DURHAM, N.C., June 29, 2015 – SMT (SportsMEDIA Technology),
the US-based industry leader in providing seamless real-time data integration,
graphics presentation, and video enhancement solutions to high-end live sports
telecasts and to high-end live sports venue productions, today announced it is
establishing a United Kingdom office from which to address its growing UK and
European client base.
SMT’s broad suite of well-established products and services
will soon be available directly to clients in the UK and Europe from SMT’s UK
base. SMT has built a reputation in the
United States as a pioneer in the field of live sports graphics enhancements
and is at the forefront of the real-time application of object tracking
technology in live sports. In addition,
SMT designed, developed and supports the official scoring systems, the official
statistics systems, and the official on-site live presentation systems for the
NBA, the NHL, The PGA TOUR, NASCAR, the CrossFit Games, and all four majors in
tennis and golf.
SMT’s data and visual graphics platforms, systems, and
products can:
(1) track any sports entity in real time, including tracking
ball position and player position;
(2) assist officials with line calling; and,
(3) provide officials with tools needed to efficiently and
effectively review video to make official rulings.
True to SMT’s history of innovation, SMT plans to launch its
next-generation computer-vision platform, called “Eden”, from its UK
office. Under development for the past
30 months, SMT’s Eden technology will provide TV broadcasters with a reliable
option for covering full broadcast sports action using only unmanned camera
positions. SMT’s Eden platform uses
SMT’s state-of-the-art computer-vision engine and computer-decision algorithms
to intelligently control camera and lens servos to automatically track and
capture all relevant sports action without the need for dedicated camera
operators.
“Opening this office in the U.K. represents a vital and
exciting step in fulfilling SMT’s broader global expansion strategy,” said SMT
founder and CEO Gerard J. Hall. “For
years, SMT’s European-based clients have shown keen interest in having direct
access to SMT’s products and services from within the convenience of their own
geography. SMT London will allow SMT to
work in much closer proximity to our European clients as we continue to develop
ways to enhance, refine, and improve the overall viewing experience offered to
European sports broadcast consumers.”
“With our longstanding and deep relationships with several
major golf and tennis events in the UK and on the continent, it makes proper
business sense for SMT to establish a real physical year-round presence in
Europe,” said Rallis Pappas, president of SMT’s Jacksonville office.
SMT plans to ramp up the UK office to 20 full-time staff
members by year-end and currently is in the final stages of negotiating with
key market segment insiders for executive management positions. “Significant hiring announcements are
expected within the next 60 days,” said Hall. “This is a very exciting time in
SMT’s history.”