What AE Live does

AE Live is a UK-headquartered (Hemel Hempstead) B2B provider of real-time broadcast graphics, virtual production, AR/XR, and sports data visualisation services for live television, streaming, and sports federation clients. Founded in 1992 and operating across nine countries on five continents with 101–250 employees, the company serves as the official or primary graphics partner for marquee rights-holders including the Premier League (all 380 matches per season), MLS on Apple TV (15 matches per weekend across up to 16 alternate feeds in English, Spanish and Korean), 30+ WTA tournaments, UEFA, World Rugby, the Olympics, ICC Cricket, NFL/Super Bowl and World Endurance Championship, as well as public broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel Nine, Sky, CBS, ESPN, TNT) and entertainment brands (Netflix, Nickelodeon, Microsoft).

The technology stack combines AE Live's proprietary platforms — Aether, a real-time data distribution and management system ingesting official match data via WebSocket streams, and CUE (Control for Unreal), an AR graphics operator control application that integrates with Unreal Engine — with best-of-breed third-party tools including Vizrt, Pixotope, Stype camera tracking, Chryon Prime, and AWS cloud infrastructure. Computer-vision player tracking (deployed in cricket with Disney Star Sports), motion and facial capture for mixed-reality broadcasts, and an Innovation Lab with IIITH Hyderabad form the company's AI/ML R&D core. Two acquired entities — Silver Spoon (New York-based virtual production, acquired July 2023) and Ignite (creative design agency, acquired 2023) — were merged into a unified AE Live brand in 2024, vertically integrating Unreal Engine virtual production and design realisation into the delivery stack.

Revenue is generated through enterprise contracts for live-event delivery (professional services model) combined with recurring elements in data-driven graphics and the recently launched second-screen fan engagement capability (via the CUE partnership). GTM is exclusively direct enterprise sales to senior decision-makers at broadcasters, federations, and streaming platforms, supported by embedded operator teams in client production workflows. Distribution is delivered through a globally distributed operating model with on-site presence in the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Malaysia and Singapore, enabling around-the-clock live broadcast coverage of the world's largest sports properties.

Name

AE Live

Legal name

AE Live

Website

https://ae.live

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AE Live is a UK-headquartered B2B provider of real-time broadcast graphics, virtual production, AR/XR, and sports data visualisation for live TV, streaming, and sports federation clients worldwide, with offices in 9 countries across 5 continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broadcast Graphics Services

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Broadcast/Recording for Live Events (OB, Multicam, Livestream Capture) (MPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Live Production Switching & Routing (Vision Mixers, Routers) (MPAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Broadcast graphics services
• Live sports production
• AR/XR broadcast solutions
• Virtual studio design
• Real-time data visualization

Headquarters

HQ city

Hemel Hempstead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Broadcast Graphics Services: AE Live provides real-time graphics, data integration, and broadcast production solutions to broadcasters and sports federations on a project and contract basis. Services include live graphics delivery, AR/XR production, virtual studios, and design realization for sports broadcasts.
2. Sports Data Visualization: AE Live delivers data-driven graphics solutions integrating official sports data for real-time visualization, supporting multiple feeds, languages, and platforms.
3. Virtual Production Services: AE Live designs, builds, and delivers virtual studio environments, AR elements, and immersive spaces for sports and entertainment broadcasts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AE Live delivers end-to-end real-time broadcast graphics, virtual studio environments, and AR/XR production services for live sports and entertainment broadcasts. The company combines proprietary data platforms (Aether) and AR graphics control software (CUE) with creative design, motion graphics, and immersive virtual production to produce on-air graphics, virtual sets, and mixed-reality experiences for global broadcasters, sports federations, and streaming platforms. Services span match graphics, presentation graphics, multi-language feeds, design realization, and remote centralized production workflows.

Product overview

AE Live is a UK-based global sports data and broadcast company offering a unified portfolio of broadcast graphics, live production, and creative technology services. The core offering is real-time broadcast graphics and live sports production (delivering live graphics, data integration, virtual studios, AR/XR, and optimised feeds for global sporting events). Two acquired brands — Silver Spoon (real-time virtual production on Unreal Engine) and Ignite (creative design agency) — have been integrated into the unified AE Live brand and provide complementary capabilities in immersive environments, mixed reality, animation, and design realisation. Supporting technology platforms include Aether (proprietary real-time data distribution platform) and CUE (AR graphics control application and fan engagement platform). Together these products enable AE Live to deliver complete concept-to-broadcast creative, data, and technology solutions for broadcasters, sports federations, and production companies worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ignite: AE Live's in-house creative design agency specializing in design realization and creative services for broadcast graphics.
• Silver Spoon

Products and services

• AE Live Broadcast Graphics & Live Production
• Silver Spoon Virtual Production Services
• Ignite Creative Design Services

Quantifiable outcome

• AE Live delivers live graphics for 15 MLS matches per weekend with up to 16 alternate feeds per match
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, innovation, technology and operational.

• CUEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026AE Live partnered with fan engagement platform CUE to deliver real-time second-screen interactivity for live sports broadcasts. The custom integration pipeline enables graphics operators to trigger engagement tools such as polls, trivia, and sponsor activations directly from existing broadcast systems. Viewers join via QR codes with no app download required. The workflow was proven at scale during SuperSport's AFCON coverage delivered by AE Live South Africa.
• Silver SpooncoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 25 July 2023AE Live acquired Silver Spoon, a New York-based virtual production firm specializing in immersive virtual environments and AR graphics. Silver Spoon partnered with major sports leagues and brands including NFL, MLB, CBS, Fox Sports, Papa Johns, Doritos, and Cheetos.
• International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH)innovationStrategic or Co-development PartnerAE Live announced a partnership with IIITH to build an Innovation Lab on campus in Hyderabad. AE Live engineers will be embedded within the institute to drive innovation in AI and ML based solutions for sports. The collaboration began with live player tracking technology for cricket developed in partnership with Disney Star Sports.
• Disney Star SportscoreTechnology or IntegrationAE Live collaborated with Disney Star Sports on live player tracking technology for cricket, successfully implemented in several international tournaments including the last two editions of the Asia Cup and India Tour of South Africa. AE Live served as graphics partner.
• StypetechnologyTechnology or IntegrationAE Live partnered with Stype for camera tracking and Unreal Engine integration technology during BBC Sport's EURO 2024 coverage. Stype RedSpy tracked 3 cameras in the internal studio, and Stype Follower tracked 2 cameras on the Terrace.
• RaceiQ / Ellipse DatatechnologyTechnology or IntegrationAE Live integrated RaceiQ data from Ellipse Data into its AR environment for ITV Racing's Cheltenham Festival coverage, providing detailed performance insights and cutting-edge race narratives.
• Jago DesigntechnologyTechnology or IntegrationAE Live collaborated with Jago Design as their longstanding extended reality studio partner for Channel Nine's Winter Olympics virtual studio project.
• IgnitecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAE Live's in-house creative design agency that was acquired and integrated into the unified AE Live brand. Ignite provides design realization services and has created graphics packages for major sports events.
• SuperSport / AE Live South AfricaoperationalTechnology or IntegrationAE Live South Africa delivered the AFCON coverage where the CUE second-screen integration was proven at scale, achieving significantly higher viewer engagement than typical stadium-based experiences.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• disguise: disguise provides real-time visual production platforms (gx range, Renderstream) powering immersive XR stages, virtual studios, and live events. It serves the same end customers as AE Live for live sports, concerts, and broadcast virtual production, including large-scale XR deployments.
• Zero Density: Zero Density provides Unreal Engine-based real-time virtual production and broadcast graphics platforms (RealityHub, TRAXIS talentS). It directly competes with AE Live/Silver Spoon's virtual production and AR/XR offerings for sports broadcasters.
• Pixotope: Pixotope specializes in real-time virtual production and AR graphics for live broadcasts, built on Unreal Engine — the same underlying technology AE Live leverages. It competes head-to-head in AR/XR for live sports, including camera-tracked virtual sets used in major football and racing coverage.
• ChyronHego: ChyronHego provides real-time broadcast graphics, telestration, and sports analysis tools (PRIME, Click Effects, TRACAB). It competes directly with AE Live in sports broadcast graphics, virtual placement, and data-driven on-screen storytelling for live sports.
• Vizrt: Vizrt (now Vizrt Group) is the leading independent broadcast graphics software vendor (Viz Engine, Viz Trio, Viz Artist) used by virtually every major sports broadcaster. It is both a supplier to AE Live and a competitor in end-to-end graphics delivery, making it the closest direct peer in broadcast graphics infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Singular Live: Singular Live offers cloud-native, data-driven graphics for live streams and broadcasts with strong sports adoption. It overlaps with AE Live on data-driven real-time graphics and AR overlays but competes as a more software-led, less-services-intensive model targeting streaming and second-screen use cases.
• RT Software: RT Software is a UK-based specialist in real-time 3D broadcast graphics (Tactic, Swift, Virtuoso) used by Sky Sports, BBC, and other UK broadcasters. It is a smaller, specialist direct competitor focused on graphics platforms rather than the full-service model AE Live offers.

Broad incumbents

• Grass Valley: Grass Valley supplies end-to-end broadcast technology (cameras, switchers, playout, editing) and acquired some graphics assets (formerly Miranda/Imagine). It competes as a broad incumbent offering graphics and live production solutions that overlap with AE Live's service scope.
• Ross Video: Ross Video is a broad incumbent in live broadcast production (switchers, graphics, robotics, infrastructure). It overlaps with AE Live in real-time graphics (XPression) and live production workflows, but serves as a much larger, more diversified vendor rather than a sports-graphics specialist.
• EVS Broadcast Equipment: EVS is the dominant provider of live broadcast infrastructure (replay, highlights, media asset management) for premium sports. While not a direct graphics competitor, EVS competes for the same sports production budgets and influences graphics workflows through tight integration with live production pipelines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ae-live
• Xx.com/aelive_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AE Live