Rio Summer 2016 is set to be the most immersive Games to date, with augmented reality putting viewers firmly in the middle of the action — wherever they are in the world. Augmented reality isn’t new in the world of sports broadcasting. For some time now, advanced design and production tools have existed that enable broadcasters to easily create 3D virtual objects that appear as if they’re actually in the studio or even outdoors.
While the tools and workflows have remained the same, the way augmented reality is deployed in production has improved dramatically. Today’s broadcasters are more experienced with augmented reality and are better able to figure out what can and can’t work. There’s a fine line between doing something that’s cool and something that’s tacky. But now that broadcasters have had a few years to experiment with the technology, from a content perspective, they have a much better idea of where augmented reality makes sense, how to use it and what kind of AR elements make sense. And with greater computing power, we’re now seeing more realistic graphics.
A number of broadcasters demonstrated these advances with some stunning augmented reality moments at the recent Euro 2016 soccer championship. National French TV channel M6, for example, made headlines when presenter Nathalie Renoux in M6’s Paris studio appeared to walk inside a TV to speak to fellow presenter Carine Galli on the sidelines in Nice. M6 also used a hologram effect to “zap” interviewees from a studio in the stadium to the M6 studio in Paris.
See how @M6 creates amazing audience engagement using #Avid Studio Suite: https://t.co/p6wOJ65IGA #Sports #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/9Jnc2bUsZ0
— Avid (@Avid) June 22, 2016
Meanwhile, in China, the national broadcaster’s sports channel, CCTV5, made a highly detailed model of the Arc de Triomphe appear in the studio for the opening game, enabling viewers to “walk through” the Paris landmark. CCTV5 also used Digital Sand Table — a professional football application developed by Avid partner EarthMountain — for pre-match predictions and analysis before each daily live broadcast. With all 32 participating teams and their players built into the application in advance, CCTV5’s presenters were able to discuss the game to be played that day, using different colors and effects on a touchscreen embedded on their desk. When presenters dragged the players’ names across the screen, viewers saw 3D models of the players running across the screen.
As sports broadcasters continue to develop how they use augmented reality technology to help boost fan engagement and ratings, I can’t wait to see the immersive experiences they have in store for us in Rio de Janeiro.
Visit the Avid website to find out about Avid’s augmented reality solution RealSet.
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