MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VISTA Worldlink, a global leader in transmission services, announced today that they partnered with Rockbridge Sports and Piksel to provide the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), with the WAC Digital Network, the first-ever digital backhaul distribution network. This new innovation is set to change the way fans view WAC sporting events and cheer on their favorite teams, making all events more accessible than ever before.
Designed by VISTA Worldlink, this all digital national network is dedicated exclusively to Western Athletic Conference programming. Original content and both Live and On-demand regular season and WAC championship events will be available online via computers, smartphones, tablets and smart televisions. The network will produce approximately 275 live events annually, including basketball and baseball games, soccer and volleyball matches, and championship events from the Conference’s eight institutions and neutral sites.
“The WAC Digital Network will provide unprecedented online exposure of the WAC’s institutions and provide fans access to high quality broadcasts all over the world,” said WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd. “We are truly excited to be a part of creating a 21st century solution to showcase the amazing student-athletes competing at a high level in many different sports.”
The WAC Digital Network allows the Western Athletic Conference to significantly increase the amount of men and women’s sporting events available for broadcast. The Western Athletic Conference chose VISTA Worldlink's creative and cost-effective broadcast solution to maximize available consumable content for conference fans while simultaneously improving overall on-air production quality.
WAC Executive Producer Robby Gabrielli coordinates all of the WAC’s studio productions and schedules the WAC Digital Network’s live events. “We are pleased to provide such a high level streaming experience for our fans and student-athletes,” said Gabrielli. “Along with Piksel, VISTA and our member schools, we are committed to continually enhancing our production and programming on the WAC Digital Network.”
“VISTA Worldlink is proud to provide the streaming-powered missing link that has existed for far too long between die-hard fans and WAC sporting events,” said Josh Liemer, VISTA Worldlink Vice President. “Technology is constantly changing and its exciting to be able to create a network along with our partners to offer consumers more content in the convenience of their home.”
VISTA Worldlink created the WAC Digital Network by developing a proprietary IP solution that transports each game to VISTA Master Control in Dania Beach, Florida. VISTA then makes the content available on the web through Piksel. The VISTA Transport Appliance (VTA by VISTA) is a new product available through VISTA Worldlink in 2014, meeting the needs of evolving transmission requirements.
Long heralded as an industry leader in superior customer service since 1988, VISTA Worldlink serves as a bridge connecting traditional content distribution with emerging technologies.
The WAC Digital Network can be viewed on any Internet connected device by going to http://wacsports.com/watch.
ABOUT VISTA WORLDLINK
VISTA is a global leader in transmission services provisioning satellite capacity, mobile and fixed uplinks, fiber optics, streaming, digital archiving and master control services in addition to cutting edge creative, emerging and production services. VISTA Worldlink is a full-service media bridge connecting world-class customer service to the sports, entertainment, news, corporate, religious, government and public relations industries worldwide. www.vistaworldlink.com.