Pixellot: How they are evolving football broadcasting and analysis

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Pixellot
Images credit: Pixellot & FC Barcelona

Founded in 2013, Pixellot is a software development company focused on creating automatic video and analytics for the sports market, that is affordable and attainable.

Having partnered with several leagues, federations, and clubs from around the world – including the likes of FC Barcelona, the Major League Baseball (MLB), and most recently Football NSW (FNSW) – Pixellot strives to provide cost-effective and monetisable live coverage via an end-to-end video and analytics solution.

For coaches, Pixellot’s real-time video capture technology can be accessed seamlessly and displayed instantly, subsequently improving the depth of analysis in training, during the game, and once the match has concluded.

FNSW will take advantage of the services that Pixellot provide, such as Pixellot Air, Pixellot’s mobile live streaming solution, and Pixellot show cameras, and will be installing them at the headquarters of Valentine Sports Park to assist in their talent identification programs.

Pixellot Head of Sales Australia and New Zealand, Brian Meinrath, chatted with Soccerscene about Pixellot’s ambitions within the Asia-Pacific region, the company’s determination to help lower tier leagues and clubs to monetise their football competitions, and how the company has evolved with the impacts of COVID-19.

Would you be able to provide a brief breakdown of what Pixellot does?

Brian Meinrath: Pixellot is a technology company that specialises in broadcast and video AI. We have a number of products that range from top-end broadcast cameras all the way down to our entry-level Pixellot Air cameras. And they can be used for broadcast live-streaming or for coaching and tactical purposes. Below that we have a number of products that link into the cameras, which includes our coaching platform Vidswap and our game analysis platforms as well.

How is Pixellot applied in a live match setting?

Brian Meinrath: It really depends on the application of it first and foremost. For instance, at the recent New Zealand Football Championships, our partner in New Zealand (a company called CelloSport) used one of our cameras to provide automated (one-camera) coverage of the games themselves. Now, that’s at the lowest level but if you look at partnerships we have in Italy’s Serie A our cameras are actually used in two ways: for the broadcast they’re used as a high-vision tactical camera to follow the play; and for the coaching staff they’re capturing all of the tactical play for it to be used for live-coaching purposes which the coaches have access to in real time.

How successful has Pixellot been in advancing analytics and live streaming solutions for football clubs, associations and broadcasters across the world?

Brian Meinrath: Football is currently our number one sport, but we do work with 17 different team sports. We’re in 23,000 venues across 70 different countries, and our cameras produce 350,000 hours of live sporting footage per month. Pixellot has been around for just over a decade but as far as being into the Australian market, beyond a couple of distributors who’d come here previously, they’re now looking to the Asia-Pacific region as the next frontier.

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How did Pixellot’s founders seek to differentiate themselves as a company entering the sports industry?

Brian Meinrath: Originally it was aimed at second and third tier sports and making production of streaming affordable and attainable, and giving them the opportunity to monetise the streams themselves. In an Australian context, hypothetically, it’d allow clubs to broadcast their junior levels all the way up to the senior side without needing to hire a cameraperson. So, for clubs if they start looking at the return on investment, they’re able to take advantage of broadcasting via Pixellot’s cameras as they can then add sponsorship and advertising to the broadcast themselves.

Pixellot recently introduced a live streaming component to its mobile solution product, Pixellot Air. How integral has that been to growing football around the world?

Brian Meinrath: Pixellot Air is a relatively new product for us, and obviously the live streaming is something that was only announced recently following a year’s worth of beta testing. At that level we’re talking about the very grassroots of football and clubs not only being able to record themselves but sharing streams of matches with family overseas or a family that can’t be at the game.

Obviously, COVID has changed a lot of the rules for spectator sport in many countries and the ability we had to provide a platform for people to still watch games and be engaged with them was critical during that time. That’s now extended to the influx of these products into the market here.

Pixellot recently signed a partnership with Football NSW for the next two years. How will they benefit from Pixellot’s involvement?

