The UAE Ministry of Sports has launched Sportifai, an artificial intelligence-powered digital platform designed to serve as the technological foundation of the country’s sports transformation strategy, in alignment with the National Sports Strategy 2031.

The platform was unveiled during the ‘Driving Digital Transformation in the UAE Sports Sector’ workshop, held in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Sports, presidents of Sports Federations, and technical and administrative staff. It aims to enhance governance, support athlete development, and enable seamless collaboration among National Sports Councils, Federations, and Clubs.

A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Sport newsletter with Alex Sherman, which brings you the biggest news and exclusive interviews from the worlds of sports business and media. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.

It’s media Upfronts week, which these days serves primarily as a sports programming showcase. Readers of this newsletter shouldn’t be surprised. As YouTube noted, NFL games were 90 of the top 100 most-watched telecasts during the 2024 NFL season. Disney, Amazon and NBCUniversal just spent billions of dollars – each – on an NBA TV rights deal that kicks in next season. 

Why have major media companies leaned so far into sports? One of the biggest reasons is ad revenue. That’s what Upfronts week is all about.

I attended almost all of the major media company Upfronts and got a chance to speak with some executives and talent on the side. Here are some of my takeaways.

* Disney/ESPN: I’m going to start with Disney, because that was the company with the most consequential announcement this week – the long-awaited ESPN streaming service that I reported last week will be called … ESPN. This week, we learned the service will cost $29.99 per month, which isn’t a surprise – I’ve reported for months it would either be $25 or $30 a month. 

Still, the extent of the bundling discounts with Disney+ and Hulu were massive and unexpected. For customers that sign up at launch this fall (exact date TBD), Disney will throw in both Disney+ and Hulu for free to ESPN subscribers for 12 months. After that, the bundle of ESPN, Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) will cost $35.99 per month – just $6 more than ESPN alone. 

Disney is pushing its bundle to cut down on churn – industry lingo for the rate of cancellation for streaming services. The idea is simple – if you make a bundle more cost effective than purchasing a solo service, more consumers will stick with the product. In other words, it’s easier to cancel ESPN than ESPN, Disney+ and Hulu. 

ESPN also wants to upsell its 24 million ESPN+ subscribers to the unlimited ESPN, Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said at a media event this week. ESPN+, which costs $11.99 per month for a smaller sampling of ESPN’s live events, will essentially convert to an entry-level tier of ESPN. Part of the reason Disney is offering such a steep discount for the first-year bundle is to convert as many ESPN+ subscribers into ESPN customers as possible. 

“A lot of our marketing, our messaging will be focused on upselling those trio bundle subscribers to this new bundle at this very attractive pricing,” Pitaro said.

Disney is fully embracing ESPN these days, a shift from when it contemplated spinning off its sports media arm a few years ago. The first five people that showed up during Disney’s Upfront presentation? Current and former NFL stars Saquon Barkley, Pat Mahomes, Eli Manning and Peyton Manning … and CEO Bob Iger. 

Some other tidbits related to ESPN that I picked up during the week …

ESPN still wants UFC rights, but not for the mixed martial arts league’s roughly $1 billion per year asking price. ESPN currently pays about $600 million for UFC, I’m told. That may lead to a situation where UFC splits its rights between multiple media partners.

It’s a similar story for F1, though the dollars are lower. Despite some speculation ESPN was no longer interested in F1, I’m told that’s not true. ESPN is specifically interested in the U.S. streaming rights for F1 given its younger audience and the lack of commercial breaks once a race begins. But I’m told the media company may only want a portion of a package – select races rather than the entire circuit. That could open the door for Amazon or even Netflix as a new partner. Netflix has a relationship with F1 through its documentary series “Drive to Survive,” now amazingly in its seventh season. Still, Netflix’s sports strategy remains “event” driven, and it’s doubtful that an F1 race can be turned into an event, given its limited audience. F1 has been asking for $150 million per year for its rights, sources said.

On the programming side, ESPN is thinking about adding two new dayside shows. One would replace “Around The Horn,” which concludes May 23. The other could sub in for the 2 p.m. SportsCenter. One idea being tossed around is a show that features newly-signed Peter Schrager, the NFL analyst who ESPN believes can be more of an all-sports figure, I was told by one plugged-in source. 

I’m told ESPN’s decision to cancel “Around The Horn” was largely cost driven. ESPN had dozens of journalists on its payroll given the revolving guest nature of the show, and it paid a licensing fee to Erik Rydholm, the show’s executive producer. While ESPN has no intention of canceling “Pardon The Interruption,” another Rydholm joint, it would prefer to create new programming in-house. 

