The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is set to launch a new global broadcast platform which it states will bring games to more fans and also lead to the development of user-generated content and new data about the sport.
Hockey’s world governing body has partnered with live streaming platform Mycujoo for FIH.live, with the venture to launch on Thursday.
In 2019, the platform will provide all FIH competitions live in every market where a broadcaster will not be showing the event. This includes the inaugural Pro League, which will commence on January 19, the FIH Series Finals and the Olympic qualifiers.
The platform is designed to help FIH engage more with the global hockey community, hockey fans and anyone who hasn’t had the chance to discover the sport. It will be provided to all national associations for their competitions and matches.
Users will have the opportunity to access content, share content on social media and follow their favourite entities – including associations, domestic competitions, clubs, individual teams and players.
They will be offered a fully-interactive experience, including scrolling through an interactive match timeline, watching specific match actions, reviewing statistics and chatting during the live match.
Applying an ‘athlete first’ concept, the platform will give players the chance to create their own digital hockey profile and control their own content.
FIH.live will integrate the latest technology as it evolves. It will be driven by artificial intelligence, machine learning and data. Automatic filming and automatic video tagging have already been introduced. The FIH said content generated will enable the gathering of key data, currently missing from the sport, to help the development of the game.
FIH chief executive Thierry Weil said: “FIH.live is a great opportunity for the global hockey community to engage with current fans as well as with people who are yet to become fans. It will also boost the production of user-generated content and bring hockey games live to many more fans in a simple way.”