NHL and NESN Pioneer Animated STEMCast: A New Era for Hockey Broadcasts

The NHL and NESN are teaming up to introduce an innovative approach to hockey broadcasting with a STEM-focused animated presentation. This unique broadcast aims to engage younger audiences and families by transforming the live game into a cartoon-style experience. The broadcast will leverage the NHL’s puck- and player-tracking system, NHL Edge, to create a virtual 3D world of the game. This initiative follows a growing trend of leagues and broadcasters incorporating advanced data and interactive features into their streaming products, such as the NBA’s betting-focused function within NBA League Pass and NESN’s stat-heavy altcast offerings.

The sports broadcasting landscape is rapidly evolving, with leagues and broadcasters constantly seeking new ways to enhance the viewing experience and engage fans.One increasingly popular trend is the integration of betting-focused features into streaming services. The NBA, as a notable example, offers an optional betting function within its NBA League Pass streaming product, allowing fans to place bets directly through the app while watching the game.

Live Stats and Option Broadcasts

Another significant trend is the incorporation of live statistics directly onto the screen. Networks like NESN are building numbers-based overlays as part of stat-heavy alternative broadcasts for app subscribers. These alternative broadcasts often feature live inputs from player tracking systems. A prime example is the NBA’s LA Clippers’ “clippervision” broadcast, which overlays data from camera tracking systems present in NBA arenas. These displays can range from basic player details and “expected” shooting percentages to an overlaid diagram of the court displaying each player and the ball as a moving dot.

Sara Zuckert, senior vice president of content strategy and innovation for the NBA, notes the increasing popularity of these digitalized features among fans.

we’ve seen increases in every overlay that we’ve launched after we’ve launched it. Each one, year over year, has increased in what percentage of fans are using it. One of the things we’ve found that’s engaging is, generally speaking, fans who use these overlays watch longer.
Sara Zuckert, senior vice president of content strategy and innovation for the NBA

Ease Live, a company specializing in sports overlays, has also observed significant increases in viewer engagement. Within months of their initial launch with YES Network in 2021, they tracked a 26 percent increase in time spent per unique streamer per game.The company claims a 50 percent average increase in viewer duration and a 56 percent overall engagement boost across all their sports overlays.

The NHL’s Animated STEMCast: A Cartoon Version of Hockey

The upcoming STEMCast from the Boston Bruins represents a notably unique approach.According to Dave Lehanski,the NHL’s executive vice president of business growth and innovation,the layer of material added to the onscreen action can’t technically be called a “broadcast overlay.” rather, NESN and the NHL are creating an entirely new animated version of events.

The key to this innovative broadcast is the NHL’s puck- and player-tracking system, NHL Edge. This program uses infrared emissions from the puck and player jerseys, aided by cameras from Hawk-eye innovations, to map the game. By aggregating these feeds, league partner Beyond Sports creates a virtual 3D world using the x-, y-, and z-coordinates of the puck and each player on the ice.

As these data points become live, they plop it on this arena. We basically build this animated experience that operates in near-real time.
Dave Lehanski, the NHL’s executive vice president of business advancement and innovation

The goal of this animated experience is to appeal to younger audiences and families. as Lehanski explains, “For this audience, younger peopel and families, our goal was to build a cartoon version of a hockey game. And that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

The broadcast will feature not just an animated hockey rink but also a snowscape mimicking the iconic Boston Commons area, complete with Boston landmarks and other locally-inspired Easter eggs. Blades,the Bruins’ mascot,will be animated into the program and will be part of various cutaways that highlight STEM themes.

Conclusion: A New Frontier in Sports Broadcasting

The NHL and NESN’s STEMCast represents a bold step forward in sports broadcasting, leveraging data and animation to create a more engaging and educational experience for viewers. By transforming the live game into a cartoon-style presentation, the NHL hopes to attract a new generation of hockey fans and showcase the STEM principles behind the sport. This innovative approach could pave the way for future broadcasts that blend entertainment and education in new and exciting ways.

Hockey’s Animated Revolution: A STEMCast for a New Generation of Fans?

Is the NHL’s new animated STEMCast a game-changer for sports broadcasting, or just a flashy gimmick?