*NBCUniversal: The biggest news from NBC Sports was the addition of Michael Jordan to the NBA on NBC broadcasts next season. NBC said Jordan would be a “special contributor” to the broadcast, and then did the public the great service of not explaining what that means.

There’s a reason for that – the role is still nebulous. But, fair reader, I’m here to serve. I’m told the initial plan is for Jordan to appear in taped segments during the season to provide analysis that will air during pregame shows or halftime shows. How that evolves over time is still TBD. The deal with Jordan was orchestrated by longtime NBC Sports executive Jon Miller, who has a decades-long relationship with MJ. 

*Fox: Fox’s biggest announcement was the launch of its streaming service, Fox One. Remember, the initial plan for Fox was to go into business with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery to create Venu Sports, a digital skinny bundle that would have given Fox a streaming outlet for its programming.

When the companies pulled the plug on Venu as it faced antitrust pushback, Fox pivoted to Plan B – launching its own streaming service consisting of live and on-demand programming from Fox broadcast, Fox News, Fox Business and Fox Sports, with the option to bundle with Fox Nation. The person in charge of the new streaming service? Pete Distad, who was going to be the CEO of Venu.

*Amazon: Amazon’s biggest sports stars are probably Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce, who come to Amazon via Wondery, which owns “New Heights,” the brothers’ popular podcast. Amazon has “Thursday Night Football” and will now add the NBA and WNBA on Thursdays and Fridays. 

But while Amazon threw a ton of star power at its Upfront (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael B. Jordan, John Cena, Jamie Lee Curtis, etc.), I thought it was notable that its NBA star power is noticeably light compared to Disney’s licensing of “Inside The NBA” (Shaq, Charles Barkley, etc.) and NBC’s Jordan announcement.

Amazon trotted out Blake Griffin, Udonis Haslem, Maria Taylor and Candace Parker to talk about its NBA and WNBA lineup. While Parker is an all-time great in the WNBA, that collective is not exactly The Avengers. And Parker isn’t even exclusively on Amazon – she showed up at the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront too because she’s also broadcasting “Unrivaled,” the women’s basketball three-on-three league that airs on Turner’s cable networks. 

As if to underscore the point, NFL analyst (and former quarterback) Ryan Fitzpatrick beat Griffin handily in an on-stage pop-a-shot contest, causing Jamie Lee Curtis to wonder out loud why the professional basketball player didn’t know how to shoot. 

I do think Amazon may have a bit of an NBA problem given its lack of on-air talent and weekday slate games. NBC made a huge deal of the return of the NBA during its Upfront, including flying in John Tesh to lead a large orchestra in “Roundball Rock.” Jimmy Fallon even joked that the NBC Upfronts seemed like the NBA Upfronts. Earlier this month, NBC Sports president Rick Cordella told me NBC plans to incorporate stadium introduction music into its broadcasts – a throwback to the 1990s Chicago Bulls days. The idea is to make “Sunday Night Basketball” feel like the game of the week, he told me.

I fear Amazon’s games may feel third-rate compared to ESPN and NBC. Amazon did pay less for its package of games than both companies, but ideally, Prime Video would find a way to make the games feel younger and fresher, given it’s the first time an exclusive streamer has ever had NBA rights. And, to be fair, “Thursday Night Football” has improved in quality every year. 

*Warner Bros. Discovery: When everyone else zigs, you zag. WBD lost its NBA rights for next season, so the company conspicuously downplayed sports relative to entertainment programming. While NBCU, Amazon and Disney all emphasized sports early in their presentations, it took WBD an hour before TNT Sports Chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser took the stage. 

This wasn’t an accident. WBD is changing the name of its streaming service from Max back to HBO Max. The point is to re-emphasize prestige programming and HBO rather than a B-minus sports lineup.  

*Netflix: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell donned a Santa Claus suit to announce the platform’s two new Christmas games — the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Washington Commanders and the Minnesota Vikings vs. the Detroit Lions. 

Then, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders performed a routine to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” to tout a new Netflix series featuring Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, “America’s Team: The Gambler and his Cowboys,” which hits the service this summer. 

Netflix is still new to sports, so the service leaned on the strength of “Squid Game 3,” “Stranger Things” season five, and “Nobody Wants This.” Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said Netflix’s event “is all about our shows and movies.” 

