TGM lands prestigious Saudi Television live sports contract
TRANSGULF MEDIA (TGM) was recently commissioned by Saudi Television to produce 16 live sports analysis programmes featuring the King Cup tournament. In addition, Saudi TV requested TGM to despite and operate an innovative new sports analysis studio.
The programmes produced by TGM deployed VR and AR technology for the first time in the Middle East. The programmes were broadcast from the new studio.
The project saw TGM work alongside RT Software, who supplied two graphics systems for the studio analysis. This included a tOG-Sports Pro system to prepare telestrated analysis clips and also a broadcast quality custom touchscreen application. The clips were prepared in advance of the pre-game shows and during the live games for use at half-time and full-time. During the live shows this system was used in conjunction with a 46” touchscreen for the presenter to play out the clips and to add further analysis, such as lines and arrows. This was seamlessly integrated by a custom touchscreen application that displayed the Road to the Final graphics as well as team comparisons.
The second system provided touch table capability with augmented reality 3D players running across the table under the control of the presenter. The system also took advantage of several different pre-sets that displayed the likely team formations. The presenter was then able to explain tactics and options to the audience. This system also integrated virtual logos of the teams and sponsors on the studio floor and anchor desk, which provided TGM with the perfect opportunity to provide virtual advertising options for the client.
The local TGM production team and RT Software’s experts produced all 16 Shows during the one-month tournament. The programmes were further enhanced by superimposing 3D models of the King Cup onto the touch table. In addition, the presenter was also able to teleport virtual players into the studio by flicking a player icon off the table (a technique known as ‘player flick’) so that individual players could magically re-appear as live action VT sequences in the Studio foreground (as per the example shown below left).
The channel is reported to have been very pleased with the results, as a result of which TGM has been asked by the Channel to produce a new weekly analysis programme to supplement its existing live match coverage of the SPL from January 2014.