Canal+ enhances live broadcast coverage of Rallye de France-Alsace With Trimaran GeoRacing System
Trimaran has announced that Canal+, a premium French cable television channel owned by the Canal+ Group, has selected Trimaran’s GeoRacing Virtual Timing System to enhance live television coverage of the 2014 Rallye de France-Alsace, which takes place October 2-5 in Strasbourg.
Leveraging GPS data, Trimaran’s GeoRacing solution will enable Canal+ to follow the motorsport race in real-time and visualise its progression through the use of Virtual Timing and Ghost Visualization technologies, providing a view of all competitors as if they had started simultaneously. Recently honoured with the IABM 2014 Design & Innovation Award in the Acquisition and Production category at IBC2014, Trimaran’s GeoRacing system will be on display at the SPORTELMonaco convention, October 7-10, at booth J25 in Monaco.
“Recently, we were looking to improve our coverage of live sports events with geopositioning graphics linked up to the chronometric times,” said François-Charles Bideaux, head of sports programmes at Canal+ Group. “Trimaran developed an advanced Virtual Timing feature for its GeoRacing system that enables our viewers to better visualize the differences in time and space during our special programmes. Utilising GeoRacing, we’re able to paint a full picture of the Rallye de France-Alsace race, increasing viewer satisfaction.”
The Rallye de France-Alsace is part of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Widely regarded as one of the most challenging motorsport competitions, WRC races pit drivers against one another amongst some of the world’s toughest environmental conditions. Trimaran’s GeoRacing system allows Canal+ to provide comprehensive coverage of the race. At any given moment, the broadcaster can present viewers with a detailed graphic that visualises the virtual differences between the cars as well as a 3D representation of the different positions.
The multiscreen solution includes a 2D offering, available on the GeoRacing portal and on new apps for tablets and smartphones, and a 3D solution that is capable of producing a video stream produced from Trimaran’s control room located in Paris, or on the spot for an event with live broadcasting video facilities.
“This marks the second year in a row that Canal+ is using our GeoRacing system for Rallye de France-Alsace coverage,” said Olivier Emery, Trimaran CEO. “The WRC and producers at Canal+ have commended the GeoRacing system as a major step forward in live television reporting of outdoor races. GeoRacing can be used to enhance broadcast coverage any type of sport, whether at sea, on land, or in the air, making it a truly versatile and innovation solution.”