Sony Makes Big Sports Move; Acquires KinaTrax, Inc. to Expand Its Sports Data Business Into Player Performance

Markerless motion capture technology to marry with Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations Limited

This week, Sony Corporation announced it has acquired KinaTrax, Inc. (“KinaTrax”), a research-grade markerless motion capture technology for sports that collects in-game biomechanical performance data on athletes.

Joining forces with Hawk-Eye Innovations Limited (“Hawk-Eye”), KinaTrax will bring its expertise and motion capture technology to Sony’s portfolio to synergize the use of sports data for athletes, teams, leagues, and fans alike.

“By welcoming KinaTrax into the family, we are excited to further expand our offering, under our mission of unlocking the power and emotion of sport through data,” Rufus Hack, CEO of Hawk-Eye, Pulselive and Beyond Sports said in the official announcement. “We are incredibly privileged to partner with an overwhelming majority of the top global sports leagues, and this acquisition allows us to broaden our proposition through new biomechanical insights in the critical and growing field of player performance.”

Hawk-Eye, Beyond Sports, and Pulselive form the core foundation of Sony’s sports businesses, placing the company at the fore of officiating, as well as live broadcast and digital media innovation.

“We’re excited to become part of Sony and its sports businesses, and to bring our know-how to complement the powerful tech Hawk-Eye, Pulselive, and Beyond Sports have developed and are delivering today,” says Steven Cadavid, President of KinaTrax. “The future of sports is in deeper data tracking and the creation of smarter insights through innovative technology. With Sony, by enhancing KinaTrax’s expertise in capturing and delivering biomechanical performance data, we aim to contribute to provide sports leagues, teams and players with the best insights to improve performance and pursue success.”