Brian Meinrath: From that side of things, it’s very coach-focused. The reason they wanted our cameras was to look at their high-performance programs, which includes the FNSW Institute, the girls and boys Talent Support Program (TSP), and their state teams. We support FNSW’s programs by providing our cameras and allowing them to record and analyse their games. This ultimately aids in their talent identification for their state teams which then filters up into selection for junior national team squads. Our cameras allow them to thoroughly analyse the players to determine which ones are more suited to their array of programs.

What are Pixellot’s goals and ambitions within the Australian football industry?

Brian Meinrath: I see two levels of opportunity here in Australia which are the levels below the NPL (FNSW League 1, League 2) for the men, women and youth leagues. For Pixellot, it’s about determining how we provide clubs and leagues with the ability to broadcast games at a cost-effective rate, and provide returns for sponsors because at the end of the day it’s about giving clubs a commercial reason to want to do it and to provide sponsors with an asset to be able to create clips and live streaming of the competition. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to be able to get to that point. We have to look at the infrastructure and resources available to clubs in order for them to be able to effectively use the technology.

For me it’s quite exciting to have Pixellot here in this country and looking at it, this partnership with FNSW is a great start and we look forward to working with them in leveraging our coaching platforms to the best potential they can reach.

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Melbourne Victory commits to player wellbeing with P3 Recovery

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Image credit: FiledIMAGE / Shutterstock.com

In an announcement made yesterday, Victory revealed that P3 Recovery will become the club’s Official Recovery Partner.

 

Maximised recovery, guaranteed results

As a nationwide organisation specialising in recovery, performance and wellbeing, P3 Recovery’s alliance with Melbourne Victory promises to be hugely beneficial for players and members alike.

“As industry leaders, serving to inspire through the world’s game, very edge matters, and partnering with P3 Recovery provides a new dynamic to the support afforded to our players,” explained Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie.

“Melbourne Victory looks forward to seeing a positive uplift in recovery through this partnership.”

Indeed, with an extensive range of recovery methods on offer – from infrared saunas to hyperbaric oxygen therapy and more – P3 Recovery stands as a valubale partner for players looking to maximise performance and recovery during the season.

Although the partnership is new, P3’s Richmond location already provides team recovery sessions and injury rehabilitation. Their commitment to Victory’s physical and mental wellbeing is unquestionable, so it is not surprising why P3 Recovery are the latest local business to join the Victory family.

Supporting professionals and public

While P3 Recovery will help Victory’s A-league Men’s and A-League Women’s team with physical recovery, the alliance will bring many benefits to locals seeking guidance on health and lifestyle choices.

“We’re passionate about helping people take control of their health through expert-led therapies, everyday performance tools and a welcoming space designed to help you feel better, move better and live better,” said P3 Franchisee, Naum Sekulovski.

“Whether you’re managing injury, chasing a goal or just need to reset, P3 is where recovery becomes a lifestyle.”

And with sport and physical activity such a huge factor in the lives of so many Melburnians, a partnership with Victory shows the entire city that when it comes to optimal recovery and service, P3 is there to support everyone in their sporting or personal goals.

Beyond the Pitch: Miyuki Kobayashi on the Real Challenges Facing Japan’s Women’s Game

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Image credit: JEF United

Last week, Soccerscene spoke to pioneer of women’s football in Japan, Miyuki Kobayashi, about the game’s development in Japan and the intersection between sporting and social change in the country.

 

Talent, quality and recent silverware

After Japan’s recent AFC Women’s Asian Cup victory in the final against Australia, the women’s national team solidified its standing as the No.1 team in Asia.

Throughout the last 15 years, Japan’s women’s national team has grown into a formidable opponent, boasting a World Cup trophy, an Olympic silver medal, as well as three AFC Women’s Asian Cups.

The talent is undeniable. The quality is unwavering. And the team shows no signs of slowing down.

But these victories and trophies on the world stage wouldn’t be possible without the leaders behind the scenes – none more so than Miyuki Kobayashi, former WE League Board Member and current JEF United Ladies Scout and Academy Chief.

 

Laying the foundations

Kobayashi has led the charge for women’s football in Japan, promoting not only a sport which values success, but one which empowers female footballers across the nation.

“At university, not many girls were playing and we didn’t have an official team. I went to the US and the environment was so different,” Kobayashi explained.

