Press Releases

SBG Sports Software Provides High-Impact Instant Replay with Matrox M264

SBG Focus VAR (Video Assistant Referee) Instant Replay Application Uses Matrox M264 S2 and S3 to Support Ultra-High Channel Density in a Small Form Factor

H264 Family
SBG Sports Software‘s Focus VAR (Video Assistant Referee), can now support up to 24 networked cameras and 24 SDI or HDMI feeds thanks to the integration of Matrox M264 multichannel H264 encoder-decoder cards.
MONTREAL — April 21, 2017 — Today, SBG Sports Software announced that its instant replay and adjudication platform, Focus VAR (Video Assistant Referee), can now support up to 24 networked cameras and 24 SDI or HDMI feeds per chassis in a small, compact form factor, thanks to the integration of Matrox® M264 multichannel H264 encoder-decoder cards. The system is designed to provide video referees working in soccer, rugby, multi-sport and motorsport with a one-stop solution for all their adjudication needs.
 
“Teams, officials and organisers need to record an ever-growing number of camera feeds. These must be high quality, low latency, and allow instant review during the event,” said Simon Cuff, Commercial Director, SBG Sports Software. “There is also a growing requirement for fast post-game distribution to analysis platforms and sharable archives.”
 
Cuff continued, “Our background is in motorsports, where responsiveness and interactivity are vital, and portability and processing efficiency are key; this means that we are continually searching for new ways to accelerate processing and reduce form factors.”
On a single standard PCI-e card, the Matrox M264 S2 and S3 can offer up to 48 H.264 encoded HD channels, or hundreds of SD channels—all at ultra-low latency—allowing small form factor servers to deliver the highest channel density in the market.
 
“Matrox M264 is an ideal family of encoder cards for Independent Software Vendors like SBG who need high-density encoding or want to add IP streaming capabilities to their systems,” said Donald Sievewright, Matrox Video’s Director of Sales and Marketing (Europe). “Tied with strong support from our application engineers, the M264 has given SBG a stronger, more capable product, reducing time to market.”
 
The multi-touch user interface of Focus VAR has been designed to comply with the FIFA VAR Protocol and with the user experience in mind. Designed to be intuitive, responsive and simple to use, Focus VAR allows video assistant referees to quickly deal with any situation related to on-field incidents, speed up gameplay, and improve their overall decision making.
 
Simple to install in a stadium or training ground, the Focus VAR can also be housed in a flight case for mobile deployments. If multiple viewers need access to feeds, the system can be networked with laptops to provide a greater number of review stations. “Video adjudication is developing rapidly in many sports, including soccer, athletics, and motorsport,” said Cuff. “We’re starting to see teams adopting the Focus platform as well, as they share the same requirement for a compact solution with instant access to all available video for analysis and training purposes.”
 
 

About SBG Sports Software

The team behind SBG Sports Software brings together decades of experience in software development, sports strategy, broadcast and digital media. They have won Queen’s Awards for both Innovation and Export Achievement, technical Emmys (Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) and have been nominated for multiple technical Motion Picture Academy Awards.
 
SBG Sports Software was established in 2008 to develop real-time pit wall strategy software for Formula 1 teams. Its products aggregate multiple sources of video, audio, and telemetry data, then analyses and displays that information. It has helped win several drivers and constructors World Championships: http://sbgsportssoftware.com/products/focus/

About Matrox Video

Matrox Video is a global leader in video technology. Featuring a complete portfolio of best-in-class hardware, software, APIs, and SDKs, Matrox Video enables OEMs, system integrators, value-added channel partners, and end users to push the boundaries of video innovation. Serving the AV/IT, broadcast, and emerging markets for over 45 years, Matrox Video is synonymous with quality, performance, interoperability, and support. Matrox Video’s legal entity is Matrox Graphics Inc., part of the Matrox Group.
 
For more information, visit https://www.matrox.com/video.
 
Tel: +1 (514) 822-6000
 
Matrox and Matrox product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of Matrox Electronic Systems, Ltd. and/or Matrox Graphics Inc. in Canada and/or other countries. All other company and product names are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of their respective owners.
Related Products: 
Matrox M264 Series