Stats and graphics heralded as future of sports viewing in the Middle East

Experts say sports fans will soon be able to get exclusive interactive content to their mobile phones on the match they are watching live in a stadium.

DUBAI // Fan expectations are pushing the boundaries of how live sports will be presented in the Middle East in future.
The latest developments of sports broadcasting and what could be in store for the avid armchair fan were some of the topics discussed by a panel of experts at the Cabsat conference at Dubai World Trade Centre this week.
In-game statistics at the fingertips of fans and developments to reduce lag from online live sport broadcasts are just some of the progressions close to reality.
And for fans choosing to watch sport live in stadiums, exclusive interactive content could also be made available at seats to encourage more fans to attend.
Christina Mixon is director of fan engagement at the National Basketball Association in the US, and specialises in improving the in-game experience.
"As watching sport at home has improved, there is now a danger of fans choosing that option ahead of watching games live," she said.
"The cost of going to live events has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. It is great news for broadcasters as people will choose to watch on TV instead.
"That has become a concern for all professional leagues, as it will become less attractive to watch sport being played in an empty stadium.
"We want to make sure fans come back, so delivering rich content to mobile phones to add a different perspective will become more important."
Ideas mooted include in-stadium mobile apps offering merchandise deals and fan offers to upgrade their seats during a match.
In-game statistics currently exclusive to coaches and player-tracking technology could also become more interactive for fans, the panel said.
Matthew Kwok, a senior producer on Monday Night Football at ESPN, said the volume of available data could pose a problem for broadcasters, as well as rights issues with individual clubs and the leagues they play in.
"Some data just can't be analysed on a large-scale basis," he said. "We look at new technology and pick out which ones add value. Younger fans want to see numbers and stats and they want to see it now.
"But they don't want to interrupt what they are doing."
Developments in add-on graphics to view the speed of a shot at goal or the line of a golf ball in flight have added an extra dimension for armchair sports lovers.
Thomas Nelson, business development manager at VIzrt Sports, added: "One of the biggest shifts we have seen is in virtual in-game graphics, and fans want to have access to that inside stadiums.
"The technology to attach graphics in live play is available now. Either via a red button channel or a second screen, it can be achieved."
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