The Switch teams with Spark Sport
March 16, 2021
The Switch announces that Spark New Zealand, the country’s largest digital services provider will tap The Switch’s cloud-based production-as-a-service offering, MIMiC, as part of a multi-layered solution to deliver live sports feeds from Formula 1, English Premier League and New Zealand Cricket to Spark Sport subscribers. The deal marries The Switch’s IP infrastructure, its live sports expertise and its unique cloud-based production service offering.
Spark Sport will leverage The Switch’s extensive global network reach to support live streams to its over-the-top (OTT) service. MIMiC ensures flexible delivery of live streams and packaged content to social media, allowing live coverage or near real-time highlights to reach viewers on any screen. The service can handle all aspects of delivery workflow in the cloud.
Spark Sport’s Content Operations Lead, Andrew Martin, commented: “We’re committed to giving sports fans in New Zealand access to the best sport and the best viewing experience, getting them as close to the live action as we can. We chose The Switch because it can act as a one-stop-shop for all our requirements, from content aggregation through to delivery to putting highlights on social media. We have the added benefit of The Switch’s experience in supporting live sports content and its deep understanding of premier live sports production.”
The New Zealand company has been building out its content aggregation based on The Switch’s fiber-based IP network, and the addition of integrated production services leveraging MIMiC represents the next phase of the project.
“Live sports content continues to be a major driver for our customers around the globe, and The Switch is unique in being able to provide connectivity and leading-edge cloud production capability,” said Nicholas Castaneda, Senior Vice President of Sales, The Switch. “We’re very proud that Spark Sport has chosen The Switch’s MIMiC cloud production service for content provision to multiple platforms.”
Spark holds a six-year broadcast deal with New Zealand Cricket for domestic and international home matches and has also secured exclusive rights to the Formula 1, 2 and 3 series and English Premier League.