Sportec Solutions, the sports technology joint venture between Deltatre and DFL, has announced it has assumed the majority shareholding of Vieww – a leading provider of goal-line technology (GLT) and video assistant referee (VAR) solutions.
As a result, it has been confirmed that Sportec Solutions has become the new officiating technology partner for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2.
Sportec Solutions will utilise Vieww technology in a deal that will run for an initial five years, beginning next season (2022/23), to encompass all Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 games including relegation play-offs and Super Cup fixtures, as well as DFB competition matches.
Vieww is a FIFA-inspected provider of goal-line technology and video assistant referee access, supplying next-generation officiating systems for football and other major sport federations.
It utilises advanced smart camera technology, which is continuously synchronised to a microsecond. In addition to fully automatic goal detection, all cameras provide 200 HD images per second for analysis and verification of critical goal area scenes.
The majority acquisition will allow global sports federations to benefit from continued investment into, and development of, a cutting-edge and comprehensive video officiating system, as well as future integration between Vieww’s officiating services and camera technology, and Sportec Solutions’ advanced data capture and analysis ecosystem.
In addition, Sportec Solutions and Vieww will tap into Deltatre’s market-leading fan engagement and technological expertise, and work in partnership to expand its products with a focus on developing innovative, engaging solutions around officiating, and future-proofing leagues’ owned data and video ecosystems.
Andrea Marini, CEO, Deltatre: “This agreement is testament to the growth and development of Sportec Solutions and underlines the ambition we have for the company.
“We know there is an incredible pace of development in this space, which is why we’re delighted to be working with a forward-thinking and talented team at Vieww. We believe we’re bringing together best-in-class data provision and a leading officiating system. We are looking forward to the next Bundesliga season, where we’ll see this capability in action.”
Hendrik Weber, MD, Sportec Solutions AG: “We are delighted to integrate Vieww’s expert team and market-leading technology into the Sportec Solutions organisation. The opportunities afforded by a fully integrated data and officiating ecosystem, coupled with Deltatre’s fan engagement expertise, represent a significant and exciting evolution in our proposition for leagues and federations.”
Florian Götte, MD, DFB Schiri GmbH: “We believe this is the beginning of an exciting partnership. We focus on providing a reliable referee assistance technology, that is based on our needs for refereeing in professional football. Besides that, we want to develop existing technologies and innovative solutions to further improve refereeing on and off the pitch. We are looking forward to our partnership with Sportec Solutions.”
Founded in 2016 and based in Munich, Germany, Sportec Solutions is a joint venture between global sports and entertainment technology provider, Deltatre, and Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL). Sportec Solutions offers advanced gathering, storage, analysis and distribution of detailed, live match data to clubs, licensees, partners, and clients.
In November 2020, Deltatre acquired majority shareholding of Sportec Solutions. As part of that agreement, its offering, which is concentrated in Germany, became available to the international market. To learn more about Sportec Solutions and Vieww, please click here
About Sportec Solutions
As a joint venture between Deltatre and DFL Group, headquartered in Munich, Sportec Solutions develops next-gen solutions in the fields of match data and sports technology. It delivers products and solutions that enable international sports properties to truly maximise the potential of their owned data ecosystems. Sportec Solutions offers the most advanced gathering, storage, analysis, distribution, and analytics of live match data to clubs, licensees, partners, and clients. It also collaborates with renowned companies and scientific institutions to enhance its product development through expanded data processing.
About Vieww
Vieww specialises in the development, installation and operation of camera-based systems for digital real-time image processing in the professional sports sector. This includes FIFA licensed goal line technology as well as a complex video referee assistance system (VAR) with virtual offside line (VOL). Vieww develops innovative software technology solutions with the highest standards of reliability, speed and flexibility for real-time support in sports.
The Engelhardt Family and Elsässer & Rolfes will stay minority shareholders in Vieww. Through this construction the former player Simon Rolfes owns indirectly a minority equity in Vieww of less than 1/8. He has not, and will not, hold an operational role within the company. He has signed a contract confirming this. This matter had been externally audited by an independent company and is contractually secured as requested and approved by DFL.
About Deltatre
Deltatre is the global leader in fan-first video experiences. Named in Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the ‘World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2020’, Deltatre’s market-leading product and services portfolio has helped redefine the way the world consumes sport, media and entertainment by offering specialist innovations in over-the-top streaming, websites and apps, graphics, data, officiating systems, user experience, and product design. Over its 35-year history, the company has grown to employ more than 1,000 staff who are globally distributed across its hubs in 19 key cities.
