Global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company Accenture has delivered an end-to-end video solution spanning live streaming, video-on-demand, mobile app development and cloud services to BT Sport.

“Given the complexities of launching a channel across a number of platforms, it was good to have a partner like Accenture,” said Greg McCall, chief operating officer for television and content at BT. “Accenture brought delivery experts as well as the latest technology in digital video, live events, cloud and mobility. So not only did we have access to the innovation we needed to craft the solution, but Accenture provided the predictability required to deliver against such an important and inflexible launch date. Their ‘one team’ ethos was a major factor in our success.”

Accenture provided an end-to-end digital solution based on its Accenture Video Solution (AVS), one of the industry’s most comprehensive, feature-rich video software platforms available today. It is delivering a high-quality user experience to BT Sport’s subscribers across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets and computers. The service also leverages AVS specialised managed services to provide multi-platform live digital broadcasts 24/7 at scale, including all the encoding and publishing of live streams.

“What we’re seeing today – and BT Sport is a great example – is innovation not only in digital content and platforms but also in business models that align with consumers’ expectations for multi-screen entertainment,” said Sef Tuma, managing director, Accenture’s Media and Entertainment industry group. “Through our software and services, we are able to help our client support these now critical objectives by rapidly delivering and operating complementary solutions at scale – such as the BT Sport app which passed one million downloads two months after its launch.”

The launch of BT Sport followed BT’s acquisition of live broadcast rights to 38 Barclays Premier League football games for three seasons, along with Aviva Premiership Rugby, Women’s Tennis Association matches and MotoGP beginning in 2014. BT Sport is available on a wide range of devices – from set-top boxes to smartphones – and is free to BT’s seven million broadband customers as well as Virgin Media XL customers. Online viewers have access to additional content including interactive programming, highlights and real-time statistics, which provide the rich, immersive experience that digital consumers expect.

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