SysMedia makes interactive Olympic services easy for broadcasters

As the
Beijing Olympics head rapidly towards a broadcasting reality, with plans now
being firmly put in place on a global basis, SysMedia has come to the rescue of
broadcasters who want to add interactive services cost-effectively to their
coverage. IBC 2007 sees the launch of Gold 2008, which takes advantage of the
content management and production engine’s high-level abilities in a
price-flexible manner.

Broadcasters are now able to purchase a three-month licence for the
globally-deployed technology and take advantage of a range of interactive
features that will enhance any Olympic broadcast. Gold 2008 will be supplied
with content templates that can be customised to each broadcaster’s look and
feel, cost-effectively, continuing their branding through interactive coverage.

The system provides multi-screen video selection allowing viewers to choose
from multiple feeds as well as connection to external news feeds like PA or
Reuters which will provide a huge range of up-to-date graphical information.
For example, this could include the latest results (in-vision if desired) and
medal tables, all reached quickly and simply by the viewer.

The system can be deployed over digital broadcast using any deployed middleware
and also over mobile and IPTV systems where web servers are utilised for data
dissemination. It can operate completely automatically once set up.

“By using Gold 2008, broadcasters and network operators are able to achieve a
very low-cost entry into providing interactive services. It has long been
proven that sports events attract a high usage of related interactive services
and these Olympics are only likely to extend that. This system provides
broadcasters with access to complex data handling technology at a highly
competitive cost with ease of deployment also a design imperative,” explains
Kevin Lingley, Interactive Product Manager, SysMedia.