Software for sports commentators – what to look for

Definitions used on this page

• Commentator software is a tool built for the person on the microphone, not for the data analyst or the graphics operator. Its output is what you say.
• Prep (preparation) is everything you do before going on air: researching people, writing talking points, checking facts.
• Live cockpit is the screen you look at during the broadcast: score, clock, players, events.
• Talking point is a short, sayable fact or angle prepared for a specific broadcast.
• Source label is a mark that tells you where a fact came from, for example official match data, your own documents, or an AI model.

1. Is coverage measured, with a date?

Every tool lists leagues. Ask what "covered" means and when it was last checked. Our own definition is: the squad before the match plus basic live data during it, measured weekly against real matches (how we measure). The result for every competition is published with its date on our coverage pages. A vendor that cannot show you a status like that, with a date, is giving you a menu, not a promise.

Also ask what the tool says when it does not know. "Not measured" and "not covered" are different answers, and a good tool shows the difference.

2. Does it separate the squad from the line-up?

The squad is available days before a match; the starting line-up usually arrives about an hour before kick-off. A tool that shows the squad as if it were the line-up will eventually put a player on your screen who is not playing. Look for a clear label on what the list is.

3. Is every fact labelled with its source?

This matters more than the amount of data. Two sources can disagree without either being wrong. When we compare data sources on the same match, they usually agree on the basics: the score, goals, cards and substitutions. Statistics such as possession or clearances can differ noticeably, because the sources define and count them differently.

If you are going to say a number on air, you need to know whose number it is. Look for source labels on talking points and on statistics, and for a visible mark when something comes from an AI model rather than from data.

4. Does it warn you about the risky claims?

Some sentences are more dangerous than others. Two kinds go wrong most often:

• Time-dependent claims ("leads the scoring charts") that were true last week.
• Negative claims ("has never scored away", "first time since ...") that are easy to get wrong and hard to check live.

Good software flags them before you say them. LiveCast marks both as "Unverified", and also flags any name in a talking point that is not in the squad for this match, because it may be a coach, a former player, or a name that does not belong there.

5. Do your notes follow the person?

The most valuable preparation is your own: the thing you noticed three matches ago. Notes should belong to the player, not to the broadcast, so they are there next time you see that player. They should also be private by default. In LiveCast, notes are your own, written on the person, and follow them across broadcasts.

6. Is the live screen calm?

During a broadcast you look at the screen for a second at a time. Ask:

• Does it fit on a laptop screen without scrolling?
• Does it interrupt you with pop-ups?
• Does it treat every event the same? In handball a goal comes roughly every minute; it is the pulse, not news. The things you need flagged are suspensions, timeouts and penalties.

7. Does it work on your phone?

Most commentators prepare at a desk and review on the move. Ask what the phone can do. Being able to read your prepared material and mark what you have used on a phone is more useful than a phone app that tries to be a full cockpit.

8. Can you share a broadcast?

Commentary is usually a pair: a play-by-play commentator and an expert, often with a producer. Check whether you can invite a colleague into the same broadcast with shared preparation, and whether each person needs their own account.

9. Can you try it on a real match?

Ask how the tool is priced (per commentator, per event or per organisation) and whether you can test it before committing. The best test is a recorded or real broadcast in your own sport, not a slide deck. With LiveCast, a free account gives access to the recorded demo broadcasts, so you can see the prep view and the live screen on real match data first.

A short checklist

• Coverage is defined and dated, and "not measured" is shown as such
• Squad and line-up are clearly separated
• Every fact has a source label, and AI content is marked
• Risky claims are flagged before you say them
• Notes are private by default and follow the person
• The live screen fits a laptop and does not use pop-ups
• The phone can show your prep
• You can share a broadcast with a co-commentator
• You can try it on a real or recorded match before committing

How LiveCast does it

LiveCast is prep and live-match software for TV and radio commentators. It makes preparation faster and keeps it in one place: the squad or field, your notes on each person, talking points with source labels, and the live cockpit for the same broadcast. You can see how it answers each question above in the recorded demo broadcasts, and the sports overview shows which sports are available. Athletes can also add their own information through Athlete Portal.

FAQ