Digital Transformation Consulting

ESPN faced the challenge of expanding its sports coverage to include niche sports such as professional lacrosse and women’s professional soccer, which historically received less coverage and engagement compared to mainstream sports. The client required a scalable solution to generate timely, compelling game summaries that could enhance fan understanding and engagement without overburdening editorial resources.

To address this, Accenture developed a generative AI (gen AI) tool in partnership with ESPN’s Edge Innovation Center. This tailored solution integrated a specialized dataset comprising ESPN and league-licensed data, including box scores, play-by-play information, rosters, standings, schedules, and available audio transcripts. The AI system produced engaging, accurate summaries of Premier Lacrosse League and National Women’s Soccer League games, providing fans with concise recaps that highlight key moments of each match. These summaries undergo review by ESPN editors prior to publication, ensuring quality and consistency.

The implementation of this gen AI solution allowed ESPN to significantly increase the volume and variety of sports content available to fans, extending coverage to more niche sports and live moments efficiently. This scalable approach delivered more tailored sports recaps faster, catering to fans’ desire for deeper content and engagement. As a direct result, ESPN expanded its sports coverage, reaching previously underserved audiences in lacrosse and women’s soccer, thereby enhancing overall fan engagement and experience in these niche markets.