BBC Sport builds virtual studio for Beijing 2022 with Vizrt technology

Virtual and extended reality technology from Vizrt is at the heart of the new virtual studio from which BBC Sport will broadcast the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

The virtual set, built at the BBC Sport Salford headquarters, had to meet a key requirement: to enable an operator-friendly workflow in which content changes were agile to provide up-to-date information throughout each broadcast. The Viz Arc control application meets this need by allowing real-time management of the rendering solutions: Viz Engine 4 (which integrates the renowned Unreal Engine 4) and Fusion Keyer aus Vizrt.

John Murphy, creative director and head of sports graphics at the BBC, reports on the UK broadcaster’s steps with the Vizrt solution: “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,” concludes Murphy.

Andererseits, Gerhard Lang, CTO of Vizrt, welcomes the BBC Sport’confidence in the Nordic company’s solution: “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.”