Latest news with #DavidLehanski
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
NHL accelerates Hawk-Eye technology integration for smarter officiating and enhanced viewing
Sony x NHL: Powering the Future of Hockey (Credit: Sony Official) The NHL is taking a major step toward modernizing in-game officiating by expanding its use of Hawk-Eye technology. Developed by Sony, this system, already a staple in tennis, uses high-speed cameras and AI to track the puck and players with millimeter-level accuracy. Commissioner Gary Bettman stressed that adoption will only happen once reliability is proven, ensuring no compromise on the game's integrity. Currently, Hawk-Eye supports the league's SMART replay system, speeding up reviews for challenges and disputed calls. The upgraded version captures 29 skeletal points per player and three on sticks, allowing real-time movement analysis. This data could soon assist referees in determining high-sticks, goal validity, and offside plays with near-instantaneous precision. Multi-layered tech aims to eliminate controversial calls David Lehanski, NHL's executive VP of innovation, revealed that the solution won't rely on a single technology. Instead, it will merge puck-embedded sensors, optical tracking, and jersey-based wearables, and this hybrid approach minimizes blind spots. This is ensuring accurate rulings even in chaotic net-front scrambles or fast breakouts. Hawk-Eye CEO Rufus Hack noted the system's ability to process movements in real time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo This is reducing delays in reviews, and the league plans extensive testing to ensure seamless integration with existing officiating workflows, if successful, it could phase out prolonged video reviews. While increasing call accuracy, addressing long-standing fan frustrations. Sony x NHL: Powering the Future of Hockey | Sony Official Next-gen broadcasts to mirror live arena excitement Beyond officiating, the NHL envisions Hawk-Eye revolutionizing how fans watch games, Sony's ultra-HD cameras, paired with skeletal tracking, will enable dynamic broadcast angles and augmented reality overlays, and Theresa Alesso of Sony emphasized making broadcasts more cinematic. With tighter close-ups and predictive replay angles. This will mimic the intensity of in-arena viewing, and the league also sees potential for interactive features. Such as real-time player speed and shot analytics for streaming audiences, as cameras become lighter and more versatile, broadcasts could adopt drone-like perspectives. That too, without disrupting gameplay, for the NHL, Hawk-Eye isn't just about accuracy. It's about deepening fan engagement in an increasingly digital sports landscape. While eager to adopt technology, the NHL remains cautious. About disrupting the game's pace, Bettman reiterated that any system must be "faster than human judgment". To avoid unnecessary stoppages, the league's phased rollout includes testing in minor leagues and preseason games before full NHL implementation. Read more: Brad Marchand calls Boston exit 'frustrating and stressful' as veteran forward embraces Panthers playoff journey If successful, this could set a new standard for sports technology. This is blending cutting-edge precision with hockey's relentless speed, for now, the focus remains on refining the system. This is ensuring that when Hawk-Eye debuts. Also it elevates both the sport's fairness and its spectacle.
National Post
2 days ago
- Business
- National Post
NHL is expanding use of Hawk-Eye measuring and tracking, potentially solving some on-ice issues
Commissioner Gary Bettman at the NHL general managers meeting this spring had a clear answer for when the league might be able to use tracking technology to determine a variety of things with certainty, from high-sticking to whether a puck fully crossed the goal line. Article content 'When we're certain that it works,' Bettman said at the time. 'We will test it and re-test it, but we haven't hesitated to spend the money or the time on technology to improve the game.' Article content Article content The NHL is taking another step in that innovation with the expansion of the use of Hawk-Eye measuring and tracking techology as part of a new techology partnership with Sony announced Wednesday, hours before the start of the Stanley Cup Final. Article content The same technology that has become omnipresent in tennis to determine whether the ball is in or out has evolved to the point that it could in help hockey officials and the league's situation room make more precise calls for close plays on the ice. Article content 'We're closer — we keep getting closer,' NHL executive VP of business development and innovation David Lehanski said. 'It's going to be a solution that includes multiple inputs and different types of technology. … Likely it will be a combination of active tracking in the puck, in the players, the jerseys — wherever it might be — optical cameras and maybe some other type of technology that all need to get stitched together.' Article content The league has used Sony's Hawk-Eye technology for the past decade as part of Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay Technology (SMART) services in every team's arena to make replay reviews and coach's challenges faster and more accurate. It also helps organizations keep track of player health and safety. Article content Article content The technology has improved to the point where cameras capture 29 skeletal points on each player and three more on sticks. Article content 'What that enables us to do is to have an incredibly high-fidelity, low-latency view of the athletes' movements in real time,' Hawk-Eye Innovations CEO Rufus Hack said. 'The NHL have a real clear vision around what they're going to do with this, but obviously it's still very much in the early stages of what that could look like for them.' Article content Lehanski said a mix of various tech elements could help on the ice with everything from penalties to positioning on the ice. Off the ice, beyond animated telecasts and visualizations that will continue, the league is hoping Sony cameras can get the home viewing experience closer to in-arena excitement. Article content '(It's about trying to) bring that game experience into everyone's homes,' Sony president of imaging products and solutions in the Americas Theresa Alesso said. 'As the cameras get better and smaller and lighter, get those angles to the game into someone's living room is really important.' Article content
