Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology backbone of Alibaba Group, in collaboration with Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), has officially launched OBS Cloud 3.0 in anticipation of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This state-of-the-art platform is set to revolutionize the broadcasting landscape by incorporating advanced AI-powered cloud technologies. Designed to enhance efficiency and scalability, OBS Cloud 3.0 promises to streamline operations for OBS and Media Rights-Holders (MRHs), making it an indispensable tool for broadcasting the world’s most-watched sporting event.
For the first time in Olympic history, OBS Live Cloud will be the primary method of remote content distribution to MRHs, replacing traditional satellite transmission. This transition marks a significant milestone, as OBS Live Cloud will support the transmission of 379 video feeds (including 11 in Ultra High Definition) and 100 audio feeds during Paris 2024. The cloud-based platform offers unparalleled scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, ensuring that broadcasters can deliver high-quality content with minimal latency, enhanced stability, and increased agility.
OBS Cloud 3.0 made its debut during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and was further refined for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. This groundbreaking technology allows broadcasters to bypass the need for expensive international telecommunication circuits, reducing setup time and costs associated with traditional methods. By utilizing the cloud, broadcasters can now transmit live footage globally with unprecedented ease and reliability.
At the official launch event, Yiannis Exarchos, OBS Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the importance of technology in bringing the Olympic Games to a global audience, highlighting Alibaba Cloud’s crucial role in this endeavor. “Broadcasting the Games is fundamental and having partners like Alibaba that help us bring this dream to life are very valuable for us.”
The OBS Cloud 3.0 platform will also support Content+, OBS’s content delivery service, which remains fully hosted on Alibaba Cloud. For Paris 2024, OBS plans to produce over 11,000 hours of content, a 15% increase from Tokyo 2020. This cloud-based portal simplifies remote production workflows, ensuring seamless content delivery, including live sessions, athlete interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. New functionalities in Content+ will allow MRHs to create highlights more efficiently, offering content in UHD for the first time and optimizing it for mobile viewing.
In addition, OBS Cloud 3.0 will introduce AI-enhanced multi-camera replay systems across 14 venues, covering 21 sports and disciplines. These systems will provide frame-freeze slow-motion replays, offering detailed analysis of athlete performances and enriching the viewing experience for both hardcore sports fans and newcomers alike. The footage will be processed in real-time through Alibaba Cloud’s AI-driven computing capabilities, enabling instant replay integration into live coverage.
As an Olympic Worldwide Partner since 2017, Alibaba Cloud continues to play a pivotal role in transforming Olympic broadcasting. The launch of OBS Cloud 3.0 for Paris 2024 further cements its commitment to delivering cutting-edge technological solutions that elevate the Olympic viewing experience for audiences worldwide.