Reality Check Systems tees off with Golf Channel and CBS Sports
Golf Channel and CBS Sports began the 2014 PGA season in style with customised graphics solutions and designs created by Reality Check Systems (RCS). Led by producer Glenn White, RCS built an extensive broadcast infrastructure to boost fan engagement for Golf Chanel’s ‘Spotlight’ and Accenture Matchplay Championship coverage, in addition to producing a custom wind tracker application and graphics rebrand package for CBS Sports’ golf broadcasts.
As the 2014 PGA season approached, Golf Channel enlisted RCS to execute a digital makeover for its ongoing ‘Spotlight’ coverage during tournaments. To engage the network’s fan-base, RCS built a solution using custom scripts, which interface with player data culled from multiple sources, to display real-time stats during broadcasts. The solution comprised a reverse-L on-screen graphic featuring player stats and updates, including Trackman technology that gauges players’ driving stats and Pro-Tracer, which keys in on the ball’s flight on-screen. Designed to run on RCS’ Bullet mobile graphics system, the application gives viewers an in-depth look at each player’s stats as well as an overview of course challenges, and will be leveraged for future Golf Channel broadcasts.
For the 2014 Accenture Matchplay Championship broadcast, Golf Channel again turned to RCS to create a fly-through bracket application to display realtime score graphics. Culling data gathered from Information and Data Systems, RCS’ solution facilitated the on-air delivery of head-to-head scoreboards, tickers, on-demand bracket zooms, mini brackets and more for 67 matches over the course of the five-day competition. When CBS Sports took over weekend coverage of the event, RCS’ team re-skinned the app with CBS sports branding.
Bringing a new level of detail to CBS Sports’ golf broadcasts, RCS also implemented a customised wind tracker solution to accurately visualise the speed and direction of wind in real-time. Running on proprietary software developed by RCS, the application collects data from Maretron outdoor weather stations placed throughout each course and when prompted, automatically populates graphics on screen to illustrate the wind’s strength and impact on player shots. Having originally debuted at the 2014 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM broadcast, the technology will be leveraged by CBS Sports for the remainder of the season.
RCS also collaborated with longtime partners Cake Studios and Hammerhead Graphics to design, build and animate more than 200 graphical elements for the first complete rebrand of CBS Sports’ Golf graphics package since 2006. Unveiled at the 2014 Farmers Insurance Open, the graphics will air across 22 different broadcasts this season.