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NHL Mulls Call Automation Options Via Hawk-Eye Tech Expansion
The NHL will expand the use of Sony's skeletal tracking Hawk-Eye technology under a multiyear tie-up that could impact how hockey games are officiated and the way they are viewed at home. The deal makes Sony an official NHL technology partner, with connections ranging from the use of Sony cameras to the company's Beyond Sports team helping the league recreate hockey games as animated visualizations in real time. Advertisement More from 'When you look at the total partnership, the way we set it up, obviously it runs across Sony,' said David Lehanski, NHL executive vice president of business development and innovation. 'So it canvases across their whole company in a way that's going to affect everyone in our community.' The NHL has used Sony technology for replay reviews specifically since 2015. 'The NHL were the first within the U.S. to do video review, and now that is used almost universally across global sports,' Hawk-Eye, Pulselive and Beyond Sports CEO Rufus Hack said. 'We now have 1,500 people who work for our business globally, and actually having them delivering at a world-class level—and understanding what the pressure is of delivering some of these solutions in the heat of battle—is actually almost one of the most important things that we've learned from the NHL and early adopters in cricket and tennis that we've been able to port into other sports.' Advertisement The NFL will use Hawk-Eye for evaluating line-to-gain decisions starting this season, while European soccer leagues have leveraged similar tools for automated offsides and goal reviews. All 32 NHL arenas now have 60-frames-per-second optical tracking setups that follow 29 points on each player and three points on each stick. Lehanski said the league is evaluating the potential use of tracking data to quickly weigh in on offsides infractions and goals, though the speed and physicality of hockey present unique challenges. The same tracking data that would be used to assist those calls is already being deployed by teams as a player evaluation tool. Increasingly, it's changing the way fans watch sports, too. Early player tracking data has been used for kid-friendly animated broadcasts. With the added precision of limb and stick data, analysts such as P.K. Subban now don VR headsets to put themselves on virtual ice, with 360-degree views of the action. Advertisement Going forward, the NHL would like to give fans a similar opportunity. Digital recreations could live within web-based or video game environments that allow consumers to manipulate the perspective and even attempt to recreate on-ice feats. To do so, the league could tap additional Sony arms, such as its PlayStation platform, which includes VR functionality. Beyond Sports has already helped the NHL deliver feeds in Roblox, drawing more than one million unique visitors in the first month of that activation back in 2023. 'We think at Sony, we've got a really unique mix of capabilities,' Hack said. 'We want to bring in the best of PlayStation, the best of Sony Music, Sony Pictures … so we can really help take the sports industry to a new level.' Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Sony and National Hockey League Announce Multiyear Global Technology Partnership
Partnership Includes Expanded Usage of Sony's Beyond Sports Data Analysis and Visualization Technology, Hawk-Eye Technology, Camera Innovations, and more; Click here for images and video NEW YORK and SAN DIEGO, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony and the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced a new multiyear global technology partnership naming Sony an Official NHL Technology Partner. The NHL and Sony will work together to evolve the NHL experience for fans, as well as NHL coaches, officials, players and broadcasters, by increasing Sony's Beyond Sports' production of NHL animated data visualizations, broadening usage of Sony's Hawk-Eye measuring and tracking technologies and investing in various Sony products and technologies that will bring NHL fans closer to the game than ever before. 'Partnering with Sony, a best-in-class industry leader, will help further the goals of our technology efforts to engage passionate NHL fans around the globe,' said David Lehanski, NHL Executive Vice President, Business Development & Innovation. 'Advancing the development and implementation of technology on and off the ice is a key priority for the League, and this partnership will highlight the impact of Sony's groundbreaking work in several of our key initiatives, such as NHL EDGE Puck & Player Tracking and animated programming, to bring fans closer to our great game and showcase the NHL as a worldwide technology leader.' 'Our partnership with the NHL is more than a collaboration — it's a shared commitment to innovation, creativity, and cutting-edge technology,' commented Sander J. Schouten, Managing Director, Beyond Sports, a Sony Group company. 'We've pushed the boundaries of what's possible in sport tech, delivering exciting, data-driven innovations that are not only redefining how sport is consumed but together, with Sony's sports businesses, are establishing new benchmarks for the entire industry.' 'From imaging and broadcast to some of the world's most advanced data visualization and tracking innovations, Sony remains committed to helping create the future of sports through technology,' says Theresa Alesso, President, Imaging Products and Solutions Americas, Sony Electronics. 