Netflix noted that eight of the top 20 Nielsen rated TV shows were on its platform. The company’s sports strategy is showcasing big live events. So while Netflix announced the Christmas games and promoted an Amanda Serrano–Katie Taylor women’s boxing rematch, it’s still figuring out how much of a player it wants to be as a media partner.

Still, there’s a reason the NFL commissioner showed up at this Upfront. Netflix has a market valuation of nearly $500 billion. To use a Christmas analogy, Goodell wants to make sure Netflix isn’t just the ghost of Christmas present, but also the ghost of Christmas future. 

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told me he frequently talks about adding more NFL games with Goodell, but the question always comes back to whether Netflix feels it can “eventize” the game beyond a random regular season occasion. 

Huawei has just unveiled the brand new Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro, the brand’s most advanced fitness smartwatch yet, and there’s a fantastic launch offer up for grabs.

For a limited time, you can get the “Fit4More Edition” directly from the Huawei Store, which includes a £30 discount and two bonus straps. This exclusive offer will run until June 29 and brings this excellent new watch down to just £219.99 (was £249).

Included with this deal is the standard strap, the Silver Nylon strap, and one customisable strap of your choice. The Silver Nylon strap, in particular, is marketed as a comfortable everyday strap, so this deal is good to pair up your watch with some versatile straps for both fitness and casual use.

You’ll be able to read more about this device in our freshly published Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro review, which is due to hit the site shortly.

As an overview, we think both this and the standard Fit 4 are superb options for the health-conscious and active wearers, with the Pro in particular being a great alternative to the likes of the Apple Watch Ultra. While undeniably similar in design, the 4 Pro is great value considering the high-end tracking features. Today’s deal makes it even better value, so don’t miss out if you’re interested.

Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro preorder deal

Huawei’s most advanced fitness wearable yet

The Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro is tailor-made for those who love a fitness-focused wearable with a surprisingly high-end design for the price. You get premium materials like sapphire glass and a titanium alloy bezel in a package that’s reminiscent of the much-coveted Apple Watch Ultra.

Despite looking like a high-end smartwatch, the Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro is a fitness tracker at its core, however. Via Huawei’s TruSense system, you get ECG, blood oxygen, and heart rate monitoring, as well as a full suite of sleep tracking options.

Sport-specific features include golf mode with access to over 15,000 global course maps, a diving mode that supports depths up to 40 meters, and advanced GPS tracking that includes offline maps.

For the price, it’s an exceptionally well-featured device that we rate highly. Note that the standard Huawei Watch Fit 4 is also a fantastic option, however, and one that is great if you’re on a budget.

VitalOS, powered by MicroEJ’s VEE Wear, enables an evolving app ecosystem, empowers brand differentiation, delivers premium experiences, and triples smartwatch battery life

BOSTON and CALGARY, Alberta, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vitalist Inc., the innovative company behind the successful Moto Watch collection and the engineering expertise that drove millions of connected devices worldwide (TSXV: VITA) (“Vitalist”), and MicroEJ Inc. (“MicroEJ”), a leader in software solutions for IoT and embedded devices, collectively the “Companies”, announce that Vitalist has selected MicroEJ’s VEE Wear solution to power VitalOS, its smartwatch operating system expected to be launched in the second half of 2025. This partnership enhances Vitalist’s smartwatch offerings by expanding features, extending battery life, fostering an app ecosystem, and enabling brands to create fashion-tech wearables with unique identities.

VitalOS: Leading Open App-Based Wearable Platform

VitalOS is Vitalist’s newest smartwatch operating system engineered to deliver unrivaled battery life with a user-centric design. The strategic vision is to establish it as the premier open platform for wearables by welcoming third-party development, enabling external brands and independent developers to create innovative applications. We expect this approach to foster a vibrant ecosystem that drives widespread adoption, positioning VitalOS as the future of connected living.

VEE Wear: Powering Smartwatch Innovation with Extended Battery Life

VEE Wear is a lightweight, ultra-efficient wearable framework that enables premium smartwatch features on cost-effective, ultra-low-power hardware. By building VitalOS on VEE Wear, Vitalist delivers longer battery life, customizable user experiences, and rapid product design capabilities to help brands craft distinctive smartwatch offerings. Through MicroEJ’s partnership with Facer, users will gain access to the world’s most extensive catalog of watch faces, featuring iconic brands and top independent designers.

“With VEE Wear, we set out to bring the Facer experience to every smartwatch user-offering unparalleled access to thousands of stunning watch faces from the most recognized brands and talented independent designers worldwide,” said Ariel Vardi, CEO of Facer. “VitalOS brings this vision to life, delivering a premium smartwatch OS that enhances personalization and allows users to express their unique style like never before.”