Interviewer: Dr. anya Sharma, welcome. You’re a leading expert in sports media and technology. The NHL and NESN’s new animated STEMCast is generating a lot of buzz. What’s the significance of this advancement in the broader context of sports broadcasting innovation?

Dr.Sharma: The NHL’s STEMCast represents an captivating evolution in sports broadcasting, moving beyond simple data overlays to create a entirely immersive, animated experience. It’s not just about showing stats; it’s about reimagining how we consume the game itself. This innovative approach leverages advancements in data capture and visualization,offering a captivating alternative viewing experience,particularly appealing to younger viewers and families. Think of it as a fully interactive cartoon version of a hockey game.This tactic isn’t simply adding a new layer; it’s transforming the basic way people interact with the sport.

Beyond the Overlay: A New Paradigm in Sports Viewing

Interviewer: Many networks are incorporating live stats and alternative broadcasts, like the NBA’s clippersvision. How does the STEMCast differentiate itself from these existing trends?

Dr. Sharma: While real-time data overlays and alternative broadcasts enhance the viewing experience by providing in-depth statistics and analytical insights – features, incidentally, that are substantially increasing viewer engagement as noted in the case studies of both the NBA and YES network – the STEMCast takes a bolder approach. It eschews the traditional broadcast format altogether. Instead of simply overlaying data onto the live game, the STEMCast utilizes NHL Edge, a player- and puck-tracking system, to create a parallel, completely animated world showcasing the game in cartoon form. This is a pivotal shift, focused on creating a new, engaging narrative rather than just enhancing the existing one. It allows for imaginative storytelling opportunities and educational content woven seamlessly into the game action.

Engaging Younger Audiences: The Power of Immersive storytelling

Interviewer: The NHL explicitly aims to target younger audiences and families with the STEMCast.How effective do you believe this strategy will be in attracting and retaining a new generation of hockey fans?

Dr. Sharma: This is a crucial aspect. Traditional hockey broadcasts can sometimes feel inaccessible to younger viewers. The STEMCast’s animated presentation—with its engaging characters, interactive elements, and storyline—breaks down these barriers. By making the sport more visually appealing and relatable, it has the potential to cultivate a love of hockey in a new generation. The request of STEM concepts via the game’s action increases engagement as learners passively absorb information. This approach is far more effective than simply relying on traditional broadcast methods intended to attract a mature audience. We need to remember that sustained engagement translates to an increased likelihood of viewers continuing to follow the sport in the long term.This model uses imaginative, creative media to nurture a loyal viewership.

Technological Advancements & Future Implications

Interviewer: What technological advancements make the STEMCast possible, and what potential does this approach have for other sports leagues and broadcasters?

Dr. Sharma: The STEMCast’s success rests on several key technological components: Precise player and puck tracking (like that offered by NHL Edge and Hawkeye Innovations), complex 3D animation software, a robust data processing pipeline, and real-time data integration. The ability of the developers at Beyond Sports to translate this raw data into a functional near-real-time animated program is itself a significant achievement.The triumphant implementation of this model across other leagues depends on similar types of advancements in data acquisition technology and animation techniques. It wouldn’t be as simple as “copying and pasting” this format; though, the core concept of creating engaging, alternate representations of the game has broad applicability across numerous sports.

Interviewer: What are yoru overall thoughts on the long-term prospects of the STEMCast and the potential for similar innovations in sports broadcasting?

Dr. Sharma: I believe the STEMCast is more than just a trend; it’s a significant step towards a more engaging and interactive future for sports broadcasts. The technology is constantly improving, and we’ll see even more advanced applications emerge in the coming years.I anticipate further integration of augmented reality, virtual reality, and personalized viewing experiences. The key will be to understand your target audience’s interests and use innovative presentation styles to enhance the viewing experience without alienating existing fans. The success of this model rests on its ongoing ability to continually innovate and keep the focus on the user.

The STEMCast model effectively combines entertainment and education, opening up exciting new avenues to engage with sports. I encourage everyone to share their thoughts and predictions for the future of sports broadcasting in the comments! We’d love to hear your perspectives.