The 2024 DACH Summit, organised by Sky Deutschland with SVG Europe, brought together industry professionals at the Sky Sport studio in Munich for a day of panels and presentations exploring the future of sports broadcasting, technology, and innovation. The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers and discussions, providing insights into cutting-edge trends across broadcasting, production, and content creation.
Sky Deutschland senior vice president of sports production and SVG Europe Advisory Board chair Alessandro Reitano welcomed the delegates, setting the tone for a day filled with innovation and collaboration. He was followed by Abhishek Ranade of title sponsor Tata Comms Media, who highlighted the company’s recent investments, including the acquisition of The Switch and its ongoing partnership with Formula E.
The opening keynote, titled “Global Richard Wagner – From Bayreuth to the World”, was delivered by journalist and director Axel Brüggemann. Brüggemann spoke about how the presentation of opera, often seen as stiff and formal, took inspiration from sports broadcasting to appeal to wider audiences. He emphasised the need to bring backstage elements of opera to viewers, much like how football broadcasts create a sense of connection between players and fans.
Brüggemann’s keynote transitioned into a discussion about the production of the Bayreuth Festival, with Reitano, Brüggemann, and Robert Kis of TV Skyline exploring the complexities of filming such a prestigious event. The consensus was that while technology may enhance the experience, the integrity of the live performance must remain untouched.
Johannes Heckmann from TVU Networks presented a case study on the Red Bull Wings for Life World Run, which used cloud-based workflows to manage live production across 169 countries. Heckmann highlighted how innovative cloud technologies are setting new benchmarks for sustainability and quality in live event broadcasting.
Watch Tata Comms Media’s Abhishek Ranade talks fan engagement and cloud production
The day continued with a Sports Leadership panel featuring industry heavyweights such as Heike Größwang (IBSF), Verena Göttl (Dyn Media), and Thomas Riedel (Riedel). The panel discussed major sporting events like Paris 2024 and Euro 2024, and how advancements like referee cams and immersive storytelling are reshaping the fan experience. Alexander Rösner of Sky Deutschland remarked on the parallels between sports and opera, both requiring a blend of atmosphere and close connection to resonate with audiences.
After a coffee break, Sebastian Ruchti from Evertz Microsystems shared a case study on how ServusTV used interactive technology to engage viewers during the UEFA EuroCup, showcasing the potential of fan-centric digital experiences.
A subsequent panel focused on women’s soccer in Germany, with Stefanie Mirlach of Sky and Florian Wittmann of the DFB discussing strategies to elevate the profile of the sport through better media visibility and technological innovation.
Andrew O’Neill, Vizrt, head of sport, then introduced a fireside chat between Reitano and Fadi Radi, CCO of blinx. Radi discussed how Gen Z and millennials are driving new production trends, with an emphasis on vertical and horizontal video formats optimized for social media. Radi also highlighted the importance of high production values, noting that today’s young viewers demand quick, high-quality content tailored to their consumption habits.
One of the final sessions of the summit explored the opportunities and challenges of AI in content production. Panelists, including Fabian Nagelmüller (Huespectives), Samuel Westberg (LaSource) and Janick Cardinale (Vizrt), debated the balance between AI-driven cost reductions and value creation, with Larissa Görner-Meeus of Proximus Media House sharing information about Proximus’ launch of an AI-generated, on-screen moderator.
The event wrapped up with a panel on The Future of News, featuring Swati Karkun Sen (NBCU News Group) and Jonathan Levy (Sky News UK). They discussed how digital platforms are reshaping news consumption, with Levy emphasising that while newsgathering processes have become more streamlined, brand loyalty is shifting towards individuals rather than organizations.
The DACH Summit concluded with networking drinks, where delegates had the chance to reflect on the day’s discussions and connect with peers.
The event served as a valuable platform for exploring how technology is driving change across sports and media, while reinforcing the importance of storytelling and audience engagement in the evolving landscape.
{Categories} _Category: Takes{/Categories}
{URL}https://www.svgeurope.org/blog/headlines/dach-summit-2024-explores-the-future-of-sports-broadcasting-and-media-innovation/{/URL}
{Author}George Bevir{/Author}
{Image}https://www.svgeurope.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/17/files/2024/10/DACH-2024-2.jpg{/Image}
{Keywords}Around The Industry,Cloud,Headlines,Live Production,Technology,Top Stories,DACH Summit 2024{/Keywords}
{Source}POV{/Source}
{Thumb}{/Thumb}