AI-Powered Commentary Enhances Fan Engagement

To increase fan engagement, this year’s Wimbledon tennis tournament will feature commentary and player analysis enabled by artificial intelligence (AI), allowing fans to access analysis tailored to the players they follow.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and technology company IBM announced on June 21 that the world’s oldest tennis tournament intends to implement the new technology across its online platforms.

A new AI commentary feature developed in collaboration with the AELTC and fueled by IBM’s WatsonX technology will generate audio and captions for match highlights videos.

This innovative feature is intended to provide insight into significant moments using tennis-specific terminology.

Usama Al-Qassab, AELTC’s marketing and commercial director, stated:

“We are constantly innovating with our partners at IBM to provide Wimbledon fans, wherever they are in the world, with an insightful and engaging digital experience of The Championships”

He added that the AI features will enable fans to access commentary for a “wider variety of matches.”

While human commentary covers Wimbledon’s “show courts” during significant matches, senior, junior, and wheelchair matches lack expert commentary.

IBM, an official partner of the Wimbledon Championships since 1990, provides various AI-powered analysis tools, such as a player “Power Index,” match insights, and personalized highlight segments. A draw evaluation function.

According to Jonathan Adashek, IBM’s senior vice president of marketing and communications, the company recognizes the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance major sporting events such as Wimbledon and attract larger audiences by delivering extraordinary digital experiences.

As early as 2019, IBM researchers were reportedly developing AI software capable of providing play-by-play analysis of sporting events.

In April, the company allegedly added AI-generated commentary to footage from the Master’s Tournament golf tournament.