“That opened my eyes – women can play. That’s how I started the women’s soccer league when I came back: to make an environment for girls to play.”

Thus, accessibility and opportunity became driving factors behind Kobayashi’s work, not only for those on the pitch, but for those in the dugout.

“I got involved at the JFA (Japanese Football Association) to promote women’s football. We wanted to create the opportunity for women to be coaches.”

“They are coached by men all the time, so even when the top players leave the football world, they never think to be involved.”

Furthermore, as a former coach of JEF United Ladies Youth and General Manager, Kobayashi was intent on employing as many female coaches as possible. It was not merely a personel change, but a challenge to widespread social attitudes.

“When I started to employ female coaches, the girls’ parents asked why the coach wasn’t a man. But gradually, we started to make it equal – they didn’t talk about the gender, but about the quality of the coach.”

 

The mission to empower

In 2011, the same year Japan’s women won the World Cup, the domestic league was yet to become professional. Known as the Nadeshiko League, players would work during the day and train in the evenings.

The transition from an amateur to the current professional league required time, resilience and a change in perspective.

“The sports world in Japan is more traditional – it is dominated by men,” said Kobayashi.

“If you want to make the environment even, or (want) more women to come into the (football) world, you can change the mind of the players.”

Since 2021, the WE League has embodied a sense of growth and positive change for the women’s game. In name and nature, it looks to empower players, coaches and all involved in the industry.

“I was in charge of mission achievement for women’s empowerment. We wanted to educate the players, to inspire girls and women who watch the game.”

However, the drive to empower women in football was not without backlash and challenges.

“Some people don’t like that word: ’empowerment’. It’s too strong for them. Some women really appreciate it, but it’s not easy to change the mind of society through football,” Kobayashi admitted.

 

Growing and attracting talent

Although WE League clubs are accelerating youth development and expanding pathways across U15, U18 and first team football, Kobayashi acknowledged that the overall product must improve to bring foreign players to Japan and entice homegrown talent to stay.

“Most of the national team players go to Europe or North America. I don’t say it’s a problem, but from a young age, girls who can play in the WE League want to go abroad,” Kobayashi outlined.

Indeed, when looking at the starting XI in last month’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup final, only one player – Hana Takahashi – plays in the WE League.

But the key to attracting domestic and international players to the WE League, is aligning financial investment and industry attitudes.

“The reason why women’s football has developed in European countries is the social thinking – you have to be equal and have the same opportunities as men in football. The Japanese way of thinking, especially in the football world, is not that at all,” Kobayashi continued.

“When I speak to people at Spanish clubs, women’s football is not a charity, but an investment.”

“We have assets. We have good, young players, but we’re exporting them, so we need to import too.”

Indeed, Spain is a perfect example of what can happen when investment becomes intentional, not optional. Back-to-back UEFA Women’s Nations League titles, 90% television viewership increase since 2016, and record-breaking crowd numbers reflect what can happen when the industry aligns in vision and commitment.

Japan has the players to compete against any nation in the world. Purposeful investment, combined with its overall quality of players and style, could transform the WE League into a true, global powerhouse.

 

The vision for the future

Moving forward, Kobayashi hopes that girls progressing through JEF United’s academies develop confidence and resilience, whether as players or people.

“We want to make the girls – even if they aren’t in JEF United – continue playing football and continue to be leaders,” Kobayashi said.

“Some of them have a dream to be a coach or a leader off the field too, so that’s one of the attributes we want to develop.”

This resilience, reflected by the club’s ‘never give up’ philosophy, is testament to the vision of empowerment championed by Kobayashi across the women’s game.

Even in the face of social obstacles and a lack of financial investment, perseverance and hard work is at the bedrock of women’s football in Japan. It is not just that these values exist, but that they are consistently manifested on and off the pitch, which can show future generations that football is a sport for all – men and women alike.

 

Final thoughts

There is no limit to what the WE League and the national team can achieve if given the resources it deserves. All the ingredients are there: individual quality, a distinct playing style, football philosophy and ambitions to grow.

By following the example of industry leaders like Kobayashi, women’s football in Japan can hopefully continue to make waves of impact – in the sporting landscape and society as a whole.

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