Collaborative Platform for trAnsmedia storytelling and cross channel distribution of EUROPEan sport events
Duration: 01/11/2020 – 31/10/2023
Total Funding: € 4,904,355.88
Overview
The growing demand for live sports content, driven by increasingly interactive and tech-savvy audiences, is transforming the traditional broadcasting model. Viewers now expect immersive and personalised experiences supported by technologies like AI, AR, and Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming. Sports storytelling has evolved from simple match narration to character-driven, real-time narratives that heighten fan engagement. However, shifting consumption habits, especially among younger generations, pose challenges to existing models. Expectations for flexible, affordable access, minimal latency, and seamless cross-device viewing remain unmet. Despite OTT’s potential, adoption has been slow due to cost, reliability, and resistance from audiences accustomed to traditional or shared-viewing experiences.
COPA EUROPE developed a decentralised, cloud-based OTT sports media distribution platform that democratises the consumer experience and enables cost-effective live video streaming from anywhere. The platform allows both sports broadcasters and fans to control content buying and selling, with blockchain technology addressing issues such as royalty payments, account sharing, copyright management, and advertising flaws. It also enhances live streaming quality using cellular and 5G bonding through a cloud-based transcoding infrastructure. The platform offers personalised content through Federated Learning, and supports innovative storytelling, especially for eSports, through in-depth analytics from live broadcast data. The project validated its technologies in close-to-market pilots.
Objectives
Design a decentralised E2E platform for sports media channel federation, enrichment, and broadcasting.
Implement the infrastructure needed to allow content creators and producers of live coverage to react in an adaptable and flexible way to live sports outcomes.
Disrupt the OTT sports media services market with unprecedented flexibility of purchasing and subscription management options.
Produce higher quality services that respect users’ personal data and privacy by capitalising on data network effects through federated learning.
Implement content adaptation and Quality-of-Experience for interactive high quality media delivery.
Develop and pilot alternative platforms for broadcasting the content, connecting fans with detailed, real-time information.
Validate the COPA EUROPE vision through solid, real-life use cases and public, live demonstrators.
Implement impact-driven dissemination, standardisation, and exploitation.
eBOS Role in the Project
In COPA EUROPE, eBOS led the work package responsible for the design and implementation of the dissemination and communication strategy. Specifically, eBOS developed and annually updated the plan for using and disseminating knowledge, created the project’s visual identity and logo, and established and maintained its website and social media presence. It also produced communication materials such as brochures, banners, and templates, and organised workshops, on-site demonstrations, and training sessions for non-ICT stakeholders. Additionally, eBOS oversaw innovation and intellectual property rights (IPR) management, fostered collaboration with business innovation ecosystems and STARTS (Science, Technology & the Arts) networks, and addressed the project’s ethical and legal requirements. It actively promoted the project’s outcomes to European ICT SMEs, aiming to boost uptake of COPA EUROPE’s exploitable assets and services. Furthermore, eBOS contributed to the project’s data management plan, participated in use case execution, and supported the development of smart dashboards, APIs, and system integration.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 957059.
