The network needed a robust solution that could bridge geographical distances, manage unpredictable internet infrastructure, provide both cost efficiency and dependable performance......
How the New York Islanders increased in-arena fan engagement using TVU Networks’ platform
The production team uses a simple QR code and geofencing to create a one-of-a-kind experience that one-in-five fans are enjoying; that number is still growing.
View Related ProductsBarcelona, Spain- March 4, 2024 —The New York Islanders and TVU Networks are putting a brand-new watch experience in the hands of fans who attend games at UBS Arena.
The journey began during COVID when the Islanders were looking for new ways to engage fans by providing camera feeds of warm-ups. There was one problem; the Islanders were seeing less than ideal engagement when people were required to download an application on their phone. A problem that has plagued similar products in previous years.
Fast forward years later, ISLES+ was born with a simpler approach. Fans would simply scan a QR code. It was soft launched to 150 season ticket holders in the arena on Nov. 11, and 11 days later, the full experience was a mainstay in UBS Arena.
In 2024, they are seeing nearly 20 percent of fans in the arena engaging with the platform. A significant jump from years prior.
TVU Networks outfitted the Islanders team with its remote sports production ecosystem like it has done for broadcast giants like FloSports, ESPN, Rush Media and more. Since it is hosted in the cloud by Amazon Web Services (AWS), the tools are robust, yet flexible enough, to handle any ideas teams around the world can think of.
“It’s no surprise that the Islanders are the first to bring this type of approach to their fans,” Rob Amaro, TVU’s Director for Sports, said. “They see themselves as innovators within the Sports industry, and this type of game experience platform showcases it.”
One of the key features revolves around the perfectly timed goal sequence. Since fans in the arena aren’t generally going to want to immediately stare at their phones after a score, a controlled delay means that when they are done celebrating the replay is ready to be watched back. But the features go much further than providing another look at the action.
“Fans shouldn’t be punished for running to grab a drink or a snack. The Islanders wanted to make sure that everyone regardless of where they are in the arena gets to catch the action at every step of the way,” Amaro said. “They were determined to find a solution that people of all ages can engage with simply and effectively.”
ISLES+ also offers a live chat feature for fans to discuss all things Islanders, in-depth game stats, arcade-style hockey games, a direct link to purchase 50-50 raffle tickets, and much more.
Amaro said that while attending a game, people all around him were pointing their phones to the jumbotron to snag that code.
“I even got to request one of my favorite songs,” Amaro said. “It’s like having a DJ, chat room, statbook and instant replay machine all in my pocket.”
Other key areas provided by TVU include geofencing access to only the walls inside the arena, time synchronization, and a way to instantly close all the feeds in case a situation arises where production needs to stop broadcasting immediately.
Scalability is key, and TVU Networks makes it clear that the sky’s the limit with their ecosystem. Just last year TVU Networks powered the Pan Am Games where more than 50 commentators were able to commentate the competition.
It’s four live cameras now with ISLES+, but if they wanted to bring in more; the sky’s the limit. One area that is a must with these types of products is making sure the team isn’t bogged down or required to hire another team to run it. The cloud-production platform is simple enough where the entire production can be controlled by one crew member.
It goes without saying that additional sponsorship opportunities are abundant with a product like this too.
About the New York Islanders
The New York Islanders Hockey Club is the proud winner of four Stanley Cup Championships and record nineteen consecutive playoff series victories. The Islanders have 10 members inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and play in the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference. The Islanders Children’s Foundation has helped countless youngsters in need around the world since its inception. Donations are raised through the efforts of our players, management, and employees, along with our fans and partners. UBS Arena is the team’s state of the art home and features world class premium hospitality, great sightlines from every seat, and a loud and intimate bowl. Isles Lab, the official team store of the New York Islanders, offers fans traditional NHL merchandise, unique collaboration and exclusive products. Isles Lab is located inside UBS Arena or can be shopped online at IslesLab.com.
About TVU Networks®
TVU Networks is the premier global provider of SaaS and Cloud-based workflow solutions across multiple industries, including news, entertainment media, sports, corporate, streaming, houses of worship and government. Through the use of AI, microservices and automation-driven technology, TVU helps enterprises realize an efficient metadata and story-centric workflow through its ecosystem for live video acquisition, production and distribution. The company has been on the forefront of developing the tools needed to streamline and monetize the Media Supply Chain. TVU is a critical part of the operations of major media companies worldwide and is a Technology and Engineering Emmy® Award winner.
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