BERGEN, Norway—Vizrt has announced that ITV Sport is using the Vizrt XR (Extended Reality) Set solution for augmented reality graphics in collaboration with AE Live (AE) for the UEFA 2020 European Championship.
AE worked together with ITV to create a unique set of basic and augmented reality (AR) graphics that combine with their physical and virtual studio and improve coverage of the 2020 euros, the companies reported.
AR graphics that are rendered using Vizrt’s Viz Engine and controlled using the Vizrt XR Set solution, include player profiles, group table, country banners, with hero banners and floor maps. The workflow is designed to provide producers with a set of easy tools to customize the graphics in each game, as well as view the latest statistics and data.
Paul McNamara, senior director and executive producer at ITV, explained that “AR graphics greatly enhanced the studio, providing us with complete editorial flexibility at all times.”
AE project director Mark Crawley added that “for the highly anticipated Euros 2020, the production and graphics needed to interact with our audience across the country. In addition to the basic presentation and outstanding graphics , augmented reality content such as banners, player profiles, tables, lineups, etc. had to be produced. With Vizrt technology, ITV Sport has the flexibility to use these graphics in any environment, providing exclusive visual storytelling features for championships. “
Euro 2020 was postponed last year due to COVID-19 and with fans eagerly awaiting the start of the championship, it was important that the images were impressive from the start, the companies said.
In a recent broadcast between Scotland and England, ITV saw more than 20 million viewers tune in.
“Sports championships returning to the global stage are the kind of‘ big time ’of creative challenge we’ve always been looking for,” said Jonathan Roberts, senior vice president of global sports and virtual advertising at Vizrt. “Through our solution, ITV Sport’s production team is able to display unique graphics from hero and country banners to floor maps with unmatched ease of use, allowing ITV Sport to produce stories captivating for all spectators “.
For a variety of indoor and outdoor productions, Vizrt XR Set’s augmented reality, virtual set, and video wall tools enhance the viewer experience working in a single workflow. This is one of five Vizrt solution software available exclusively through flexible access, allowing customers to adapt and scale their production software up and down to meet rapidly changing production needs.
For more information on flexible access plans, including the Vizrt XR suite, visit www.vizrt.com.