This partnership gives Vitalist and its users full control over smartwatch design, moving beyond fixed, commoditized ODM products. With VEE Wear’s containerized app architecture, Vitalist is building a creator-driven ecosystem, ensuring that VitalOS-powered devices continuously evolve with new apps, features, and third-party integrations.

“Our partnership with MicroEJ is a key step in delivering high-quality, accessible health and fitness devices,” said Kalvie Legat, CEO of Vitalist. “With VEE Wear powering VitalOS, we’re offering a superior user experience-expanding functionality, extending battery life to up to 10 days, and enabling ongoing feature enhancements. This supports our vision of making intelligent, feature-rich wearables accessible to all.”

A Strategic Milestone in Vitalist’s Transformation

This collaboration is a major milestone in Vitalist’s shift towards making more adaptive, intelligent wearable technologies. VitalOS paves the way for affordable smartwatches that rival premium models, continuously evolving through software updates, third-party apps, and cloud-driven services.

“Vitalist holds a unique position in the market as the company enabling consumer brands to create distinctive wearable products that elevate brand image and deliver an exceptional user experience,” said Dr. Fred Rivard, CEO of MicroEJ. “Consumers demand longer battery life, richer features, and the ability to personalize their devices. With VitalOS powered by VEE Wear, Vitalist meets these expectations-while also enabling a blazing-fast development process that empowers brands to rapidly create a range of health devices tailored to every user.”

Availability

VitalOS is set to launch in the second half of 2025. Sign up at www.vitalist.co for exclusive updates.

About MicroEJ

MicroEJ is a global leader in software solutions for intelligent devices, trusted by industry leaders in consumer electronics, energy, healthcare, and industrial automation. With over 300 million units of MICROEJ VEE sold worldwide, MicroEJ empowers manufacturers to turn standard products into smart, cloud-connected, AI-enabled devices, enabling rapid, complexity-free innovation. By bridging IT and embedded systems, MicroEJ drives scalable transformation that helps industries innovate faster, adapt to market needs, and build a software-driven future for IoT and connected devices.

▷ For more information: Press Kit – Press Room – www.microej.com – LinkedIn

About Vitalist

Vitalist is an innovative technology provider that helps brands build better products. Through VitalOS, brands create seamlessly connected devices and applications that adapt to each user. By uniting hardware and software with intelligent analytics, we’re building an ecosystem of personalized solutions that enhance human potential.

▷ For more information: www.vitalist.co – LinkedIn

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In general, forward-looking information refers to disclosure about future conditions, courses of action, and events. The use of any of the words “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “will”, “would”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. More particularly and without limitation, this press release includes forward-looking information with respect to the launch of the VitalistOS operating system and key features including battery life.

Although MicroEJ and Vitalist believe that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Companies cannot give any assurance that it will prove to be accurate. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this press release. A detailed description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially ‎from forward-looking information can be found in Vitalists’ most recent annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis on the SEDAR website at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Vitalist has attempted to identify in its public disclosure important factors that could cause actual results to ‎differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results ‎not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the risk factors in its public disclosure may not ‎be exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can ‎be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking ‎information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Vitalist as of the date of this press ‎release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, Vitalist expressly disclaims any intention ‎or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future ‎events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

Press contacts:

MicroEJ

Elsa Hervio, [email protected]

Vitalist

Kalvie Legat, [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a52370a6-ee03-4237-882a-538f2895e6d5

New AI-powered camera technology set to elevate broadcasts and transform creators’ EWC storytelling with unparalleled video quality and innovative features

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced OBSBOT, as an official camera and webcam partner for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this summer. The two-year partnership will integrate OBSBOT’s next-generation AI camera technologies into the EWC’s production capabilities, providing enhanced video quality and immersive experiences for millions of fans around the world. The partnership supports the EWC’s broader strategy to connect Chinese esports with its global ecosystem, strengthening ties with one of the world’s most dynamic gaming markets and bringing the best of China’s innovation to the global esports stage.

The 2025 Esports World Cup will spotlight every player’s journey, showcasing their skill, competitive excellence and relentless pursuit of victory. OBSBOT will support this vision by outfitting player areas, streaming stations, and venue activations with its latest devices, the Tail 2 smart-tracking camera and the Tiny 2 webcam, both designed with esports creators in mind.

