Accedo and HKRU launch HKRU TV

Accedo has worked with Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) to launch HKRU TV for the 2020 men’s and women’s premiership season.

The OTT service, launched at the beginning of November, features both live matches and VOD content and has been developed using Accedo’s end-to-end solution offering.

As the governing body for rugby union in Hong Kong, HKRU organises and oversees both global and local rugby events including the annual Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, as well as the Saxo Markets Men’s and the KPMG Women’s Premiership.

Accedo’s end-to-end sports offering enables sports organisations and right holders to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy live and on-demand video apps across multiple platforms. It also allows for an element of flexibility, enabling HKRU to tailor its app experience with changes made dynamically as requirements or user preferences evolve.

Rocky Chow, chief commercial officer at HKRU, commented: “Thanks to Accedo, we have been able to implement a premium OTT service cost-effectively. I have no doubt that HKRU TV will be well received by fans across the globe and I look forward to working with Accedo to bring more exciting value-add features for our sponsors and partners.”

Matt Kossatz, senior vice president at Accedo, added: “The sports industry has been hard hit by COVID-19. In a time of empty stadiums, a direct-to-consumer service gives HKRU another channel to engage with its fans. By leveraging insights gained from our analytics platform, HKRU will be able to better serve its existing customers and attract new ones. Looking further ahead, we are excited about collaborating with HKRU to deliver new and more value for its commercial sponsors.”

HKRU TV is available on the web, smartphone, and tablet devices, supporting both live events and live linear streaming, as well as VOD or “catch-up” content, including a number of important features, such as clipping and social sharing.