UEFA 2024: BBC Sports and ROE Visual Upgrade Broadcast

This state-of-the-art studio, equipped with ROE Visual LED panels and advanced virtual production technologies, promises a new level of broadcast quality.

Leveraging Extended Reality Features

The BBC Sport design team, led by Design Director John Murphy, has extensive experience with extended reality (XR) features, including chroma key technology, from their Salford studio. Inspired by ROE Visual’s presentation at IBC 2023, Executive Producer Phil Bigwood and Lead Director Colm Harty saw an opportunity to elevate their UEFA 2024 coverage. Teaming up with Chris Izatt, Director of VP and Innovation at AE Live, they began working on this innovative concept in Berlin.

Testing and Refining the Setup

To ensure the production’s success, the BBC Sport team, along with Faber and ROE Visual, conducted a series of tests starting in November. These tests, held in the Netherlands and later at ROE Visual’s office near Leeds, provided valuable insights and helped refine the production plans. The final full-scale studio test included an OB truck, cameras, lights, and tracking systems to evaluate the performance of the LED panels in daylight conditions.

Key Technical Evaluations

The tests focused on performance comparisons of different LED flooring products under various lighting conditions and pixel pitch comparisons for indoor video walls. Camera tracking systems were also tested to ensure flawless execution during the live broadcasts. The team compared Black Marble 4 Matte and Black Marble 4 Glass panels outdoors and evaluated Ruby 1.9 BV2 and Ruby 2.3 walls for pixel pitch and on-camera performance.

Architectural and Technical Collaboration

German architect Jens Weber, known for his work on international studio projects for BBC Sport, played a crucial role in integrating the virtual and physical studio elements. His input ensured a cohesive design that reflects the Brandenburg Gate’s style and the history of Euro tournaments.

Dual Studio Setup

The Berlin setup includes an outdoor terrace studio and an indoor studio, both integrated with XR technology. The outdoor studio’s LED floor, designed for weather resistance and vibrant performance in various lighting conditions, presented unique challenges. The indoor studio offers an alternative for inclement weather and supports a wider range of AR graphics for in-depth game profiles.

Technical Innovations and Collaboration

ROE Visual’s Ruby RB1.9 broadcast premium LED panel is ideal for XR camera work in confined studio spaces. The collaboration with rental partner Faber led to the development of an innovative sliding mechanism for the indoor LED walls, ensuring both creativity and safety in the production.

Ready for the UEFA 2024 Competition

The studio will serve as BBC’s broadcasting location for the UEFA 2024 competition, starting on 14 June and running for four weeks. The project showcases the successful collaboration between BBC Sport, ROE Visual, Faber, and other teams, ready to deliver an immersive viewing experience for fans.