Tupelo Honey shifts to cloud graphics for The Soccer Tournament production
Tupelo Honey utilized Singular.live's cloud-based graphics platform to produce broadcast graphics for 64 matches over five days during The Soccer Tournament. This approach allowed them to manage multiple stakeholders, integrate real-time data efficiently, and reduce hardware costs compared to traditional methods. The solution successfully met tight deadlines and stakeholder requirements.
Key Takeaways
- Managed 64 matches across five fields within a tight six-week development window.
- Eliminated standard hardware costs by replacing dedicated graphics machines with cloud-based rendering.
- Integrated real-time scoring data from multiple locations into a unified viewer experience.
- Secured stakeholder approval from NBC, Peacock, and TST owners through a shared cloud production workflow.
Why It Matters
This move signals a pivot from high-CAPEX hardware toward agile, cloud-native graphics in live sports, particularly for emerging 'festival-style' tournaments with dense schedules. For the technical stack, it proves that browser-based rendering can handle the low-latency demands of professional soccer broadcasts without sacrificing visual quality. Strategically, it enables production companies like Tupelo Honey to scale rapidly for high-stakes events with unique rules and data structures that traditional systems take longer to configure. Expect to see further adoption in localized and niche sports as Rights-Holders look to maximize production value while containing regional broadcast costs. Watch for Singular.live to secure more Tier-1 sporting integrations as cloud-playout becomes standard.
Additional Context
The transition to cloud-based graphics at TST aligns with broader industry movement toward distributed production models. Per NBC Sports, April 2026, the network recently expanded its partnership with TST to present the fourth annual event via NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN, marking the first time the tournament reached broadcast television. This growth has forced production partners to find scalable solutions to handle the increasing volume of content, which in 2026 includes three separate $1 million winner-take-all events for men’s, women’s, and mixed-gender brackets. Tupelo Honey’s owner, Gray Media, has been aggressively expanding its sports footprint through over-the-air and streaming deals. Per TV Technology, September 2024, Gray Media signed a multi-year deal to produce Missouri Valley Conference basketball, with Tupelo Honey handling the distribution across 22 markets and ESPN+. Similar moves with the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves in early 2026 underscore Gray’s reliance on Tupelo Honey to deliver efficient, high-volume sports production across both linear and digital platforms. On the technology side, cloud graphics platforms are increasingly being integrated into automated playout systems. Per Akta, January 2025, Singular.live partnered with Akta to integrate its graphics engine into AI-scheduled FLEX channels, claiming an 80% cost reduction compared to on-premise broadcast workflows. This ecosystem-wide shift suggests that the TST case study is part of a larger trend where broadcasters prioritize interoperability and reduced physical footprings at venues. As TST expands to 134 matches per event, as noted by Goal.com in April 2025, the ability to manage graphics via a web-native interface becomes a logistical necessity rather than just a cost-saving measure.
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