PRO14 Rugby has launched a new fan-focused web platform working with UK digital agency Delete.
From a technology perspective, the new platform promises to be a marker for what is best in class providing live streaming content that could be a precursor to a new dawn in media rights where sports organisations deliver direct to fans.
Pro14 Rugby became the first major Rugby competition to launch its own OTT Video platform in May 2019.
It has been available since in parts of the world where there is no mainstream media deal in place as there is in Ireland through eir Sport and TG4.
Delete has worked in close collaboration with specialists InCrowd and StreamAMG to deliver a seamless, personalised, experience across the website, a new app to be launched next month and OTT video content, all fed by a rich customer database.
There is also a live scoring API that is integrated with live Opta data and historic data from Stuart Farmer Media Services. This will enable fans to ‘watch’ games live in a faster and richer way than previously and will again be a benchmark for how the technology linking sport and fans is developing.
“We commissioned Delete with an ambition to develop a flagship website that would position the Guinness PRO14 as the elite and diverse competition that it is and provide a platform that effortlessly brings to life the stories of the tournament across video, written and audio content,” said PRO14 Rugby Marketing Director Tom Lister.
“The Delete team quickly embraced this, distilling the complexities of our brief and leading us through a comprehensive strategy & design process. The Delete team have everything that we wanted in a digital partner – the ability to blend innovative design thinking with leading technical know-how, an ambition to push boundaries with commercial pragmatism.”
“To work with an organisation as internationally renowned as the Guinness PRO14 is both exciting and a testament to the name Delete has created for itself within the sports sector,” added Damon Mangos, Strategy and Executive Creative Director at Delete.
“Our ambition has been to build a best of breed digital ecosystem that will raise the bar of what a rugby website can be – delivering a world-class digital experience for fans and a platform that facilitates PRO14 Rugby’s commercial ambitions.”
The Bridge platform on which the site is based has been created by InStream who deliver Guinness PRIO14 content around the world.
“Bridge allows the team at PRO14 Rugby to deliver personalised content to their website and mobile app from a single headless platform, whilst creating a number of operational efficiencies for the PRO14 Rugby team,” said Dan Lipman, Commercial Director at InCrowd.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working on this project with PRO14 and all the partner agencies, and we now look forward to launching the Guinness PRO14’s new look app.”
Read More: Guinness PRO14 Going Live to Fans
Image Credit: Guinness PRO14 Rugby
