The French soccer governing body, Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), has announced a five-year partnership with WSC Sports, an Israel-based sports-focused artificial intelligence (AI) video content provider. This collaboration aims to enhance the viewing experience of fans by leveraging AI technology to produce and distribute live content from each game.
WSC Sports will analyze every Ligue 1 game (top tier), Ligue 2 (second tier) game, and Trophee des Champions in real-time during this half-decade-long partnership. The company will then manage and distribute the video content produced during these fixtures.
WSC's advanced technology promises to create a wide range of personalized content in various durations, formats, and aspect ratios. This versatile content can be utilized across all LFP platforms and viewing channels.
Expanding reach through diverse platforms
The partnership allows the LFP to use WSC Sports' capabilities to produce short and long-form content for use on its website, apps, social media channels, as well as share it across its international broadcast partners via a media hub.
In addition to real-time coverage of upcoming games, WSC Sports will also delve into 20 years of past games from the archives of both leagues. This feature enables memorable moments from these matches to be reproduced into any aspect ratio.
Ben Morel, chief executive at LFP Media, said:
“Our digital content strategy is absolutely central to our broader objectives, we are therefore thrilled to partner with WSC Sports, a proven pioneer when it comes to AI-tailored content experiences. Their platform will propel our ability to produce and share more content on LFP channels and with our global broadcast partners for worldwide distribution."
Global distribution deal with Eurovision services
Eurovision Services recently became the worldwide distributor of action from both leagues under an agreement unveiled by the LFP late last month. The three-year contract commencing immediately with the ongoing 2024-25 season will run through till 2026-27 campaign. Eurovision Services will distribute over 1,200 hours of live French soccer globally via its range of satellite, cable, and Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) technology. The LFP has been actively seeking to fill its international broadcast partner stable for the new cycle that began at the start of the 2024-25 season in August.
WSC Sports has been expanding its partnerships with soccer competitions worldwide. In recent months, it announced collaborations with top men's leagues in both the Czech Republic and Belgium. A deal with the National Women's Soccer League in the US was unveiled in May. Most recently, it entered into a multi-year deal with German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund.
Aviv Arnon, WSC Sports’ co-founder and chief business development officer said:
“We are delighted to be establishing AI-powered automated content creation that will significantly scale the production and distribution of video content for the league and its clubs. This will help unlock the potential of the LFP’s competitions by expanding content reach, growing fandom, and unlocking revenue opportunities.”
This partnership between LFP and WSC Sports marks a significant step forward for sports broadcasting by leveraging AI technology to enhance content production and distribution.
