These areas will be addressed at Sport and Technology: The Conference 2007, held at Inmarsat’s headquarters in London on Friday 29 June, in a session entitled: ‘The Stadium as a Television Studio’.
Screen Digest’s Tim Westcott (the former editor of Television Business International) will lead a discussion between venues and technology suppliers on topics such as: Should broadcasters and technology companies be involved in the design of a stadium? Are providing good sightlines and hiding unsightly cables more important than technology access? Are television audiences generally catered for more than the venue audiences at a live event? Should sports be more flexible in accommodating broadcasting and IT needs? How are developments in HDTV affecting lighting? How is technology being used at venues to enhance spectator experiences (WiFi, VOIP, smartseats etc)? What do spectators now expect from their match day experiences? And how can venues monetise technology?
John Beattie, Stadium Manager at Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium, Peter Mckenna, Stadium Director at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, David Wood, Managing Director of sports production company Input Media and Gilles Page, Senior Lighting Designer Sports at Philips Lighting will share their own knowledge and experiences with the audience.
As well as also including panel discussions on the areas of ‘Convergence’, ‘Protecting Digital Assets in Sport and the Rise of Social Networking Sites’ and ‘Technology versus Referees’, Sport and Technology: The Conference 2007 will feature an afternoon Opening Address by Mickey Charles, President and CEO of realtime sports wire service The Sports Network and a Closing Address by Doug Gardner, Managing Director of Avaya’s FIFA World Cup Programmes 2001-06.
Delegates will also enjoy an evening cocktail party and a charity raffle led by Tottenham Hotspur legend, Steve Perryman MBE, now Director of Football at Exeter City FC, whose prize bag will include a FIFA World Cup football signed by Pele and donated by Avaya and an Ashes Tour signed Australian bat donated by the ECB.
Other speakers at Sport and Technology: The Conference 2007 include representatives from a wide range of companies and rights owners including: Arqiva, Avaya, England and Wales Cricket Board, Entriq, Loughborough University, NetResult , ProZone Sports, PVI, Racing UK, Rugby Football League, Setanta Sports, Spectrum Strategy Consultants, Sportingo, SportingPulse, Teletrax, The Sports Network, Westminster (UK government) and Virgin Media.
Partners of Sport and Technology include Servecast, Jalipo, The Sports Recruitment Company and ICG.
