Warner Bros. Discovery Sports’ Matt Stagg takes on additional advisory board role at 3D live streaming start up Condense

Matt Stagg, mobile and immersive director at Warner Bros. Discovery

Bristol-based start up, Condense, has announced that it has appointed media and sports technology expert, Matt Stagg to its advisory board, while Stagg continues to work as mobile and immersive director at Warner Bros. Discovery.

Condense, which captures and live streams real world events into 3D virtual spaces, said the move marks its intent to continue to build partnerships with the sports and broadcast media industries to change the face of how audiences experience live events.

Founded in 2019, Condense has been breaking ground in the world of sports, capturing a live boxing match in 3D at Wembley Arena, and initially working with Stagg on the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) 5G Create competition through the 5G Edge-XR project, where BT’s Media and Research along with BT Sport and other partners explored the possibilities of live immersive 3D content as a way to engage people with live sport in new and interactive ways.

Nick Fellingham, CEO and co-founder of Condense, said of his experience of working with Stagg on the 5G Edge-XR project: “Working with Matt and BT Sport was invaluable. We realised that this is the way boxing is meant to be watched. You feel closer to the action than any other kind of media, like you’re really a part of the experience. Matt understands the possibilities that live 3D content can bring to audiences in the world of live events and has been an advocate of the technology for a long time.”

Boxing with a 3D AR version of the match on your coffee table could become a reality with the 5G Create project, 5G Edge-XR, the consortium led by BT’s Media and Research teams, which will enable people to view immersive sporting events from all angles, across a broad range of devices

Condense’s technology is able to capture 3D video in real time and live stream that into virtual spaces, something that usually requires green screens, extensive kit and bags of processing time. However, Condense’s solution is more streamlined. Fellingham said: “What stands us apart is not only the capability of our technology, but its portability. Our kit fits in the back of a car and we’re able to set up our system in less than an hour.”

To complement its core technology Condense recently launched Studio 5, a unique platform for hosting live events accessible via just a web browser. Here content owners can design and build their own virtual venue and broadcast their content live in 3D to a global audience.

Fellingham continued: “Studio 5 enables our customers to run regular live events in virtual venues of their own design. We have found that there’s a real appetite for virtual live events across different industries particularly music and sport.”

With a string of successful live events in its back pocket, Condense now wants to push deeper into the sports industry. It is looking for media partners to develop fully live, immersive sports experiences. “This is where Matt comes in,” explained Fellingham. “His experience, knowledge and passion for live immersive sports events will help us connect with sports companies who share our vision for bringing authentic live experiences to a global audience. This is a really exciting time for Condense. Matt’s seen our product evolve from a dream into a reality and we’re really pleased that he will be working with us again as we enter this new phase.”

With over 20 years in the entertainment and sports technology industries, Stagg brings his extensive knowledge and strong track record of leading teams to explore new and emerging technologies to his new role at Condense. He is still mobile and immersive director at Warner Bros. Discovery, and was previously director of mobile and immersive strategy at BT Sport.

Stagg is also a member of the UK5G Advisory Board representing the sport and creative industries, and specialises in XR, Web3.0 and fan engagement in the metaverse.

Stagg said of the appointment: “I’ve been following Condense’s exciting progress since having first worked with them on the 5G Edge-XR project when I was at BT Sport. I’ve been continually impressed by the incredible technology that Condense has developed. It has huge potential for transforming the media landscape and opening up sports and entertainment events to a new global audience. I’m really looking forward to helping advise the company as it continues to innovate and be a market leader in the field.”