Over the last few years, real-time interactive technology that helps fan better engage with their favorite sports has grown. One example is our portfolio company, Fan Controlled Football, a professional sports league that enables fans to call the plays in real-time using instant feedback - blending sports and gaming. We spoke with the CEO and co-founder of the company, Sohrob Farudi, to learn more about the technology and how 5G has played a role in its development.
Tell us about your company - how has Fan Controlled Football changed the way fans interact with sports games?
We have changed many aspects of the way fans interact with sports by reimagining professional football for the digital fan. We give fans the ability to impact what happens on the field through our interactive viewing and play calling features. These allow fans to see real-time outcomes for the plays they select and get instant feedback for that pick – a feature that has been very popular during our inaugural season. By incorporating player feedback into the development of the Fan Controlled Football software, we have reshaped the product to have the ideal rules, instant replay reviews, and user experience. Overall, FCF garnered 9.35 million total live views in its first version through our Twitch extension, making it one of the fastest growing live sports programs.
How do you use 5G technology to create an immersive experience for fans? How has the pandemic accelerated the need for this type of technology on the 5G network?
Fan Controlled Football is a great use case for 5G technology. Latency negatively impacts the functionality of the live product, but 5G allows fans to watch and participate in games in near real-time. During FCF’s inaugural season players wore helmet cams and mics, and were recorded by 180-degree VR and drone cameras, which provided fans with multiple viewpoints and a unique visual experience.
How should (consumer and enterprise) entrepreneurs be thinking about 5G in your industry?
In the sports and gaming industry, 5G offers fans increased access to real-time, immersive, and interactive experiences via VR and AR technologies. 5G will bring fans closer to the game. Additionally, sports betting, which depends on real-time updates like prop betting and FCF’s real-time play calling, will benefit from 5G technologies as it continues to proliferate.
What’s one founder tip for those building with 5G?
Start working with Verizon and Verizon Ventures!
How has Verizon Ventures helped you develop an immersive fan experience for the consumer-specifically how has 5G helped deliver the real-time streaming capabilities?
FCF was introduced to Verizon Ventures through one of Ventures’ portfolio companies called YBVR. The company helped us integrate 180 degree-VR cameras around FCF fields, allowing fans to access multi-view options. Fans were able to toggle between traditional broadcast cameras, helmet cameras on players, drone cameras and 180-degree VR cameras. Access to this sort of powerful 5G technology gave FCF a huge advantage in bettering the consumer experience.
CEO and co-founder of Fan Controlled Football, Sohrob Farudi
