Development of a Streaming Solution for Martial Arts Tournaments
Highlights
- Direct streaming to YouTube
- QR code + token-based stream setup
- Live tournament overlays rendered from browser content
- Phased delivery – iOS, overlay enhancement, library updates, Android adaptation
Client
The client had a platform for martial arts competitions that organizers used to prepare brackets, tatamis, participants, teams, winners, and statistics before the event started. The operational load was high as a single tournament could involve up to 1,500 participants, and all matches had to run through in one or two days. The platform solved the tournament management side, but live streaming remained a weak point. Operators still depended on several separate tools to start and manage broadcasts during live events.
Challenge
The client needed a single mobile solution that would simplify streaming and keep it within the broader tournament platform, rather than as a separate workflow built around several disconnected tools. Operators needed a way to connect to the correct tatami stream, send video to the required channel, and show live tournament data during the broadcast. This requirement became even more challenging because the live overlay had no standard implementation path on mobile. SoftTeco joined the project through a referral. The request for mobile app development was practical from day one: limited budget, fast delivery, and a focused scope.
Solution
The application lets operators start a live stream for a specific tatami, send the video feed to YouTube, and display live tournament data on screen during the broadcast. The app integrates with the client’s tournament platform and supports the full streaming workflow on the operator’s side. An operator can scan a QR code to connect to the correct stream session, retrieve stream settings, and start broadcasting without manual setup. The application handles video and audio capture, allows the operator to control the stream during the event, and shows an overlay with match-related information such as scores, fighter details, and other tournament data.
Together, these features made the app a practical tool for live event streaming. Instead of relying on several disconnected tools, tournament staff can use a single mobile application to connect to the correct tatami, launch the broadcast, and keep the stream aligned with the event data prepared on the platform.
How it works
SoftTeco built the mobile streaming layer on top of the client’s existing platform logic. We implemented native video capture, audio setup, and RTMP streaming, so the operator could use the phone as a dedicated broadcasting tool instead of switching between several apps. We also introduced a QR code + token flow. The operator scans a QR code in the app, receives a token, and uses it to fetch the correct stream configuration from the platform. This removed the need for manual stream setup and helped connect each broadcast to the correct tatami and destination channel.
The most difficult part was the overlay. The client already had a browser-based page with scores, fighter information, and match data, but there was no standard mobile way to merge WebView output into a live outgoing video stream. SoftTeco solved this by loading the overlay page within the app, taking repeated screenshots, and placing them atop the video feed. The overlay supported transparent background and fixed formats such as 16:9 and 4:3, with the data positioned in the lower part of the frame.
This was the key engineering challenge in the project. The app could not capture WebView screenshots at the full video frame rate, so in practice, it captured about 20 screenshots per second. That was enough for tournament overlays and helped keep device load under control. We also configured the baseline bitrate, audio settings, and adaptive quality behavior through a third-party streaming library, so the stream would remain more stable as network conditions changed.
Another important part was server-side control. If a tatami stream was turned off on the platform, the app had to stop streaming as well. We implemented the connection between the mobile layer and the back-office logic, which made the workflow safer during live events. Later, we also extended the product and adapted it for Android, updated libraries, and improved stability over time. The broader platform also supported separate data environments for different clubs and organizations, so the streaming workflow had to fit into a product used by multiple subscribers.
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Results
SoftTeco delivered a dedicated mobile streaming workflow inside the client’s tournament platform. Operators can now start tatami-specific broadcasts from one app, stream directly to YouTube, and include live match data in the same feed. The team first built the iOS version, then adapted the solution for Android and continued improving stability through updates and library upgrades. The project also solved the key technical challenge: combining live mobile video with dynamic web-based tournament overlays without overloading the device or affecting stream quality.
