Yamaha Tests New Style of Spectating using Remote Cheering System with Two Professional Baseball Teams in Japan

Yamaha Corporation will be offering its currently in-development remote cheering system 'Remote Cheerer powered by SoundUD' from July 7 for tests conducted with Hanshin Tigers Co., Ltd. (based in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture) and Chiba Lotte Marines Co., Ltd. (based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture) in matches at Hanshin Koshien Stadium and ZOZO Marine Stadium. This system aims to become a new way of watching sports in an age of remote support for matches.

Remote Cheerer powered by SoundUD enables users to tap 'support buttons' via a mobile site as each match unfolds, playing back their cheers and applause through speakers set up at stadiums. The system was developed in consideration of hospitalized children, those busy with responsibilities such as childcare, the disabled and elderly, and supporters unable to attend stadiums, allowing them to cheer together with attending supporters and having their support reach stadiums. In addition, with the recent increase in coronavirus infections, this technology is attracting a great deal of attention as a way to maintain new lifestyles of social distancing.

For this project, the system will be tested at selected Hanshin Tigers (Central League) and Chiba Lotte Marines (Pacific League) matches, with fans and supporters enjoying the application while watching broadcast or streamed sports, confirming the viability of a new way to spectate in this age of remote support for matches.

Additionally, tests will also be conducted with TSS-TV (Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture) at Hiroshima Toyo Carp match and JOLF (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) at Tokyo Yakult Swallows match. Yamaha's cooperation in these tests with TSS-TV will be the first such for terrestrial TV, and with JOLF the first such cooperation for terrestrial radio.

For Hanshin Tigers matches from July 7, support such as applause and cheering can be sent to players through speakers installed at Hanshin Koshien Stadium as audiences watch TV and other media, by opening the 'Remote Cheerer powered by SoundUD' page from the Hanshin Tigers official application on a smartphone and tapping buttons. A new, additional content feature will also be tested for the first time, through which users can select the special 'CHEERING BAT' team effect, tap the button, and shake their smartphone to send the sounds of their support bats to the stadium.

The test initiatives implemented in the matches against the Orix Buffaloes from June 23 to July 28 will continue to be carried out in matches against the Lions from Tuesday, July 7. Early access will be given as a purchaser privilege for "Remote Cheering Tickets" sold by the Chiba Lotte Marines, with the purchaser being sent a link by the team 30 minutes before the game starts. By tapping the support buttons on the webpage, sounds such as applause and cheering corresponding to each button can be sent to players through speakers installed at ZOZO Marine Stadium. This is the first such collaboration with the Chiba Lotte Marines involving ticket sales.

The 'NODOGOSHI NAMA (a beer brand) Presents Voice Reaches You – Remote Cheer-up Project –' will be implemented on July 7 at Mazda Stadium at the broadcast match between the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Yokohama DeNA Baystars. Support can be sent using a smartphone to scan a QR code that will appear on the TV screen and send viewers to a dedicated website. This is the first such collaboration with a terrestrial television station, and is also the first time a sponsor banner will be displayed in the system. We will continue to strengthen our remote support efforts with TSS-TV moving forward.

Tests will be conducted for radio broadcasting, starting with the match on Saturday, July 4th between the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and Yokohama DeNA Baystars. This is the first such collaboration with a radio broadcast, and moving forward we will continue to strengthen our remote support efforts with JOLF.

In recent times, there are increasing opportunities to appreciate live music, sports, lectures and more through public viewing, streaming services, or the TV and radio. However, it has not been possible for those watching from home or afar to have their excited voices of support reach venues.

This system, which is in the process of being patented, was created to solve this problem through 'SoundUD' technology*. Those wishing to go to a venue but unable to do so due to being busy with childcare, hospitalized, or even overseas can have their support sent from afar through speakers at venues by using this system. This new style of viewing enables interactive support by connecting remote locations with venues, so venue attendees and viewers far away can be united in their support.

Test conducted at practice match in Shizuoka's Ecopa Stadium (May 13):

• https://www.yamaha.com/en/news_release/2020/20052501/

Remote cheering project with Football Clubs in Japan (July 6):

• https://www.yamaha.com/en/news_release/2020/20070601/

System requirements (smartphone)

iOS：Safari, Android：Google Chrome

*Technology used to implement Sound Universal Design standardized by the SoundUD Consortium (Secretariat: Yamaha Corp.). Sound and space are used together at supported spots to deliver easily accessible, important information to those locations. Using this technology, applications are being developed such as the 'Omotenashi Guide' application (provider: Aerial Acoustic Communications Association), which provides information as text in foreign languages for users who do not understand information provided in Japanese through means such as audio announcements.

SoundUD Consortium official website:

• https://soundud.org/en/

*All product and entity names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Yamaha Corp. or each mentioned entity.

*Published information is accurate at time of publishing. Information may have changed since publication date.

• https://soundud.org/en/