Sky News is to use machine learning to identify guests at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The content, accessible within the Sky News app and on the Sky News website, will be enhanced with facts about the attendees.
To make it all possible, Sky News is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and two AWS technology partners, GrayMeta and UI Centric. As the guests make their way into St George’s Chapel, Windsor, AWS will capture live video and send it to cloud-based AWS Elemental Media Services for multiscreen viewing optimisation. An on-demand video asset, including catch-up functionality, will also be generated. In parallel, Sky is combining the GrayMeta data analysis platform with the Amazon Rekognition video and image analysis service for real-time identification of guests and tagging with related information.
Finally, Sky News is using the Amazon CloudFront content delivery network to unify the content for rapid distribution to viewers. UI Centric has designed and developed the front-end application and video player to enhance the experience and user interface accessed by Sky News viewers.
David Gibbs, Director of Digital News and Sports Products said: “Sky continuously searches for ways to innovate and bring better coverage to its customers. This new functionality allows Royal Wedding viewers greater insight into one of the biggest live events of the year, wherever they are. We’re excited by the software’s potential and ability to give audiences new ways of consuming content”.
Alongside the machine learning, Sky will be providing more traditional coverage, anchored by presenter Kay Burley from special studio locations around Windsor.
The broadcaster is also expected to be the only one making its coverage available in Ultra HD.
