Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) have announced the launch of OBS Cloud 3.0 for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This AI-powered cloud technology aims to streamline and enhance the broadcasting experience for Media Rights-Holders (MRHs).
For the first time in Olympic history, live signals will be distributed primarily through OBS Live Cloud, replacing traditional satellite methods. This transition will support 379 video feeds (11 UHD, 368 HD) and 100 audio feeds, providing low latency and high resilience. Two-thirds of booked remote services, across 54 broadcasters, including two UHD broadcasters, are using OBS Live Cloud for Paris 2024.
For Paris 2024, OBS Cloud 3.0 will serve as the backbone infrastructure supporting several critical functions, fully
utilising the benefits of cloud technologies including operational scalability and cost-efficiency, improved sustainability with enhanced remote working capabilities, effective real-time workflow collaboration, and more.
As part of OBS Cloud 3.0, OBS Live Cloud has become the main method of remote distribution to MRHs for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, taking over from satellite which was launched during the Olympics Games Tokyo 1964. For Paris 2024, two-thirds of booked remote services (across 54 broadcasters) are now using OBS Live Cloud. With the benefits of low latency and high resilience, content transmission via cloud has outperformed other methods of distribution when it comes to scalability, flexibility and cost while increasing the stability and agility of worldwide broadcasting of the largest sports event.
Debuted at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 with an UHD broadcaster, OBS Live Cloud was offered as a standard service for the first time during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 with 22 subscribed broadcasters. Prior to this technology breakthrough, broadcasters had to rely on dedicated and more costly international telecommunication optical circuits and spend a considerate amount of time to set up the equipment, in order to send live footage halfway across the globe back to their home countries.
“With approximately half of the world’s population watching the Games, technologies like Alibaba Cloud help us tell the stories of the best athletes in the world, but also bring the world together in ways which are more exciting and inspirational. Broadcasting the Games is fundamental in trying to do that, and having partners like Alibaba that help us bring this dream to life are very valuable for us!” Said Yiannis Exarchos, OBS Chief Executive Officer.
The platform, fully hosted on Alibaba Cloud, will deliver over 11,000 hours of content, including live sessions, athlete interviews, and social media content. New functionalities allow MRHs to create highlights from any location, with content available in three resolutions for various uses. Content+ will deliver UHD content through Alibaba Cloud’s infrastructure, supporting vertical screen compatibility for mobile devices.
“We are very excited to see the evolution of Olympic broadcasting from Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024, enabled by Alibaba
Cloud’s extensive global infrastructure and proven AI technologies. The partnership between Alibaba Cloud and OBS amplifies our commitment to help transform the viewer experience at the Olympic Games, turning technology innovations into practical applications for tangible results.” Shared Selina Yuan, President of International Business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.
OBS will utilize 17 AI-enhanced replay systems across 14 venues, covering 21 sports. These systems provide frame-freeze slow-motion replays, offering detailed analysis and educational insights. The footage is processed in the cloud, enabling real-time 3D rendering and swift integration into live coverage.
Leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s infrastructure, the OBS Olympic Video Player (OVP) will support UHD live streaming, providing MRHs with a turnkey solution for high-quality video delivery without complex in-house development.
Since joining as an Olympic Worldwide Partner in 2017, Alibaba Cloud and OBS have continually advanced Olympic broadcasting standards. OBS Cloud 3.0 represents the latest milestone in this ongoing collaboration, promising a transformative viewing experience for audiences worldwide during the Paris 2024 Games.
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