Press Release: ArkSports enters new technology partnerships - April 2004  

ArkSports, the London-based sports consulting and research company and technology specialist, has recently teamed up with several technology companies including I-Ball, DatAcq and Clear Thinking Group, to offer sports rights holders the opportunity to reach fans more effectively and enhance their experiences via the internet and other broadcast channels.
ArkSports is acting as a strategic consultant to I-Ball, a technology company that has developed the know-how to place a camera inside a ball, such as a football, rugby ball, American football or golf ball. With the increasing number of media producers trying to gain a higher market share to survive, it is essential to proactively add new value to existing coverage in order to increase consumer choice and to maximise operating profits. I-Ball presents a natural fit to this particular need.
Small camera units enable an online video stream from the ball and provide totally new shot angles while supplementing the footage shot by ordinary cameras located around the field of play. This approach will add an innovative new perspective to the way games are currently being viewed. In addition, new statistics will be generated by the presence of this sophisticated transmission platform on the field - statistics that can be translated to revenue streams using interactive platforms
Speaking about the partnership between I-Ball and ArkSports, I-Ball's chief executive Ofer Graitzer said: "With ArkSports' reputation as leaders in the technology sports sphere, the relationship is an excellent fit and we are delighted they are sharing in making the I-Ball concept a tangible business proposition for sports rights holders."
Rachael Church, director of ArkSports Limited added: "I-Ball is an exciting proposition for federations and broadcasters that are constantly looking for innovative ways to target their increasingly demanding fans and viewers. The I-Ball concept is also a powerful tool for sponsors looking to stand out from the crowd."
Meanwhile, ArkSports is also pleased to have entered into agreements with virtual animation specialist DatAcq and business technology agency Clear Thinking Group.
DatAcq's pioneering 'Dynamic Data' is 3D co-ordinated positional information that clearly shows the movement of a competitor or an object such as a ball in relation to others. Dynamic Data will also bring significant advantages to federations by providing sophisticated tools to help with the administration, training and development of athletes and teams as well as offering a raft of new media rights that will have significant value.
Collection of Dynamic Data is enabled by a unique real time tracking technology which uses image and attribute recognition (IMAR) - this technology has a major benefit over other systems that are currently under development as there is no need to ask competitors to wear transmitters of any kind.
Said Gideon Lloyd, founder of DatAcq: "In precisely the same way that the introduction of radio and television transformed how sport was enjoyed by audiences around the world so the introduction of 'Dynamic Data' will provide entirely new outlets for a global audience. We look forward to ArkSports helping us bring our technology to the attention of sports properties globally."
Business technology agency Clear Thinking Group helps businesses including sports properties and sponsors operate more efficiently and communicate with their customers, members or fans more effectively via digital platforms. Its services allow the CTG team to turn ideas into direct and measurable benefits to businesses and include information management, relationship management, website design, build and operation, marketing strategy and system integration.
Mark Payne, director of Clear Thinking Group, said: "We are delighted to team up with sports technology consultancy ArkSports in order to reach sports rights holders more effectively and help them communicate with their audiences utilising all the technologies at their disposal."
Luke Boyle, director of ArkSports Limited, stated: "We are delighted to be working with both DatAcq and Clear Thinking Group because they present sports properties and sponsors with an effective platform to leverage their content, reach their audiences effectively and create compelling digital propositions. We are already working closely with broadband producer Narrowstep and its marketing partner Global Sportnet and can now offer federations, teams and their sponsors a portfolio of propositions that offer an entire digital solution - from website development through to rich media streaming and virtual animation enhancement."

About ArkSports

ArkSports Limited is an independent sports research and consulting company that provides high quality, objective expertise to companies with sports interests in a timely and cost-effective manner. ArkSports Limited specialises in the areas of technology, sponsorship, broadcast and finance. Its services include: forecasting; strategy creation; rights valuations; market sizing; workshops; competitor analysis; custom reports; and sports/territory/sector profiling. ArkSports also publishes the leading industry e-newsletter Sport and Technology: http:www.sportandtechnology.com

For further information on any of the companies or their products outlined above, please visit: http://www.arksports.com/
Or contact Luke Boyle, Tel: +44 (0) 207 485 0745; Mob: +44 (0) 7904 385207; E-mail: lboyle@arksports.com

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