“The Esports World Cup is built on innovation, and technology plays a crucial role in creating unforgettable moments for players, Clubs and fans,” said Mohammed Al Nimer, Senior Sales Director, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Our partnership with OBSBOT is at the heart of this vision. Its cutting-edge camera technology demonstrates the power of AI in esports today, capturing the intensity and emotion that defines competition at this level and bringing fans into the moment. We are thrilled to have OBSBOT as our Official Camera and Webcam Partner as we continue raising the bar for esports experiences worldwide.”

 

OBSBOT offers standout solutions like the Tail 2 and Tiny 2. Tail 2, a 4K PTZR live production camera powered by AI Tracking 2.0, delivers smooth, cinematic shots with minimal manual input and integrates seamlessly with professional broadcasting environments through NDI and other pro-grade outputs. The Tiny 2, the flagship webcam in OBSBOT’s lineup, provides exceptional image quality and unparalleled tracking performance in a compact desktop form. Whether on stage or at the desk, OBSBOT’s technology ensures streamers can stay focused on the game while the camera keeps up.

“We believe that everyone’s story deserves to be seen and shared, and the Esports World Cup provides the perfect platform for us to showcase our vision,” said Liu Bo, CEO & Founder of OBSBOT. “Through our partnership with the Esports World Cup, we are bringing our cutting-edge AI-powered camera technology to millions of gamers and content creators, celebrating the excitement, drama, and triumphs of elite competition on the world’s biggest stage. This collaboration is about more than just capturing moments; it’s about empowering a new generation of storytellers to create, share, and inspire with professional-grade tools that are as dynamic as the esports community itself.”

Story Continues

By: Bryan Tropeano

In 2025, assistive technology is moving beyond basic accessibility tools and evolving into powerful, integrated systems that enhance independence, productivity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. From AI-driven software to advanced hardware innovations, the landscape is shifting rapidly, reshaping how individuals engage with the world around them.

AI Takes the Lead in Personalized Accessibility

One of the biggest shifts in assistive technology this year is the growing use of artificial intelligence. AI is now powering smart features that adapt in real-time to user needs. Screen readers and speech recognition tools have become significantly more accurate, learning user preferences and improving over time without constant manual configuration.

Machine learning is also improving predictive text, captioning, and real-time translation for people with hearing or cognitive impairments. These tools aren’t just reactive anymore—they’re proactive, anticipating needs and customizing support accordingly.

Wearable Tech Expands Functionality

Wearable devices are no longer limited to smartwatches or fitness trackers. In 2025, we’re seeing a new generation of assistive wearables designed to help users navigate the physical world more independently. From smart glasses that provide visual cues for navigation to haptic feedback devices for people who are blind or low vision, the goal is to bridge the gap between physical limitations and digital empowerment.

Many of these devices now work seamlessly with smartphones and smart home ecosystems, allowing users to control lights, doors, appliances, and more through intuitive gestures or simple voice commands.

Accessible Gaming and Entertainment See Major Growth

Inclusive design has become a bigger priority in the gaming and entertainment industries. Game consoles and platforms are increasingly offering customizable controllers, improved closed captioning, and visual accessibility settings that make gameplay more inclusive.

Streaming services have also improved their accessibility offerings, with more audio-described content and user interfaces that are optimized for screen reader navigation.

Smart Home Integration Brings New Levels of Independence

Smart home devices continue to be a game changer, especially for individuals with mobility challenges. In 2025, the latest updates have made these systems even more accessible. Voice assistants now support more nuanced commands and offer better support for users with speech impairments, while mobile apps allow full control of home environments with just a few taps.

Automation features are also smarter. For instance, doors can unlock automatically when a user approaches, or lights can adjust based on ambient noise and movement—giving people greater autonomy over their daily routines.

Education and Employment Tools Evolve

In classrooms and workplaces, assistive tech is playing a vital role in leveling the playing field. Virtual learning platforms now come equipped with embedded accessibility features like live transcription, dyslexia-friendly fonts, and cognitive load management tools.

In work settings, digital collaboration tools offer built-in accommodations that promote inclusion without drawing attention to differences. Employers are also more aware of digital accessibility compliance, leading to better adoption of assistive tech tools across industries.

Looking Ahead

As technology continues to evolve, so too does the promise of a more inclusive world. The assistive tech landscape in 2025 is proof that innovation doesn’t just benefit the majority—it opens doors for everyone. The future of accessibility is intelligent, personalized, and deeply integrated into the digital lives we lead.

About the Author: Bryan is a senior producer and a regular reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Washington D.C. and loves all things Tech.