Canal+ Utilises Trimaran GeoRacing System

Canal+ has selected Trimaran's GeoRacing GPS tracking and visualisation system to help improve its live television coverage of the Tour de Corse 2015 – the FIA World Rally Championship held on the island of Corsica.

Through a combination of GPS data and advanced technologies like virtual timing and ghost visualisation, Trimaran's solution allowed the French cable television channel to track the motorsport race in real time and better visualise its progression, to enhance the viewer's experience. Triman provides CGI, 3D animation and visual effects solutions for broadcast, cinema, and enterprise solutions.

"When it comes to live sports coverage, providing our viewers with the most up-to-date information, in real time, is critical," explained François-Charles Bideaux, head of sports programmes at Canal+ Group. "Trimaran's GeoRacing system dramatically improves our ability to deliver live audio commentary about the race, giving viewers a live comparison of the pilots in addition to a variety of other important stats. By allowing us to deliver in-depth sports information and statistics, above and beyond what is traditionally offered by broadcasters, GeoRacing boosts our viewer satisfaction."

During the Tour de Corse, Canal+ used multiple cameras with GPS trackers in cars and helicopters, in addition to the starting, mid-point, and arriving lines. The GPS tracking system situated on the cameras was provided by AMPVisual TV, a technology partner of Canal+ and Trimaran.

Throughout the race, GPS positioning from each of the cars was emitted to the GeoRacing system. Deploying Trimaran's solution, Canal+ instantly delivered detailed sports information and statistics, such as speed, timing (retiming for starts staggered), and ranking.

Featuring virtual timing and ghost visualisation technologies, the GeoRacing system is designed to provide television viewers with evaluations of the race. Leveraging the virtual timing capability, Canal+ was able to demonstrate the virtual differences between cars at 1/10th of a second. The ghost visualisation feature meanwhile, provides a 3D representation of the rival positions in real time.

GeoRacing simplifies broadcast media coverage of sports events, and no dedicated software or plug-ins are needed; all that's required is an internet connection. The solution is available as a 2D offering accessible on the GeoRacing portal and apps for tablets and smartphones, or as a 3D solution that is produced from Trimaran's control room located in Paris, or on the spot for an event with live broadcasting video facilities.

"Canal+ has been a loyal Trimaran customer for years, having used the GeoRacing solution to broadcast a variety of prominent WRC rally races," said Olivier Emery, Trimaran CEO. "The GeoRacing system is unlike any other sports technology on the market, enabling broadcasters like Canal+ to transform live television reporting of outdoor races, whether at sea, on land, or in the air, utilizing GPS data and sophisticated visualization technologies."

Image: Photo Caption: Tour de Corse 2015 Ghost Visualization

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www.trimaran.com

(JP)