NAB 2016: SMT To Provide Real-Time Data, Results, Timing Integration for Rio Olympics Coverage

SMT (Booth SL4617) will provide real-time data presentation services, results, and timing interfaces for NBC Olympics’ production of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The announcement was made by Craig Lau, VP, information technology, NBC Olympics, and Gerard J. Hall, founder/president/CEO, SMT.

Since 2000, SMT has been a key contributor to NBC Olympics’ on-air graphics presentations. In addition, under contract to Swiss Timing, the official timing and scoring provider for the Olympic Games, SMT once again will be delivering live broadcast and in-venue scoring solutions.

For NBC Olympics’ coverage of the Rio Games, the SMT team will be responsible for:

• Live, real-time data collection, data delivery, and seamless data and graphics integration with all NBC Olympics’ graphics-display systems for coverage of golf, beach volleyball, diving, artistic gymnastics, swimming, and track & field
• Real-time data collection, data logging, and seamless data integration of live results data into NBC Olympics’ specialized media-asset–management system

For selected broadcast venues, SMT’s Point-in-Time software system will integrate live results data from Swiss Timing to provide NBC’s commentators the ability to locate a specific “point in time” of a competition in both live and recorded coverage. In addition, the software graphically shows key events on a unified timeline, allowing NBC Olympics talent to quickly see, for example, how a race began, when a lead changed, or where an athlete’s performance improved. SMT’s Point-in-Time software tool enhances NBC’s storytelling capacity, giving on-air talent the ability to highlight the triumphs and defeats intrinsic the competitions.

“SMT is proud to contribute our expertise, systems, and experience to the Rio Olympic Games and to be part of the NBC Olympics’ production team in Rio 2016,” says SMT founder/President/CEO Gerard J. Hall. “SMT’s technology and expert staff will help NBC Olympics deliver a compelling and immersive viewing experience to all spectators at the events and to those watching from home.”

Says Lau, “SMT has delivered flawless results, scoring and timing integration for NBC Olympics across our coverage of eight Olympic Games. Their capacity for creativity and innovation continues to ignite even more excitement and interest among the viewers watching the Games on the networks of NBC Universal.”

SMT has also been selected to provide graphics-interface services for NBC’s graphics systems for U.S. Trial competitions for diving, artistic gymnastics, swimming, and track & field.