Pixotope powers immersive storytelling for Paris Olympics
Pixotope technology played a pivotal role in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
For the first time, Pixotope’s virtual production software was used to enhance the broadcast experience, offering viewers a more immersive and engaging viewing experience. Products including Pixotope VS/AR Edition, Pixotope Living Photo, and Pixotope Vision were instrumental in creating innovative and visually stunning content.
Pixotope Living Photo enhanced the BBC Sport virtual studio by introducing interactive, real-time avatars of Great Britain’s Olympic athletes. In partnership with Moov, a mobile studio was set up at the Team GB kitting out event in Birmingham NEC, where the avatars of athletes were captured through a green screen filming process. These avatars and their celebratory or signature actions were then transformed into dynamic, trackable augmented reality video assets using Pixotope’s technology.
Integrated with Vizrt’s virtual studio, these avatars offered an unprecedented sense of realism, creating the illusion that athletes were physically present, adding a new layer of immersion and vibrancy to the BBC’s Olympic coverage.
“The introduction of Pixotope Living Photo significantly enriched the BBC Sport Olympic virtual studio content production, said Nev Appleton, co-founder & director, MOOV TV. “The ability to introduce player avatars that tracked the camera, making athletes appear as though they were physically in the studio truly added an extra dimension. The capture and processing of each avatar is remarkably efficient, requiring approximately 2-5 minutes and 10 minutes, respectively. This streamlined workflow allowed for on-site avatar creation, which was then applied easily into the Viz scene as an AR layer. The production teams were pleased with the results, and we are excited to see how this product evolves in live sports broadcasts that want to add that extra personality to their player profile imagery. “
Pixotope’s technology also extended beyond the studio setting. Pixotope Vision, a hybrid camera tracking tool, was utilised to capture stunning footage of various Olympic events. In partnership with Rocket Surgery, Pixotope provided tracking solutions for the pool at the Paris La Défense Arena and the track events in the Stade de France for a major sports broadcaster in the USA.
“Using Pixotope Vision during the Olympic Games in Paris was a game-changer for us,” said Terry Daily, manager of virtual creative services, Rocket Surgery, Creative Services group at Ross Video. “The challenging conditions at the Paris La Défense Arena and the Stade de France meant traditional tracking methods were off the table. Vision’s ability to generate a sensor-based point cloud without the need for physical markers was crucial. The ease of setup, exceptional support from Pixotope, and rock-solid stability made it an indispensable tool for our team at Rocket Surgery. It allowed us to deliver precise, high-quality results, even in the most demanding environments.”
Viacom18 successfully delivered the most immersive Olympic experience ever seen by an Indian audience during Paris 2024, with every innovation designed to keep viewers at the centre of the action. The creative work, managed by Viacom18s in-house team along with wTvision brought the games to life with unparalleled precision. Their Mumbai studios featured a cutting-edge mix of physical and green-screen setups, enhanced virtual sets and AR powered by Pixotope. The virtual studio themed around a Paris 2024 photo realistic environment and graphics package was crafted by wTvision India, delivering a truly memorable viewing experience.