Vizrt tech coupled with Unreal Engine 4 created the set
BBC Sport has unveiled a new virtual studio set up for the Beijing Olympics.
Vizrt’s Viz Engine 4 is coupled with Unreal Engine 4 render pipeline and Vizrt’s Fusion Keyer, all driven by Vizrt’s virtual set controller, to create the studio environment. It aims to have a simple operator control, so the producer can focus on the story being told rather than the specifics of how the graphics are rendered.
The BBC has been using this technology for several major events, including Match of The Day, Euros 2020, and the 2021 Summer Games since first putting it together in April 2021. The Winter Olympics version can be seen in the gallery of images above.
John Murphy, creative director and head of graphics for sport at the BBC, said: “Prior to the summer, we converted a small studio space at Media City into a green screen area with a virtual design (by Jim Mann and Toby Kalitowski) and enhanced rendering technology to deliver an immersive, enhanced experience for audiences. The studio, with five different presenting positions that can house a variety of sports output, will be a key presentation location for BBC Sport this year, including the Winter Games for which we have added more design and development.
“It is a busy year for sport, and with many audiences tuning in from home, it’s essential to the success of the broadcast to provide viewers with dynamic graphics alongside an innovative visual experience which means they are absorbed into the story, despite the distance. Hopefully we can deliver this visual story-telling for sports fans with the additions to our studios and broadcasts utilizing innovative technology.”
Vizrt CTO Gerhard Lang added: “2022 is not just the year of sport for the industry, but it’s the year of sport for Vizrt. We’re ramping up our offering across sports to support our customers in achieving their production needs; BBC Sport is a great example of that. We were honored to participate in last year’s celebration of the UEFA Euro 2020 championships and the long-awaited Summer Games, and for us, the BBC sets the standards in sports both in looks and functionality across the market.”
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