Real-time player tracking tech by NBC Sports lets fans focus on their favorite athletes

NBC Sports is set to revolutionize mobile sports viewing by deploying technology that lets users lock in on their favorite athletes during matches.

The feature comes just in time for the Winter Olympics. By licensing AI-driven tech from Japan’s Nippon TV, NBC will allow viewers to track individual athletes, such as figure skaters and alpine skiers, up close, even as the main television broadcast continues its traditional horizontal coverage.

The system uses advanced facial recognition to identify and track specific athletes in real time.

Beyond the Olympics, NBC plans to roll out the feature across its 2026 coverage of major leagues, including the NFL, NBA, and Premier League.

The AI feature also enables Nippon TV, which is eyeing expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.