Sportel Singapore 2026

With its unique meeting point setup around the exhibiting hall, the event placed a strong emphasis on fostering new partnerships and unlocking growth opportunities across Asia and beyond.

ASTN had a meeting point in the main hall and was alongside Sportradar, Telstra Broadcast Services, WSC Sports and other global broadcasting and sportstech companies from around the world. Our members who attended the Conference also shared our booth, as it was a great opportunity to promote their businesses as well.

Themes at the Conference varied from tackling streaming piracy threats in Asia, to what content buyers want to see in APAC and delivering fans a more personalised experience. Check out the program.

Check out the SPORTEL Singapore gallery.

Australia & New Zealand (ANZ): A Booming Sports Media & Tech Landscape

On Wednesday, 25 March 2026, ASTN CFO + Strategic Projects, Cam Vale moderated a panel discussion that included the following:

• Anna Lockwood, Head of Media & Sport, Telstra Broadcasting Services
• Guy Neville, EGM – NBL Media & Broadcast, National Basketball League (NBL)
• Patrick Bour, Head of TV & Marketing, ESPN Australia
• Padraig O’Donovan, CEO, Layercake

This panel dived into how Australia and New Zealand are rapidly emerging as innovation hubs within the global sports media and technology ecosystem. While both markets have long-standing sporting cultures—spanning rugby, cricket, AFL, NRL, netball, and football—the real transformation is being driven by how fans consume sport today.

The key focus of the discussion was the shift toward digital-first audiences, particularly younger generations who prefer short-form content, streaming platforms, social media, and interactive experiences over traditional broadcast. Panellists explored how this behavioural shift is forcing sports organisations to rethink content formats, distribution strategies, and engagement models.

The discussion examined the impact of major international events hosted across the regions, including the upcoming Rugby World Cups and the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Another central theme is innovation through collaboration. Broadcasters, OTT platforms, sports leagues, startups, and tech providers across ANZ are increasingly forming strategic partnerships to:

• Enhance fan engagement through data, AI, and personalised content
• Improve live and on-demand viewing experiences
• Unlock new revenue streams, including direct-to-consumer models and digital monetisation
• Experiment with immersive technologies such as AR/VR and “phygital” experiences

The panel also touched on how regional organisations are competing on a global stage, exporting expertise and content while attracting international investment into ANZ’s sports ecosystem.

Pitch Perfect Innovation Contest

A fast-paced pitching session where companies (S.O. Casual Creative, Bitmovin, Phygital International, Layercake, and Appear) presented their innovative solutions in 3-minute pitches. The pitchers were judged by Ken Kerschbaumer, SVG, Laurent Puons, SPORTEL, and Cam Vale, ASTN.

The winner was Padraig O’Donovan, CEO of Layercake, an Australian sportstech company headquartered in Sydney and a proud ASTN member. Layercake won a SPORTEL Monaco 2026 pass and prizes from the Global Sports Innovation Center (GSIC).

Event Gallery