• How the platform provides best-in-class experiences for users
• How does it differentiate from its competitors
• Growth in audience and subscription numbers
• How does it deal with key technological challenges such as latency and piracy
• The proof of ROI relative to platform size and scale
• Integration of OTT as a broader Direct to Consumer strategy

Category Questions:

• How does your sports OTT platform ensure an exceptional user experience and differentiate itself from others? 
• How the platform addresses key technological challenges such latency and piracy?  
• Can you outline the platforms marketing strategy and growth in audience? 

Key Criteria:

• Must be a platform that delivers live or on-demand content to consumers
• The platform must distribute multiple sports properties content

• High impact case studies with major clients
• Demonstrable year on year innovation and product evolution
• A deep and broad set of industry leading features supporting best in class streaming services

Category Questions:

• Outline a case study which best demonstrates the impact of your company’s capabilities?
• How has your company set itself apart from others?
• How has your company demonstrated continued innovation?

Key Criteria:

• Have significant and demonstratable commercial scale (should be over $100M minimum)
• Work at scale with major broadcasters, rights holders, or streaming platforms
• Offer a comprehensive suite of products or deliver full end-to-end platforms
• Are recognised as market leaders shaping the direction of sports media technology

• Clear evidence of how the product improves the consumer experience
• Measurable impact on engagement, retention, satisfaction, or audience growth
• Differentiation from competing fan-facing solutions in the market
• Long-term viability and scalability of the technology
• Proof of real-world implementation with sports rights holders, broadcasters, or platforms

Category Questions:

• How does the innovation differentiate from existing features in the sports market and what evidence demonstrates its impact on audience behaviour?  
• How did the innovation create new opportunities for your organisation to engage with or monetize fans?  
• What long-term impact will this innovation have on the sports industry? 

Key Criteria

• The solution was either new to the market or a significant enhancement to an existing product
• The innovation must have a direct and demonstrable impact on the end-user viewing experience
• The solution should address a clear fan-facing challenge such as personalisation, interactivity, accessibility, quality of experience, or engagement

• How well the product addresses the challenge it set to solve
• How unique the product is to existing technology solutions
• How viable is the solution for the long term

Key Criteria:

• The solution was either new to the market or a significant advancement of existing infrastructure technology
• The technology must address a core industry challenge such as latency, scalability, reliability, security, encoding, cloud workflows, or distribution efficiency
• The solution must demonstrate measurable impact on operational performance, cost efficiency, or delivery capability

• Measurable proof of the impact this company or campaign has had on the fan
• Examples of how fan engagement has increased as a result of the company of the nomination
• How fan engagement has helped the company drive revenues

Category Questions:

• What strategies or technologies were used to cultivate fan engagement?  
• How do you measure the influence of the solution in growing communities and driving engagement?  
• How did the solution impact business metrics? 

Key Criteria:

• A company, technology or campaign that is significantly growing audiences and communities because of its fan engagement practices
• Fans have an improved connectivity with the sport, the athlete or other fans consuming content in real-time
• Any activity needs to be delivered through OTT or digital platforms

• Data demonstrating increased viewership and engagement compared to other content
• Evidence of increased awareness or sentiment attributable to the original content
• Revenue from original content
• Accolades for quality of content

Category Questions:

• What makes your non-live sports content unique and engaging?  
• How does your content’s viewership and engagement compare to others? 
• Can you show evidence of increased awareness, engagement, revenue, or accolades for you original content? 

Key Criteria:

• Content must have been published originally on an OTT or digital platform
• Content must be new and unique

• Authenticity of content and interactions generated for sports fans
• Innovative approaches exploring new ways to engage with fans through social media platforms
• Demonstrable results illustrating the effectiveness of a social channel and tangible positive impact on broader business objectives

Category Questions:

• What role does video play in your organisation’s social media strategy to engage with fans?
• Can you outline how your organisation tailored content for specific platforms, considering that platform’s audience?
• How do you evaluate the success of your social channel? Can you describe how the channel succeeded on those metrics?

