NHL brings in Blackbird to aid remote video production efforts

The National Hockey League is partnering with cloud video editing platform Blackbird for support on remote content production during its return to play plan.

The NHL’s remote production team will use the London-based Blackbird’s professional-grade editing toolset to edit and enrich a wide variety of live and produced behind-the-scenes content from the league’s modified 24-team restart plan, which is scheduled to take place in the Canadian markets of Edmonton and Toronto from August 1 following a deal with the players’ union.

Blackbird will also be utilized to enable the rapid publishing of content to the NHL’s digital and social outlets, and rapid distribution of video content to the NHL’s own internal production personnel, NHL teams, and media partners for re-purposing.

Blackbird chief executive Ian McDonough, said: “The NHL is one of the world’s most respected and recognised sports leagues and I’m excited that we will be working with their brilliant team as the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs start. Engaging hockey fans with a combination of live action, behind the scenes and rink-side footage is all important in this full contact, all action, no holds barred sport. Blackbird’s speed, agility, and remote capabilities allow all this to be done as well as keeping production crews safe and socially distanced.”

Blackbird – a rival of Grabyo in the social media video clipping, editing and publishing space – also works with IMG, Deltatre, Peloton, A+E Networks, Eleven Sports, Riot Games, and Arsenal FC.