The NRL has signed a two-year partnership agreement with UK-based cloud video platform, Blackbird, to produce short highlight clips during live NRL matches.
Through the use of Blackbirds software, the NRL’s digital team will be able to rapidly clip, edit and publish short highlights during live matches, optimising workflows and operations and speeding up publishing to multiple publishing destinations.
The NRL’s global fanbase will then be able to view match highlights on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and NRL.com.
“The NRL is one of the most exciting and competitive sports competitions in the world and we are delighted they have chosen to use Blackbird,” Ian McDonough, Blackbird’s chief executive, said.
“Enabled by our unique, patented codec, the Blackbird platform will offer the NRL the speed and agility needed to clip, edit and publish highlights for fans in real-time, as the games are being aired live.”
Due to its popularity, the London-based company, which was previously known as Forbidden Technologies, rebranded earlier this month and its agreement with the NRL marks the first deal since its change of name to Blackbird.
Among its prominent partners, sports streaming service Deltatre utilises Blackbird’s software, which also formed part of a marketing agreement in January with US technology giant Microsoft.
In March, the company also signed an extension to its deal with IMG Media to package La Liga and Serie A highlights.
“The confidence of the NRL in our platform confirms Blackbird’s growing strength in the global sports industry,” McDonough said.
