Collaboration with LG Uplus... KBO Broadcasts via FAST
Translation System Localizes Vocabulary and Expressions
Domestic startup Hudson AI announced on the 7th that it is collaborating with LG Uplus to automatically dub Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) league broadcasts using artificial intelligence (AI) and present them to viewers worldwide.
This collaboration applies Hudson AI's real-time AI dubbing technology and LG Uplus's ultra-low latency content delivery technology based on its broadcasting and telecommunications operation experience, marking the first case of KBO being streamed live to the global market through a FAST (free ad-supported streaming service) channel.
Since the start of the KBO regular season on the 22nd of last month, broadcasts have been delivered to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Japan, with plans to expand worldwide. To this end, Hudson AI is also collaborating with 'Giad Sports,' the overseas broadcasting and business operator for professional baseball from 2024 to 2026.
Typically, overseas sports broadcasts require hiring local commentators, but with AI dubbing technology, overseas broadcasts can be realized without additional personnel. To achieve this, Hudson AI separates the sounds from the game site and the commentary voice, then quickly and accurately transcribes and translates only the commentary voice, reproducing it through AI voice synthesis.
To ensure overseas baseball fans do not find Korean baseball unfamiliar, a translation system has been established that naturally localizes the specialized vocabulary and expressions used in the KBO. Additionally, AI commentator voices with familiar local timbres and tones have been designed to finely express emotions and intonations according to situations such as a batter’s swing or a fielder’s movement, enhancing the immersion of the game.
The KBO is considered one of the world’s top three baseball leagues, alongside the American Major League Baseball (MLB) and Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). It especially received great acclaim from North American viewers during the COVID-19 period. Through the AI dubbing broadcast service on the FAST channel, it is expected that KBO games will be re-established in the minds of overseas viewers and its competitiveness in the global market will be further enhanced.
Shin Hyunjin, CEO of Hudson AI, said, "Previously, local commentators had to be separately hired for overseas broadcasts, but through AI dubbing technology, natural commentary in multiple languages can be implemented, greatly reducing temporal and spatial constraints. We expect this to open broad opportunities not only for the global expansion of domestic sports leagues like the KBO but also for various media channels such as broadcasters and streaming platforms."
Meanwhile, starting from the 6th (local time), Hudson AI plans to showcase its real-time sports AI broadcasting solution at 'NAB 2025,' the world’s largest international broadcasting equipment exhibition held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in the United States, seeking collaboration with global broadcasters.
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