Key Criteria:

• Content on channel doesn’t need to be exclusively video, but video content should be a key pillar of the channel’s strategy
• Defined strategy taking into account specific features and audiences of different social media platforms (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Twitch, etc)
• Engagement and interactions achieved on the social channel(s) demonstrating an understanding of fans and the delivery consistent content that resonates
• Measurable impact on key metrics such as fan growth, reach, brand awareness, and sales attributable to social media strategy

• Clear differentiation from established or traditional platforms
• Evidence of strong audience growth, engagement, or retention relative to scale
• Creative thinking in platform design, content format, or commercial model
• Momentum — whether through subscriber growth, partnerships, funding, or market expansion
• Strong connection with its audience, demonstrated through community engagement or brand loyalty
• A compelling vision for future growth

Category Questions:

• How does your platform overcome or challenge the way sports have been delivered and monetised in traditional broadcast? 
• What are the standout features, technologies, or creative strategies that make your platform unique? 
• Share a success story or case study that highlights how your platform’s influence in your chosen sport or community. 

Key Criteria:

• Must be an independently operated, emerging, or challenger platform (e.g. start-up, niche media brand, creator-led platform, or rights holder platform)
• Must deliver live and/or on-demand sports content directly to consumers
• Must demonstrate a differentiated approach to content strategy, community building, distribution, or monetisation

• An understanding of the challenges presented by streaming live sports and the technical prowess to address them
• Demonstrable impact of how innovative features positively influenced the user experience and promoted fan engagement
• Commitment to making live sports content more accessible with multi-platform compatibility beyond traditional linear reach and broadcast strategies

Category Questions:

• How did the production overcome a technical challenge/s that are inherent to streaming live sports?
• What innovative features were incorporated into the broadcast that elevated the viewing experience?

Key Criteria:

• Exceptional demonstration of technology, including video quality, streaming reliability, consistency of experience on different devices and overall seamless user experience
• Incorporation of innovative features and enhancements, including multiple camera angles, real-time statistics, visualisations, alternative commentary, or other technologies, adding depth to the live broadcast
• Fan-centric approach demonstrating an attempt to promote audience engagement with the platform, content, or other fans

• Strong case studies showing tangible value delivered to partners or clients
• Clear articulation of the specific problem being solved and why the solution stands out
• Evidence of product quality, reliability, and innovation within the company’s area of focus
• Signs of momentum, ambition, and potential to influence best practice as the business scales

Category Questions:

• What challenge is your technology looking to solve? And how does it do so? 
• What larger impact could this solution have on the broader sports industry? 
• Could you provide a case study demonstrating your solution’s impact on a partner? 

Key Criteria:

• Operate as a small to medium-sized technology company (Less than $100m revenue)
• Deliver proven, production-ready technology used by broadcasters, rights holders, leagues, teams or OTT platforms
• Demonstrate commercial traction and real-world deployment within the sports media or OTT space

• Early case studies or pilot programmes showing market promise
• Potential for industry wide-impact as the company scales
• Clear articulation for how the technology solves an addressable industry challenge
• Originality in approach to solving the sports media technology

Category Questions:

• What challenge is your technology looking to solve? And how does it do so? 
• What larger impact could this solution have on the broader sports industry? 
• Could you provide a case study demonstrating your solution’s impact on a partner? 

Key Criteria:

• Founded after 2020
• Have developed a validated proof of concept
• Are beginning to work with partners, run pilots, or enter the market

• How does this solution stand out from others
• Insights into how the solution’s use of artificial intelligence has improved the user viewing experience or the content distributor’s efficiency

Category Questions:

• How does you AI application enhance sports content creation, impact user experience, or improve efficiency? 
• What sets your AI solution apart in sports from others? 
• How can the impact of your AI solution be measured? 

Key Criteria:

• The use of artificial intelligence must be directly linked to the experience associated with consuming or broadcasting video content
• The nomination must have an application specifically designed for sports

• How well does the solution address challenges associated with distributing live sports content such as latency, scalability, and quality of experience
• Does the solution empower other features which positively impact the user experience for fans
• How does the solution stand out from others in the market

Category Questions:

• How does your technology solution address challenges in distributing live sports content, such as latency, scalability, and quality of experience? 
• Does your solution empower additional features that enhance the user experience for fans? 
• What sets your solution apart from others in the market in terms of innovation and effectiveness?

