Stop 4: Digital Services

To better service its Media Partners, FIFA extends its content creation and distribution beyond traditional broadcast into digital platforms. Through cloud-based workflows, real-time data and remote production tools, Media Partners can access, customise and distribute content across a wide range of digital environments. These services, developed in a fully integrated ecosystem, complement broadcast operations, enabling new formats, seamless content delivery and more personalised fan experiences: from content ingestion at the IBC to global digital distribution, the Digital Services enable flexible, scalable and remote workflows to support live and non-live operations.  

Cloud-Based Production Platform 

FIFA’s digital ecosystem enables full remote production capabilities through a set of cloud-based and web-based tools. Media Partners can leverage a range of live feeds made available within the FIFA ecosystem, including extended match coverage and additional camera angles, which are ingested into digital workflows. These feeds are then processed and made available across the different Digital Services, such as Match Buddy, Digital Content Live and other platform-based experiences. They can also be combined with additional sources, including Media Partner content, to create enriched and customised outputs. 

Through dedicated interfaces, Media Partners can: 

• Integrate their own remote commentary solutions  

• Combine feeds with external graphics workflows  

• Mmanage and customise multiple feeds simultaneously 

This approach enables the creation of localised and branded content from anywhere in the world, while maintaining high production standards.  

In addition, selected outputs can be delivered via SRT, enabling seamless integration into Media Partners’ digital platforms. 

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Unilateral Services

Outside of the monitoring of the Host Broadcast network and feeds, the Master Control Room and the Central Equipment Room also accommodate the requirements for unilateral feeds, in coordination with each Technical Operations Centre (TOC) at the venues and encompassing all the services the Media Partners might have signed up for at the venues that are using Host Broadcast technical means. 

In order to help Media Partners optimise their footprint on the event, FIFA and the Host Broadcaster have developed fully or partially equipped services (interview or presentation positions, etc.). The technical means put in place on site to allow Media Partners to deliver their activities (lighting, camera, transmissions) are taken care of by the Host Broadcaster’s infrastructure. The MPs can then only bring their editorial talent on site, optimising their presence and their resources.  

While the Engineering teams on site support the Media Partners to ensure seamless delivery through the TOC, back at the IBC, the Master Control Room team supervises the contribution and distribution of the following services over the Host Broadcast set-up:  

•     Pre match Pitch-Side Announce Position FE distribution and turnarounds.  

•     One-Camera distribution and coordination  

•     ComCam distribution 

•    Unilateral VandA. 

MP Router

The MP Router is a staple of the Master Control Room operations and the Host Broadcast set-up. It allows distribution to Media Partners of feeds/signals they might have signed up for, ensuring content will make its way to them to customise their unilateral coverage. A tried and tested concept, for this FIFA World Cup™, the MP Router set-up is leveraging new technologies, meaning a full off-site delivery to Media Partners is possible. While, in the past, Media Partners needed to have technical facilities on site at the IBC to access the MP Router, it is now possible to do so while being fully remote, using the MP Router SRT delivery mechanism. This flexibility allows Media Partners to optimise their operations and limit their event footprint. 

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