• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • TV/Radio Deals
  • Film partnerships
  • New appointments
  • Production
  • TV Channels
VAR: a new bonanza for national football associations?

VAR: a new bonanza for national football associations?

November 27, 2021
Eutelsat announces $1.56bn capital increase

Eutelsat announces $1.56bn capital increase

June 21, 2025
Ad 1 Ad 3
Palestine Film Institute to present three documentaries at Sheffield DocFest

Palestine Film Institute to present three documentaries at Sheffield DocFest

June 21, 2025
Conviva expands MENA presence with strategic hire

Conviva expands MENA presence with strategic hire

June 21, 2025
Space42 introduces Thuraya Mobile Broadband Hotspot

Space42 introduces Thuraya Mobile Broadband Hotspot

June 20, 2025
Insys and To-Do Media bring Arabic content to mobile devices

CJ ENM partners with Shahid to launch premium Korean dramas in MENA

June 20, 2025
Orange partners with Huawei to deploy 5G in Egypt

Orange partners with Huawei to deploy 5G in Egypt

June 20, 2025
Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Chinese media delegation explore strategic collaboration

Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Chinese media delegation explore strategic collaboration

June 20, 2025
Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms

Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms

June 20, 2025
Korean Film Festival returns to UAE for ninth edition

Korean Film Festival returns to UAE for ninth edition

June 20, 2025
Al-Manasa signs content exchange deal with Yango Play

Al-Manasa signs content exchange deal with Yango Play

June 20, 2025
ST Engineering iDirect and solutions by stc to advance satcom services in KSA

ST Engineering iDirect and solutions by stc to advance satcom services in KSA

June 19, 2025
Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ tops MENA box office in 2025

Disney’s live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ tops MENA box office in 2025

June 19, 2025
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine Archive
  • Directory
  • Contact
Sunday, June 22, 2025
BroadcastPro ME
  • News
    • All
    • Analyst Reports
    • AV
    • Cinema Theatres
    • Esports
    • Film partnerships
    • International News
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • New appointments
    • OTT/Video Streaming
    • Podcasting
    • Production
    • Satellite/Broadcasting
    • Satellite/Comms
    • TV/Radio Deals
    Eutelsat announces $1.56bn capital increase

    Eutelsat announces $1.56bn capital increase

    Palestine Film Institute to present three documentaries at Sheffield DocFest

    Palestine Film Institute to present three documentaries at Sheffield DocFest

    Conviva expands MENA presence with strategic hire

    Conviva expands MENA presence with strategic hire

    Space42 introduces Thuraya Mobile Broadband Hotspot

    Space42 introduces Thuraya Mobile Broadband Hotspot

    Insys and To-Do Media bring Arabic content to mobile devices

    CJ ENM partners with Shahid to launch premium Korean dramas in MENA

    Orange partners with Huawei to deploy 5G in Egypt

    Orange partners with Huawei to deploy 5G in Egypt

    Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Chinese media delegation explore strategic collaboration

    Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Chinese media delegation explore strategic collaboration

    Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms

    Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms

    Korean Film Festival returns to UAE for ninth edition

    Korean Film Festival returns to UAE for ninth edition

    Al-Manasa signs content exchange deal with Yango Play

    Al-Manasa signs content exchange deal with Yango Play

    Trending Tags

    • broadcast
    • MENA broadcast
    • ConnecTech2019
  • Tech Features
    • All
    • CASE STUDIES
    • New Media
    • REVIEWS
    • TV/Radio Deals
    • Updates from FOMEX
    • Virtual Production Series
    Playing to win

    Playing to win

    The expanding role of AI in broadcast

    The expanding role of AI in broadcast

    The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

    The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

    Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

    Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part IV

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

    Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

    Media leaders embrace digital transformation

    Media leaders embrace digital transformation

    Trending Tags

    • Videos
      FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

      FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

      Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

      Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

      Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

      Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

      Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

      Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

      Reema Omari

      Reema Omari on Universal Satcom’s growth and connectivity solutions

      Mustafa Afifi

      Mustafa Afifi of Rivada Space on Outernet’s impact in the Middle East

      Don

      ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen on Mideast ties and satellite strategy

      KSASummit

      Transforming Arabic Content: Studios, Producers and Regional Impact

      Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

      Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

    • Opinion
      Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

      Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

      Sport’s Growing Grip on MENA Media

      MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

      MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

      Integrate ME 2023 brings its inaugural edition to successful conclusion

      Empowering the next generation of content creation and live broadcasting with AV PRO

      Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

      Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

      Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

      Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

      Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

      Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

      Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

      Saudi Arabia emerges as the epicentre of Media & Entertainment in 2025

      Film and Beyond: Leapfrogging into the global screen industry

      Film and Beyond: Leapfrogging into the global screen industry

    • Interviews
      • All
      • Lounge
      All eys on AIUIa

      All eys on AIUIa

      Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

      Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

      Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

      Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

      New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

      New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      UAE Pro League flips the field

