Catapult creates Gatorade Tracker to deliver Live Broadcast Data for Ashes test, ODI and T20 series
Catapult, the leader in sports performance analytics, has created the ‘Gatorade Tracker’, a huge development in live data visualisation for cricket. In a new data GPS agreement, the fifth Ashes test (where Catapult’s technology was used by the Australian team), as well as the Gillette ODI and T20 series for the 2017/18 season, benefited from live data insights during the matches.
Under the agreement, Catapult delivered data from its GPS-enabled wearable tracking technology to Channel Nine for use in live broadcast for a total of nine matches, including the Sydney test, the five one-day international matches and three T20 matches. The data generated will continue to be made available to the team during post-match for performance analysis via Catapult’s proprietary performance analytics software, OpenField.
The broadcast overlay, managed by graphics provider Alston Elliot, was sponsored by Gatorade and viewers saw metrics – including total distance run, top speed, and a sprint count – presented as the Gatorade Tracker. Specific points of interest identified by Catapult’s sports scientists (periodising by over and spell), who also provided commentary to accompany the metrics on the Gatorade Tracker.
Commenting on the agreement, Joe Powell, Catapult’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re delighted to be able to work in partnership with Channel Nine and our longstanding client, Cricket Australia. This is another exciting opportunity for us to showcase our credentials in providing live wearable data for broadcast, whilst helping our league-clients to drive audience engagement and incremental revenue.”
Director of Sport, Nine Network Australia, Tom Malone said: “we’d like to thank the Australian players and Cricket Australia for enabling us to bring our viewers deeper insight into what fantastic athletes these cricketers are. This is just the beginning, we look forward to continuing to work with Catapult on greater statistical analysis as the summer progresses.”
Head of Creative and Innovation at Wide World of Sports, Alex Rolls, said: “As data and analytics continue to form an increasing part of our broadcast here on Wide World of Sports I would like to thank Catapult and Alston Elliot for delivering a seamless in broadcast integration – we have already displayed metrics that I think will have surprised and engaged the Australian public.”
This is Catapult’s fourth wearable data commercialisation agreement for live-sports broadcast. Catapult has previously broadcast wearable data with the National Rugby League (NRL) during its 2017 State of Origin Series, the 2017 AFL finals series, and with the National Basketball League (NBL) during its 2016-17 season.
To find out more about Catapult’s sport-specific algorithms, and how they help fuel fan engagement applications during live broadcast, visit the Insights & Answers page here.