Key Criteria:

• The application must be referring to a piece of technology or a solution that is directly linked to the production and distribution of live sports content.

• How well the content connects with sports fans while promoting the brand.
• Creativity and innovation in execution.
• Measurable impact through engagement metrics, brand uplift, or business results.
• A storytelling approach that feels organic and enhances the fan experience.

Category Questions:

• What was the objective of the campaign, and what role did the brand or sponsor play? 
• What made this campaign stand out creatively from other branded sports content? 
• What were the key metrics for success, and how did the campaign perform against them? 

Key Criteria:

• Content must be sports-focused and feature a clear partnership with a brand or sponsor.
• The branded integration should be seamless, authentic, and contribute to the overall story rather than feel like a traditional advertisement.
• The campaign should demonstrate measurable success in engagement, reach, or brand sentiment improvement.

• How the creator(s) contributed to audience growth and engagement.
• Authenticity of the partnership and alignment with sports fans’ interests.
• Measurable impact on viewership, social media metrics, or brand sentiment.
• Creative execution and differentiation from standard influencer partnerships.

Category Questions:

• What made the content unique from standard sports content?  
• What were the KPI’s and how did the creator help achieve them? 
• How did the creator’s content help connect with a new target audience? 

Key Criteria:

• Content should showcase authentic integration, creativity, and measurable success in audience interaction.
• Demonstrates innovative use of content across digital platforms, OTT services, or social media

• Storytelling effectiveness within the short-form format.
• Creativity and innovation in production and delivery.
• Performance metrics such as engagement, shares, and audience retention.
• Strategic use of platform-specific content formats and features.

Category Questions:

• What made this short form content creatively unique in the sports space? 
• What platforms did you publish the content on and how did the format adapt to each channel? 
• What were the key metrics and how did the content perform? 

Key Criteria:

• Content must be under a specified time limit (e.g., less than 10 minutes).
• The content should be engaging, innovative, and optimized for digital or social media consumption.
• Must demonstrate success in fan engagement, virality, or brand impact.

• How well data is used to elevate the sports media experience.
• The impact of data in driving new insights, engagement, or decision-making.
• Real-world case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the data application.
• Innovation and uniqueness compared to existing industry standards.

Category Questions:

• How was the data applied within the sports content? 
• What made the data integration unique to other broadcast storytelling techniques? 
• What were the technical challenges to deliver impactful data to live sport? 

Key Criteria

• Must demonstrate a data-led approach that enhances sports storytelling, analysis, or broadcast production.
• Can include real-time analytics, predictive modeling, AI-driven insights, or other data applications.
• The data usage should drive a more engaging, insightful, or interactive fan experience

• How does the partnership shape the future of sports media
• How does the partnership introduce new commercial models or strategy
• How does the partnership positively impact fan engagement and reach

Key Criteria:

• The partnership must have been created within the last 12 months or seen a significant moment as part of a longer deal.
• Demonstrable impact on the sports media industry through financial scale, audience growth, or strategic innovation.
• The partnership must show clear benefits for both parties

• How the platform provides best-in-class experiences for users
• How does it differentiate from its competitors?
• Growth in audience and subscription numbers
• How does it deal with key technological challenges such as latency and piracy?
• The proof of ROI relative to platform size and scale
• Integration of OTT as a broader Direct to Consumer strategy

Category Questions:

• How does your sports OTT platform ensure an exceptional user experience and differentiate itself from others?
• How the platform addresses key technological challenges such latency and piracy?
• Can you outline the platforms marketing strategy and growth in audience?

Key Criteria:

• Must be a platform that delivers live or on-demand content to consumers
• The platform owner must be the rights holder associated with the product

• Innovative features, content offerings, or payment models distinct from competitors within the market
• Proof of success in building subscriber base upon launch
• How disruptive the launch has been to market
• How launch is impacting overall business performance

Category Questions:

• What sets your OTT platform and its launch apart from other competitors? 
• How successful was the launch in building subscribers? 
• What impact did the new platform have on your overall business? 

Key Criteria:

• Any re-launch nomination must successfully demonstrate genuine platform re-development, new content offering, rebranding, or combination of factors
• Content offering must include live sports