      UAE Pro League flips the field

      Bringing the wild to the Middle East

      Bringing the wild to the Middle East

      Shades of success

      Shades of success

      Navigating the news wave

      Navigating the news wave

      From archive to asset

      From archive to asset

    • Products
    • Magazine Archive
      • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
      • PRO Directory
    • Events
      • News from Events
      • Upcoming Events
      DICM

      DICM

      IBC Show

      IBC 2025

      MPTS

      CABSAT2025

      CABSAT2025

      NAB Show

    No Result
    View All Result
    BroadcastPro ME
    • News
      • All
      • Analyst Reports
      • AV
      • Cinema Theatres
      • Esports
      • Film partnerships
      • International News
      • Mergers/Acquisitions
      • New appointments
      • OTT/Video Streaming
      • Podcasting
      • Production
      • Satellite/Broadcasting
      • Satellite/Comms
      • TV/Radio Deals
      Eutelsat announces $1.56bn capital increase

      Eutelsat announces $1.56bn capital increase

      Palestine Film Institute to present three documentaries at Sheffield DocFest

      Palestine Film Institute to present three documentaries at Sheffield DocFest

      Conviva expands MENA presence with strategic hire

      Conviva expands MENA presence with strategic hire

      Space42 introduces Thuraya Mobile Broadband Hotspot

      Space42 introduces Thuraya Mobile Broadband Hotspot

      Insys and To-Do Media bring Arabic content to mobile devices

      CJ ENM partners with Shahid to launch premium Korean dramas in MENA

      Orange partners with Huawei to deploy 5G in Egypt

      Orange partners with Huawei to deploy 5G in Egypt

      Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Chinese media delegation explore strategic collaboration

      Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Chinese media delegation explore strategic collaboration

      Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms

      Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms

      Korean Film Festival returns to UAE for ninth edition

      Korean Film Festival returns to UAE for ninth edition

      Al-Manasa signs content exchange deal with Yango Play

      Al-Manasa signs content exchange deal with Yango Play

      Trending Tags

      • broadcast
      • MENA broadcast
      • ConnecTech2019
    • Tech Features
      • All
      • CASE STUDIES
      • New Media
      • REVIEWS
      • TV/Radio Deals
      • Updates from FOMEX
      • Virtual Production Series
      Playing to win

      Playing to win

      The expanding role of AI in broadcast

      The expanding role of AI in broadcast

      The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

      The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

      Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

      Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part IV

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

      Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

      Media leaders embrace digital transformation

      Media leaders embrace digital transformation

      Trending Tags

      • Videos
        FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

        FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

        Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

        Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

        Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

        Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

        Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

        Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

        Reema Omari

        Reema Omari on Universal Satcom’s growth and connectivity solutions

        Mustafa Afifi

        Mustafa Afifi of Rivada Space on Outernet’s impact in the Middle East

        Don

        ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen on Mideast ties and satellite strategy

        KSASummit

        Transforming Arabic Content: Studios, Producers and Regional Impact

        Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

        Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

      • Opinion
        Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

        Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

        YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

        YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

        Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

        Sport’s Growing Grip on MENA Media

        MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

        MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

        Integrate ME 2023 brings its inaugural edition to successful conclusion

        Empowering the next generation of content creation and live broadcasting with AV PRO

        Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

        Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

        Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

        Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

        Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

        Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

        Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

        Saudi Arabia emerges as the epicentre of Media & Entertainment in 2025

        Film and Beyond: Leapfrogging into the global screen industry

        Film and Beyond: Leapfrogging into the global screen industry

      • Interviews
        • All
        • Lounge
        All eys on AIUIa

        All eys on AIUIa

        Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

        Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

        Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

        Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

        New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

        New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

        Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

        Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

        UAE Pro League flips the field

        UAE Pro League flips the field

        Bringing the wild to the Middle East

        Bringing the wild to the Middle East

        Shades of success

        Shades of success

        Navigating the news wave

        Navigating the news wave

        From archive to asset

        From archive to asset

      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events
        • News from Events
        • Upcoming Events
        DICM

        DICM

        IBC Show

        IBC 2025

        MPTS

        CABSAT2025

        CABSAT2025

        NAB Show

      No Result
      View All Result
      BroadcastPro ME
      No Result
      View All Result
      AMT Ad ibc Ad Rossvideo Ad
      Home Opinion

      VAR: a new bonanza for national football associations?

      Nicolas Hans by Nicolas Hans
      November 27, 2021
      in Opinion
      VAR: a new bonanza for national football associations?
      ShareTweetPostEmail

      As a mission-critical system, VAR calls for a dedicated service provider with the equipment, know-how and experience.

      Nicolas is a partner at Broadcast Solutions Middle East and Africa

      Since its first implementation at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, video assistant referee (VAR) systems have been rolled out across several international championships and national leagues. Now included in the laws of the game, VAR is fast becoming a priority for many national football associations across the Middle East and Africa.

