Sony acquires Hawk-Eye, a global leader in live sports tracking solutions

Sony has announced the acquisition of Hawk-Eye Ltd, a UK based company that specialises in providing tracking technology to sports events and broadcasters. Hawk-Eye's capabilities, based on vision processing and triangulation, coupled with Sony's established leadership in AV production and B2B solutions will enable the delivery of leading managed services and innovative solutions for Sports Stadia and Broadcasters.

Naomi Climer, Vice-President Sony Europe, commented, " Hawk-eye is recognised globally for its innovative solutions for resolving close calls in critical sporting situations, particularly in cricket and tennis where they have developed a worldwide reputation. Players, officials and sports fans have all appreciated the accurate and entertaining way in which Hawk-eye has integrated its technology into these key sports. Hawk-Eye presents Sony with the opportunity to acquire a small, innovative company with unique knowledge and excellent growth and synergies potential. It is an ideal complementary offering to Sony Professional's existing portfolio of solutions for stadiums, venues and broadcasters, as well as bringing in specific expertise around managed services and Sports software solutions engineering. We see strong opportunities on the technological, business and marketing levels to further Sony's leadership and engagement in the sports and broadcasting industry."

Paul Hawkins, Founder of Hawk-Eye in 1999, declared, "Over the last decade Hawk-Eye has become the reference standard technology for ball tracking and graphics in tennis, cricket and snooker. Our skills and established knowledge coupled with Sony's breadth of capabilities and technologies will create immense opportunities for the Sports industry. Hawk-eye has shown impressive year-on-year growth throughout the last decade and is now well positioned to develop its business towards other global sports.”

Sony's full acquisition of Hawk-Eye Holding will include all Intellectual Properties Rights, Hawk-Eye's current full time staff as well as their technology and software solutions engineering capabilities. Hawk-eye will become an integral part of Sony Professional, the B2B branch of Sony Europe Ltd.