In a world where sports broadcasting is key to connecting fans with their favorite sports, QUALITY, led by its President Pablo Reyes, has established itself as a benchmark in the audiovisual production of sports events. Its latest example is its partnership with ANOC to broadcast, for the first time, events such as the Games of the Small States of Europe. With a focus on quality, cost reduction, and sustainability, the company has revolutionized the way sports competitions are produced and broadcast, offering innovative solutions that allow organizations worldwide to maximize their reach and efficiency.
From live broadcasts to services like VAR, QUALITY has proven that democratizing access to technology in the sports industry is possible, enabling both large and small organizations to bring their events to a global audience. In this interview, Pablo Reyes shares how his company has transformed the industry and the challenges and opportunities he sees for the future.
What does QUALITY offer to make it so attractive to organizations like ANOC?
QUALITY offers live production solutions based on centralized workflows over the internet, also known as remote production. This model eliminates the need to deploy mobile units (MUs) and technical teams to the event venue, as cameras are connected via public internet to a centralized MU. This reduces logistical and salary costs by more than 50%, while significantly decreasing the carbon footprint.
This solution allows organizing committees to optimize audiovisual production expenses, maximize their political impact with stakeholders, and fulfill their mission of bringing their events to the world. A successful example was the production of the South American Games ODESUR Asunción 2022, where historical production hours were doubled, and costs were halved.
How can a committee or competition grow in terms of sports broadcasting with quality’s proposals?
QUALITY’s remote production model guarantees two key variables for the growth of sports organizations: a cost reduction of over 50% and a significant increase in production hours. At the South American Games ODESUR Asunción 2022, production hours increased from 500 to over 1,000, achieving a quality level similar to higher-tier events.
This approach not only allows sports organizations to optimize their resources but also expands their reach and offers a high-quality experience to viewers.
What do you think is the future of sports broadcasting?
The industry is at a technological turning point. We will see an unprecedented leap with the incorporation of solutions like SMPTE 2110, new encoding protocols like JPEG-XS, and improvements in contribution networks. Additionally, artificial intelligence will play a crucial role in the coming years, automating and optimizing production processes.
QUALITY is already working in this direction, having signed an agreement with Microsoft to develop AI-based solutions that will be implemented in Tier 1 and Tier 2 competitions.
Although your offices are in Madrid, Spain, your target is the world… How do you ensure QUALITY cameras are present on every continent?
QUALITY’s success lies in its associative model. We have built a significant network of partners across the globe. This allows us to offer worldwide services, from Southeast Asia to Latin America, thanks to the support of local players who understand our business model.
This cooperative approach enables QUALITY to operate in multiple regions, adapting to local needs and offering customized solutions.
Besides high-quality, low-cost live broadcasts, you also offer services like VAR. How did this idea come about, and what other proposals do you have?
In 2021, QUALITY carried out the first remote production in Africa, which caught FIFA’s attention. They asked if we could apply the same model to VAR, a costly service that was creating inequalities in football. Since then, QUALITY has implemented VAR solutions in countries like Costa Rica and is working on a more efficient model known as FVS, which eliminates the VOR figure and significantly reduces costs.
Additionally, we have partnered with Deloitte to bring the video refereeing model to Olympic federations, exploring new ways to virtualize refereeing and reduce economic and environmental impact.
ADAPTING TO NEW TIMES
The ability to watch a sport or competition is one of the most important commitments to keeping fans close to athletes. QUALITY, with its innovative processes and versatility to adapt to new times, makes possible what once seemed impossible. Its agility in embracing change only suggests that its game has just begun…
