On the heels of its media rights deals with ESPN, ESPN+, and Canada’s TSN for both linear and streaming distribution, the NLL decided to implement a remote production workflow for the majority of its game productions. That workflow hinges on a combination of IP-based transmission and cloud-based production platforms. Flowics Graphics plays a central role, serving as the main graphics engine powering the live game broadcasts, including scorebug, game stats, and insert graphics.

Joel Feld, evp, broadcast and content, at NLL: “The league’s broadcast operations team continues to add innovative, best-in-class technology partners to our productions and presentations that offer viewers the most tech-forward and fan-first experience.”

NLL’s Flowics Graphics implementation includes native data connectors integrating the Sportzcast live scoreboard API and the official NLL stats provider API to deliver live scoreboard and stats into the broadcasts. Flowics’ data connector enables the NLL to create the game scorebug running in the cloud, taking live scoreboard data via Sportzcast devices installed at each venue. The data connector also integrates with the NLL stats database, including live in-game data. This automates the creation and operation of nearly all graphics with season stats (player and team), match stats, standings, etc.

Flowics Graphics is also helping the NLL to reduce production costs by allowing the NLL to reduce travel and capital expenses. The league also benefits from having decentralized access to Flowics’ cloud-based graphics package in HTML5 that can be shared with the teams and the different production companies that work with the NLL.

In terms of revenue generation, Flowics Graphics gives the NLL opportunities for increased ad inventory, thanks to the platform's fan engagement features.

“We’re proving that there are flexible, agile, and more affordable ways to produce live sports that work as well or better than the traditional production hardware workflows,” said Flowics CEO Gabriel Baños. “This is a big step forward for Flowics, as we closed our first long-term partnership with a professional sports league in the U.S. market. It’s confirmation that the industry is moving quickly toward adopting more cloud-based workflows, and Flowics is dedicated to playing a leading role in that transformation.”