BBC to License Signals AI and Personalization Tech to Commercial Rivals
The BBC is licensing its internal artificial intelligence and live broadcast personalization technology, known as Signals, to commercial rivals after successfully deploying the platform during the Wimbledon Championships on Centre Court.
How does the Signals platform work?
Signals is a digital platform that overlays real-time data, artificial intelligence, commerce, and gamification elements directly onto live video feeds. Broadcasters use the tool to combine the first and second screen experience, keeping viewers engaged within the broadcast environment rather than checking mobile applications.
The system allows for object-based broadcasting, transmitting modular video, audio, and graphic feeds that reassemble according to user preferences.
The technology was utilized for every live BBC broadcast from Wimbledon’s Centre Court during the championships, delivering data-driven graphics like serve speeds and player dominance, animations for record-breaking moments, and two-way quizzes.
What do the audience metrics show?
Audience feedback from the Wimbledon deployment exceeded initial expectations, according to BBC Research and Development head of product Eleni Sharp.
“We had really great audience feedback … the average amount of time that people spent was 30 minutes and four seconds, which was more than we expected,” Sharp told SportsPro.
“We also saw that 75 per cent of viewers chose to keep Signals enabled even when they had the option [to turn it off].”
“Football, athletics, cricket, and motorsport are all really obvious fits. We can reuse the player cards, key moments and race statistics, and we can design the interface to complement [whatever] we're working with,” BBC Research and Development head of product Eleni Sharp told SportsPro.
Why is the BBC licensing the technology?
The corporation plans to offer Signals as white-label technology to commercial rivals and supporting partners grappling with similar modern media challenges. Licensing the platform creates a new revenue stream to help sustain the organization amid continuous funding constraints, while spreading the benefits of internal research funded by the universal licence fee.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.