New York City, Nov. 6, 2024 – SMT (SportsMEDIA Technology), a leader in real-time data delivery, tracking technology, graphics presentation and tracking technology for sports and entertainment, returned to the streets of New York City to support the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. The event, which drew an estimated 50,000 runners and over two million spectators, showcased SMT’s innovative technology tailored especially for marathons, amplifying the experience across the multi-day event.
For the 10th consecutive year, SMT partnered with the New York Road Runners (NYRR) to deliver comprehensive video display production services and digital technology across the marathon course, as well as streaming and communications services for various race events. This year, SMT introduced new services, including the Citizens Bank Display & Production at Mile 12, which featured a branded jumbo LED display and a dedicated social media platform showcasing community messages.
Key technology from SMT included:
LED Display Production: For 2024, SMT enhanced its offerings with 14 productions on more than a dozen jumbo LED displays. These displays, positioned at key locations such as the Javits Center, start line, course locations and finish line, kept runners and spectators informed with live leaderboards, race statistics, sponsor messages and NYRR public service announcements. Additionally, banner LED displays showcased live content and race-day highlights at the photobridge and digital track boards.
Citizens Bank Cheer Zone at Mile 12: As part of this new activation, SMT managed the Citizens Bank Cheer Zone display, which featured real-time content, live social media integration through Tagboard, and community messages gathered from fans prior to the event.
Worldly Expo Open Captioning: Another new feature for 2024, this service offered attendees at the Expo real-time captioning in English and Spanish, with access to real-time translation in over 60 languages on mobile devices.
Opening Ceremony and Final Finisher Celebration: SMT provided production services and live streaming for the Opening Ceremony, Kid’s Race and the Final Finisher Celebration, capturing the inspiring journey of the marathon’s last finishers crossing the line.
USATF 5K streaming: In addition to the marathon, SMT supported Saturday’s USATF 5K Championships with streaming production, clock integrations and camera services, further enhancing the race experience for both athletes and viewers.
“Our mission is to bring the vibrant energy of the TCS New York Marathon to life through our technology, and we were thrilled to return this year to capture the sheer excitement, the incredible statistics, and the heartwarming human-interest stories,” said Tori Nachuk, Events Project Manager at SMT. “Every year, our goal is to push the boundaries of how we engage the audience, from runners and spectators on-site to those watching around the globe. With new technology like the Citizens Bank Cheer Zone Display and enhanced translation and captioning services, we are excited to have created an even more inclusive and dynamic marathon experience in 2024.”
The 2024 TCS New York City Marathon was broadcast live on ABC7/WABC-TV in New York City, ESPN2 nationally, and ESPN3 in Spanish, reaching audiences worldwide. SMT’s technology supported this coverage with pointer graphics to identify noteworthy runners. This year marks the 15th that SMT’s graphics and broadcast technology enriched the live broadcast produced by Film 45 and IMG experience.