      Initially designed for competitions with large-scale broadcast productions that use twenty or more cameras and multiple super slow-motion feeds, VAR requirements have been simplified. They can now be implemented for games covered with more modest means, and FIFA recently published VAR Light specifications for matches produced with eight cameras or fewer.

      Implementing VAR for a federation or football association is still a journey that involves multiple parties and requires careful planning. As an extension to the officiating process, VAR is driven first and foremost by referees. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) specifies the process that must be followed to roll out VAR within their federations in its implementation handbook and via its Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP).

      Referees are not alone, though. A service provider must be identified to provide the audiovisual infrastructure required to operate VAR. Beyond the video operation rooms (VOR) that host video assistant referees, their assistants and eventual replay operators, this infrastructure needs integration. It must connect to the wireless intercom system used by referees on the pitch, and to the video production facilities deployed by the host broadcaster.

      As a mission-critical system, VAR calls for a dedicated service provider with the equipment, know-how and experience. As such, VAR constitutes a new opportunity for production companies either as an extension to their host broadcasting operations or as an independent service. Setting up such an offering means adequate infrastructure but also training, certification and project management. Several aspects need to be accounted for.

      Based on the available in-country telecom infrastructure, whether to go for a centralised implementation can be considered. Where fibre to all stadiums exists, a central facility consolidating multiple VORs can be implemented. Such remote operations require consistent connectivity to ensure that camera signals are transmitted with sufficient quality and that intercom voice communications between video assistant referees and their colleagues in the field enjoy low latency. To date, such fibre infrastructure remains rare or too costly, and local in-stadium VAR deployments prove easier to implement.

      Depending on the host broadcaster’s infrastructure, VAR systems need to be properly dimensioned to handle the number and types of camera feeds used to cover the games. Video format (SD, 1080i, 1080p or UHD), frame rate (PAL, slow motion or super slomo) and transport medium (SDI, HD-SDI, NDI, quad SDI or SMPTE 2110) need to be accounted for. If broadcast coverage of games is sporadic, dedicated camera and audiovisual infrastructure may be required in stadiums to ensure availability of VAR services.

      Beyond these technical considerations, overall project management is key to ensuring that adequate training is delivered and FIFA certification is seamless. This certification process needs to be carefully scheduled, as it aims to validate the skills of both future video assistant referees and replay operators.

      Finally, once systems are rolled out and implemented, on-going technical support must guarantee operational readiness throughout the season.

      Above and beyond specific IFAB and FIFA requirements, the roll-out of VAR services could well contribute to the emergence of a new wave of sports programming. As video infrastructure becomes a must-have, football leagues and competitions that have yet to be broadcast over the air could find a driver that contributes to their distribution over the internet and mobile networks. A new breed of OTT provider that seeks to offer live coverage of regional and local games over smartphones and smart TVs could well knock on the doors of football federations and national associations; the corresponding broadcast rights would be all the more welcome since they would contribute to financing VAR implementations. Time will tell.

      Nicolas is a partner at Broadcast Solutions Middle East and Africa

      Tags: audiovisualBroadcast Solutions Middle East and AfricafeaturedpostFIFAInternational Football Association BoardNicolasOTT providersmart TVsvideo assistant referee

      Related Posts

      Palestine Film Institute to present three documentaries at Sheffield DocFest

      Palestine Film Institute to present three documentaries at Sheffield DocFest

      June 21, 2025
      Conviva expands MENA presence with strategic hire

      Conviva expands MENA presence with strategic hire

      June 21, 2025
      Insys and To-Do Media bring Arabic content to mobile devices

      CJ ENM partners with Shahid to launch premium Korean dramas in MENA

      June 20, 2025
      Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Chinese media delegation explore strategic collaboration

      Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Chinese media delegation explore strategic collaboration

      June 20, 2025
      Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms

      Amman Film Industry Days selects 18 projects for 2025 Pitching Platforms

      June 20, 2025
      Korean Film Festival returns to UAE for ninth edition

      Korean Film Festival returns to UAE for ninth edition

      June 20, 2025

      Related News

      NMK Electronics and Riedel partner to expand AV solutions in GCC

      NMK Electronics and Riedel partner to expand AV solutions in GCC

      March 6, 2025
      Saudi Film Commission Joins FIAT/IFTA to boost film archiving

      Saudi Film Commission Joins FIAT/IFTA to boost film archiving

      February 17, 2025
      NOA to participate in IASA conference in Istanbul

      NOA to participate in IASA conference in Istanbul

      September 4, 2023
      French pavillion brings audiovisual technology in focus at CABSAT

      French pavillion brings audiovisual technology in focus at CABSAT

      March 10, 2019
      More Related News

      BroadcastPro ME

      • About
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe
      • Magazine Archive
      • Directory
      • Contact
      • Privacy

      Follow us on Social Media

      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
      • Tech Features
      • Videos
      • Opinion
      • Interviews
      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password?

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In
      Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com