'This partnership builds upon a successful history of collaborations between the NHL and Sony, and we are excited to reinforce our commitment to the game, fans, and players.' The NHL has used Sony's Hawk-Eye technology since 2015 with Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay Technology (SMART) services installed in all 32 NHL arenas to help provide the speed and accuracy the NHL requires for its replay reviews and coaches' challenges; with later enhancements supporting team medical, and player health and safety reviews. Data collected via optical tracking cameras is also integral to the creation of live NHL animated data visualizations, post-production content and replay technology, and will be featured in future experiences in development involving mobile apps and XR. Sony's Hawk-Eye will continue to expand technology innovation and support the creation and delivery of more immersive NHL content. The NHL and Sony's Beyond Sports first collaborated in 2018 on multiple projects to explore opportunities built on NHL EDGE (Puck & Player Tracking) positional data. Sony's Beyond Sports' animated data visualization expertise has played a key role for the NHL in transforming its data into a powerful fan engagement driver, delivering new IP-driven content — from the NHL Big City Greens Classic, a Sports Emmy-nominated animated broadcast presentation and Tommy Hawk's Birthday Party, the first-ever regional animated real-time sports animated broadcast presentation, to more serialized animated programming, such as NHL HOCKEYVERSE Matchup of the Week. Sony's Beyond Sports' work also led to immersive digital activations, such as NHL Blast on Roblox, which drew over one million unique users in its first month in April 2023. These initiatives have expanded the League's reach among younger audiences and set new standards for sports data integration. Sony cameras and production equipment have been a prominent fixture in the NHL through broadcast and sports photography and are regularly trusted by NHL Clubs and broadcast partners to capture the most defining moments of the game. NHL Clubs rely on Sony technology to process and deliver the best camera angles in real-time to millions of NHL fans. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © 2025 NHL. All Rights Reserved. About Sony Electronics Inc. Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Group Corporation, one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit for more information. Sony's Beyond Sports is an AI based company specializing in data processing, distribution and visualization that offers a new way of experiencing sports to engage the next generation of fans. Our Emmy Award winning visualization platform enables real-time digital and virtual sports engagement solutions for leagues, broadcasters, brands and, ultimately, consumers. Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations has been at the forefront of sports officiating and broadcast enhancement technology since 2001. Hawk-Eye's vision-processing, video replay and creative graphic technologies are trusted by the world's biggest sporting events to make sport more fair, safer, more engaging and better informed. About the NHL The National Hockey League (NHL), founded in 1917, consists of 32 Member Clubs. Each team roster reflects the League's international makeup with players from more than 20 countries represented, all vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup. Every year, the NHL entertains more than 670 million fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio; more than 191 million followers - league, team and player accounts combined - across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube; and more than 100 million fans online at The League broadcasts games in more than 260 countries and territories through its rightsholders including ESPN, WBD Sports and NHL Network in the U.S.; Prime Video, Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada; and via SiriusXM NHL Network Radio™, Sports USA and TuneIn; and reaches fans worldwide with games available to stream in every country. Fans are engaged across the League's digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio™; and on available in eight languages and featuring unprecedented access to player and team statistics as well as every regular-season and playoff game box score dating back to the League's inception, powered by SAP. NHL Productions develops compelling original programming featuring unprecedented access to players, coaches and League and team personnel for distribution across the NHL's social and digital platforms. The NHL is committed to building healthy and vibrant communities using hockey to celebrate fans of every race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. The NHL's social impact platform, NHL Unites, reinforces that the official policy of the sport is one of inclusion on the ice, in locker rooms, boardrooms and stands. Through the NHL's investments in communities across North America, the League is expanding access and opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities to play hockey. Last season, a record number of girls and boys stepped onto the ice and tried hockey for the first time. The NHL's premiere ball hockey program, NHL STREET, continues its expansion into NHL and non-NHL markets, offering fun and affordable hockey for youth. And in arenas Leaguewide, more than 350 cultural celebrations nights are held, celebrating fans of all backgrounds. The League's efforts continue to foster more inclusive environments and grow the game through a greater diversity of participants. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sony Electronics, Inc.
CBS News
15-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Stars and Avalanche featured in NHL Spanish-language animated broadcast on Sunday
The Dallas Stars will be part of a Spanish-language animated program when they face off against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. The show, airing at 2:30 p.m. on Max (US) and Sky Mexico (Mexico), will utilize real-time animated data visualization to enhance the viewing experience. Using cutting-edge technology, the program will animate "every shot, save, pass, check, and goal," bringing them to life in National Hockey League animated programs, according to the NHL. The "NHL Showcase presented by Dr. Simi+" broadcast is part of the NHL's initiative to offer "unique and exciting animated programs" throughout the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season. Dr. Simi+ is a leading health and wellness company in Latin America. "The NHL continues to pioneer the use of data visualizations and animated programming," said David Lehanski, NHL executive vice president, Business Development & Innovation. "Building on the League's past animated program successes, we are thrilled to announce another slate of groundbreaking animated data visualizations. "As our NHL EDGE Positional Data technology continues evolving, we are excited to unlock new growth opportunities for the League, our Clubs, and media rightsholders. The expansion of this programming pushes the boundaries of creativity and technology, helping us grow hockey fandom with new and existing audiences at the local, national, and international levels."
