Alibaba Cloud Introduce OBS Cloud 3.0 for the Paris 2024 Olympics
Alibaba Cloud and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) have announced the release of OBS Cloud 3.0 for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This cloud-based approach promises to improve Olympic broadcasting technology and provide a better viewing experience for global audiences.
OBS Cloud 3.0 introduces several changes to Olympic broadcasting. Notably, OBS Live Cloud will become the major method of remote distribution to Media Rights Holders (MRHs), replacing satellite transmission, which has been common since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. OBS Live Cloud will handle 379 video and 100 audio streams for 54 broadcasters, accounting for two-thirds of all booked remote services.
The content delivery system has also been modified. Content+, OBS's distribution platform hosted on Alibaba Cloud, will manage 11,000 hours of Olympic programming, 15% increase from Tokyo 2020. This expansion aims to provide more thorough coverage, including behind-the-scenes footage.
The system uses AI technology to provide Multi-Camera Replay Systems, which provide slow-motion replays from 14 sites and 21 sports disciplines. Additionally, the Olympic Video Player service will now allow UHD live streaming for the first time.
OBS Cloud 3.0 intends to reduce reliance on satellite transmission and specific circuits, making it more cost efficient than previous versions. The cloud-based approach is intended to provide better scalability and flexibility, potentially allowing broadcasters to adjust more quickly to changing requirements.
Yiannis Exarchos, OBS CEO, commented on the technology: "With approximately half of the world's population watching the Games, technologies like Alibaba Cloud help us tell the stories of the best athletes in the world, but also bring the world together in ways which are more exciting and inspirational."
Selina Yuan, President of International Business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, added, "The partnership between Alibaba Cloud and OBS amplifies our commitment to help transform the viewer experience at the Olympic Games, turning technology innovations into practical applications for tangible results."
The new system also prioritises sustainability, with improved remote working capabilities that could minimise the requirement for on-site people. This is consistent with efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of large-scale events, such as the Olympics.
Choong Hon Keat, Deputy Country Manager of Singapore, Alibaba Cloud, highlighted their Energy Expert solution, stating: "For this Olympics, we are supporting IOC to deploy our energy experts, our data-driven sustainability solution, to help them to measure and analyse the electricity consumption of all 35 competition venues." He further explained that this solution provides "a visualised dashboard with all information analysis, including venue-specific forecasts and recommendations such as power demand optimisation," allowing the IOC to use data-driven insights to improve sustainability in future events. This initiative aligns with the IOC's commitment to reduce carbon emissions in Olympic-related events.
They also employed AI technology to colourise and restore historical film from the 1924 Olympics, emphasising the progress of women's participation in the Games. This is the first time in Olympic history that there is complete gender parity among participating athletes.