As soccer fans around the world tune in to Euro 2024, they’re being treated to a visual spectacle that goes far beyond the action on the pitch. Broadcasters like Fox Sports and BBC Sport have embraced virtual production to create immersive studio environments that push sports coverage’s boundaries.
Fox Sports is broadcasting from what it calls the “Basilica of Soccer” – a sprawling 360-degree virtual set powered by extended reality technology. The two-story virtual set, based at Fox’s Studio A in Los Angeles, uses over 5,000 square feet of ROE Visual LED panels combined with augmented reality elements to create a fully immersive environment.
“This project – more than any other that we’ve done so far with AR, VR, and XR – tightly integrates our animation and our set,” noted Michael Dolan, SVP of Design at Fox Sports, in an SVG article. “We’re literally painting the set with country colors and matchups and player graphics.”
The virtual set allows Fox to seamlessly transition between different themed areas for various segments, from tactical analysis to interviews. Virtual cameras using GhostFrame technology enable sweeping movements through the expansive digital space, which spans 56,840 square feet in the virtual world.
“This project – more than any other that we’ve done so far with AR, VR, and XR – tightly integrates our animation and our set,” noted Michael Dolan, SVP of Design at Fox Sports, in an SVG article. “We’re literally painting the set with country colors and matchups and player graphics.”
The virtual set allows Fox to seamlessly transition between different themed areas for various segments, from tactical analysis to interviews. Virtual cameras using GhostFrame technology enable sweeping movements through the expansive digital space, which spans 56,840 square feet in the virtual world.
Meanwhile, BBC Sport is broadcasting from a purpose-built studio complex overlooking the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin.
Their studio combines physical sets with virtual extensions and augmented reality graphics, offering viewers a unique perspective on the tournament.
For BBC Sport, German architect Jens Weber worked on the rooftop space while Paul Kavanagh Studio handled the virtual set design and set extensions. AE Live then took those designs and integrated them with Unreal Engine and added the various real-time layers for sports coverage.
BBC’s production was also supported by Stype, Vizrt and Timeline Television.
While virtual production adds complexity behind the scenes, for viewers at home, the result is a more engaging and flexible presentation. As virtual production technology continues to evolve, it’s clear that virtual and augmented reality will continue to play an increasingly central role in sports broadcasting, including the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Source: https://www.newscaststudio.com/2024/07/05/virtual-production-augmented-reality-euro-2024/