Augmented Reality Tech Deployed For PSA Finals Coverage

Broadcast graphics company MOOV has utilised virtual placement and graphics technology to deliver the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Dubai World Series Finals 2016 to audiences. Covering the tournament, MOOV provided outside broadcast production services.

The event was staged in a purpose-built indoor venue at Burj Park, Downtown Dubai, with Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, in the background. While MOOV has previously produced Virtual and Augmented graphics for worldwide sports broadcasts at Olympic Games, The Grand National and other high profile football and rugby events, the company had not attempted anything like this project before. It undertook the project with longtime partner ChyronHego.

"Downtown Dubai is one of the world's most exciting city centre locations and is the perfect setting to stage the pinnacle of the international squash calendar," said Alastair Ruxton, Chief Operating Officer, Falcon and Associates, a strategic advisory company working on behalf of the Dubai leadership. "As a place where innovation thrives, we had a vision for this tournament that the hundreds within the venue and the millions watching at home around the world could get a real sense of the city and its energy. Using modern technology to do this was the challenge set to the PSA's production partner, and the results have been fantastic."

"This was a world's first for squash," added Nev Appleton, Director, MOOV. "We had about 1 metre of space above the court so when the robotic camera looked up we replaced the roof structure with a live shot of Burj Khalifa, accompanied with player images, logos and a 5 metre wide #squashindubai image from outside. So many people at the venue were puzzled, looking around to see where it was coming from when they saw it on screen – you know you've got the illusion right when they do that."

"We worked closely with MOOV to work out not only the technical requirements and also the design brief. We are excited to see this, our first Virtual Placement project, on air with MOOV," commented Mark Bowden, Head of Technical Integration at ChyronHego.

www.moov.tv

www.worldseriesfinals.com

(JP)