it into their mobile app.  Opanaga NetRover technology allows users to see highlights at high resolution with no chance of network traffic tarnishing the experience.
The technology will revolutionize how fast the fan can obtain these video highlights.  Chief Executive of Opanga NetRover, Dave Gibbons spoke about the technology in an article on Sports Pro.
"Now fans can enjoy action video highlights in mobile high resolution, wherever they are and whenever they want it, without all the frustrating stalling and buffering.  Seahawks fans will be surprised by how good this mobile video experience is," Gibbons said.  "It starts instantly, never freezes, and allows them to connect easily with the team and players."
The technology would be a huge step in the streaming video to mobile devices especially in the sports world.