Cablenet Sports
Changing the way we enjoy football with Viz Libero and Viz Arena
"In Cyprus, football is not just a sport. It is a religion." Adrian Hadzialexandrou knows this firsthand. He’s a former footballer turned coach, now a Viz Libero expert and a lead analyst at Cablenet Sports. Football is played and watched everywhere in this island nation. And fans here, like everywhere else, demand the best viewing experience.
Since entering the sports broadcasting space in 2019, Cablenet Sports has been committed to turning every match it produces into a must-watch spectacle. With Viz Libero and Viz Arena Vizrt, the team led by Head of Sports, Andreas Paraskevas, has redefined the way fans experience the game, on television, online and across all other screens.
A revolution in production
Paraskevas is passionate about football. His mandate for Cablenet Sports was to match the passion of the fans and better engage not only the fans, but also the sponsors.
"Every year, we raise the bar on our production. Production is not just about the number of cameras we use or the overall technical quality. It's about the experience we create for our viewers. That's why the Vizrt "It brought a new level of value to our productions – not just in terms of visual effects, but also in the way we engage and immerse the audience in the game."
“We started with in-stadium advertising and then introduced pop-ups during the match. Last year, we added augmented reality starting lineups and formations. We’re constantly thinking ahead, exploring new ways to offer more to fans – before kick-off, throughout the match and after the final whistle.”
"Our goal is to Cablenet Sports to be the number one choice of sports fans – whether they are tuning in for live games or watching our sports broadcasts,” says Paraskevas.
"We looked at a lot of games to see how they were produced in other countries. We hold the rights to several Cypriot teams. So, we even looked at the NBA and NFL, to see how they used the tools of Vizrt"And we thought, why not bring these tools to Cyprus?"
Today, Cablenet Sports applies ultra-sharp resolution and immersive graphics powered by Viz Libero and Viz Arena to deliver clarity to every touch, play and crucial moment to fans – both in Cyprus and beyond its borders via its live streaming platform.
Education and interaction with Viz Libero
For Hadzialexandrou, the Viz Libero is non-negotiable. "I said, if you want me to come work for the Cablenet Sports, I want to work witho Viz Libero because I know it's quality software. The first principle in any production is quality and then the graphics, which are the key for the viewers."
Every broadcast – from pre-match hype to post-match analysis – relies on Viz Libero to simplify complex tactics with compelling graphics. From real-time defensive block counts to player movement, player highlights, attacking formations, 3D camera aerials to angles not captured by stadium cameras, shots on goal and more, the graphics don’t just “tell” football – they teach it. They’re a tactical masterclass for fans.
“Even if they’re watching in a café and can’t hear me, they’ll understand the game [from the graphics]. Only with the graphics will they understand the message I want to convey to them [about what’s happening on the pitch],” Hadzialexandrou explains.
Increasing revenue opportunities through Viz Arena
Cablenet Sports loves to give back to its fans, but it also needs to balance its commercial assets. To unlock ad revenue, the Cablenet team invested in Viz Arena. Starting with virtual advertising on the pitch, they have expanded into sponsored highlights and goals, turning graphics into asset revenue.
“We currently use it to place virtual advertising, which we change every few minutes, so we have many different sponsor logos on the pitch during a match. The Viz Arena It is also used to display 3D graphics to highlight key players.
“But we don’t just show ads – we also enhance the gaming experience with 3D graphics,” says the operator. Viz Arena, Alexis Koutoukas, former club-level goalkeeper, “And the spectators love it.”
"I've worked with many other tools in the past. For the last three and a half years we've been using Viz ArenaThe difference with Viz Arena is that it is very user-friendly, efficient and fast.”
Telling stories with statistics
All statistics from the matches are compiled into a statistics sheet that he develops himself. "We are here at OB Van and we register the statistics and in this way we can transfer them to Viz Arena", something that works its magic."
"What I like about Viz Arena is that it gives you another way to see football. Different statistics with a 3D representation on the pitch. Using the Viz Arena in a live match, you can simulate a computer game – which makes it much more attractive,” explains Michael May, sports programmer Cablenet.
In short, the production team uses Viz Arena like you would a game engine – ingesting real-time data and automating renderings that simulate video game graphics. The result is a more immersive broadcast that keeps viewers and sponsors happy.
We work together to win.
Despite operating with fewer resources than the major networks, Cablenet Sports has succeeded thanks to flexibility, passion and 24/7 support from Vizrt and its partner Comart.
It takes a lot of work to get every game day production right, and the Cablenet Sports team makes producing and maintaining sponsor satisfaction look effortless.
"Sponsors expect to see their logos, so if something goes wrong and we don't show their logo, we lose money. So we depend on good support to make sure no mistakes are made on race day."
“This is a live production and if we encounter technical problems, we have to act immediately. Communication with the Comart and the Vizrt "It's fast, 24/7, and our problems are resolved quickly," says Paraskevas.
"OR Cablenet Sports is not a typical broadcaster. The market here in Cyprus is quite small. It is a country with just over 1.3 million inhabitants. So, they work on a much smaller scale. They are very flexible. They do not have the tools that all the big broadcasters have, but in terms of performance they are very strong. They can create quality shows at a lower cost and generate revenue using the Viz Arena.» says Simos Hatziaraptis, CEO of Comart.
"They knew exactly what they wanted to do, from the beginning. They came to me and said we want to use the Viz Libero. People here are devoted to football and follow the local league closely. So, the use of Viz Libero was very important for the Cablenet, because graphics and analysis really add value to their programming. Next, we had to look at their technical ability and put together a plan and portfolio Vizrt that suits their needs."
Design for modern fan interaction
Fan engagement doesn’t end with the final whistle. Match highlights are repurposed for social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, extending the impact of the broadcast and increasing viewership across all platforms. Cablenet Sports also broadcasts matches globally, reaching the Cypriot diaspora from Australia to the UK.
Cablenet Sports is proof that you don’t have to be the biggest to be the best. You just need the right tools. Viz Libero brings clarity to analytics, while Viz Arena transforms the stadium into a premier advertising space. Together, they have helped Cablenet Sports:
- Double the “education” and viewer interaction
- Unlock new digital ad inventory
- Provide high-quality productions with a flexible team
And they've only just begun. AI color correction, more real-time stats, and stronger integrations with Viz Arena are already on the schedule.
As Paraskevas puts it: “I want my company to be number one [in Cyprus]. The fans to talk about it.” Cablenet Sports as the number one sports channel. And, if you want to be the first in this industry, you have to partner with the best. That's why we use Vizrt."
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Comart
Comart is the official representative of Vizrt for Greece and Cyprus, as well Newtek TriCaster Gold Reseller. It has extensive experience and relevant facilities in TV stations, specialty content channels and the leading subscription platforms.
