Replay Technologies’ freeD Footprint Expands, Ups the Instant-Replay Ante for Broadcasters

The Sports Video Group is pleased to welcome Replay Technologies as a corporate sponsor. Founded in 2011, the company developed freeD (free-dimensional video), a proprietary technology that allows rendering of 360-degree instant replays for major sports and entertainment events.

The technology is used currently for televised sports in the U.S. and previously at the London 2012 Olympics. freeD upgrades the level of sophistication for teams and broadcasters to display and interpret instant replays.

“Replay’s vision is to power the next big revolution in video by using our proprietary freeD technology to create novel viewing experiences,” says Eric Finney, EVP, business development, sales, and communication. “We believe, ultimately, the viewing experience of most broadcast-related events, from sports to news to film, will be freed from the limitation of what is currently shot by the physical camera, raising both the storytelling possibilities and the user-immersion possibilities to whole new levels. We aim to disrupt the fundamental operating-cost structure for broadcasting, cinema, and other fields (biomedical, security, TV viewing, etc.) by implementation of the concept of placing viewing angles and cameras where none existed in reality.

“SVG is highly valued by our partners and clients, and Replay is proud to be a sponsor,” he continues. “We share SVG’s commitment to technical excellence in the sports industry.”

Last month, Replay Technologies won an Emmy Award in Technical Achievement for its work with the New York Yankees and YES Network (YES VIEW). The firm has also recently secured an investment of $9 million in new equity capital from private-wealth-management company Guggenheim Partners. This is Replay Technologies’ second round of venture financing.

The company continues to expand its reach across U.S. sports and entertainment. Its propriety freeD algorithm synchronizes every image from latest-generation 5K cameras (five times the resolution of HD); the resulting video is captured and rendered in near real time, providing a virtual three-dimensional model of the action.

In addition to the New York Yankees installation at Yankee Stadium for the YES Network, Replay Technologies has deployed freeD for the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on SportsNet; the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium for NBC’s Sunday Night Football (NBCeeIT360); the 2014 NCAA Men’s Final Four and Championship at AT&T Stadium for CBS and Turner Sports; NBA’s All-Star Weekend 2014 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans for Turner Sports (TNT FreeD); and ATP’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA.

Replay Technologies has offices in Newark, CA; Dallas; and Tel Aviv.