Revolutionizing Viewing: The Paris Olympics Ushers in a New Era for Sports Broadcasting

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The 2024 Paris Olympics Preview a New Era for Sports Broadcasting

Starting on July 26 and running through August 11, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will feature a packed schedule with numerous events happening at the same time over several weeks. It presents a challenge for even the most dedicated sports enthusiasts to follow. Meanwhile, this year introduces an unprecedented number of options for viewing.

Historically, coverage of the Olympics has often struggled to meet viewer expectations. NBC, which has been the primary network for the Olympics in the United States, has been criticized for its approach to airing the Games. In previous years, it has been accused of scattering the events across too many channels and postponing certain broadcasts until the evening, rather than airing the events live as most sports fans would prefer. However, this time around, NBC and other networks appear to be more committed to improving accessibility, ensuring fans can watch their desired events at their convenience.

Digital platforms are not holding back in their Olympic coverage this year either. TikTok introduces an Olympics-centered section. Leading up to the competition, the Instagram profile @olympics has been sharing footage of athletes' preparations and snapshots from the action with its 8.2 million followers. NBC is collaborating with influencers on various social networks to report on the events and create content focused on Paris. Google plans to display real-time scores, award ceremonies, and key moments directly in its search outcomes and through responses provided by its Assistant. The offerings are extensive.

"Currently, we're experiencing a time characterized by both fascination and challenges due to the highly fragmented nature of viewership," remarks Yiannis Exarchos, the Chief Executive Officer of the Olympic Broadcasting Service, the entity responsible for overseeing and generating media content for the Olympics. "Viewers are scattered, engaging with content through diverse means, which significantly reduces the chances to unite a vast audience," he adds.

He mentions that the Olympics present a prime opportunity. The most significant shift in covering the Olympics is the sheer volume of coverage set to increase substantially. The cumulative duration of all the competitions at the Olympic Games is expected to reach about 3,800 hours. The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) intends to transform this into upwards of 11,000 hours of content, which will include live broadcasts, insider looks, expert commentary, and event summaries.

Viewers seeking to navigate the vast array of content will find assistance in doing so. NBC aims to simplify the process on its Peacock streaming service by introducing a variety of new features that enable viewers to personalize their Olympics viewing experience. This is in addition to offering live streams of almost every event from both the Olympics and the Paralympics. (The Paralympics, which will also be held in Paris, begin on August 28.)

Within the Peacock Olympics platform, audiences have the ability to organize event listings based on sport, competitor, or nation to locate their preferred events and subsequently include them on a personal viewing list. This feature enables users to tailor their viewing itinerary for live events and provides a convenient space for revisiting selected events at a later time. Additionally, viewers have the option to simultaneously watch up to four live events on a single screen through an innovative Multiview feature, simplifying the process of switching among ongoing events.

The OBS is elevating its video production to feature ultrahigh definition and high dynamic range, enhancing the clarity and vibrancy of each frame. Additionally, it's embracing a variety of formats, including vertical video tailored for smartphone viewing, 8K video for the ultimate high-definition experience, and 360-degree footage for a fully immersive viewing experience.

The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) has significantly increased its use of multi-camera setups, allowing it to record the action from numerous perspectives for enhanced super-slow-motion replays. Additionally, it plans to incorporate cinematic camera lenses known for producing more visually artistic shots, such as those with dramatic changes in depth of field similar to what audiences see in films. The challenge with utilizing these advanced filming techniques in live sports broadcasting has traditionally been the extensive processing time required, which made their use impractical for live events. However, OBS is leveraging artificial intelligence and cloud computing to significantly reduce this processing time, making it feasible to include such sophisticated shots in live broadcasts. According to Exarchos, these advancements have made it possible to introduce previously unachievable shots into live coverage, including 360-degree replays that offer viewers a dynamic, all-around view of athletes in motion.

"Exarchos mentions that the impact observed in the Matrix movie achievable through cinematic techniques can now be replicated in real-time performances."

The OBS is capturing audio in the 5.1.4 format, aiming to collect enveloping soundscapes from event locations and athlete interviews at the sidelines. This effort, combined with features such as augmented-reality setups offering a glimpse into the Olympic premises, is designed to bring the at-home audience nearer to the action of the games.

"Repeating past victories would be a failure," Exarchos asserts. "Just like in athletics, it's all about pioneering new territories, pushing boundaries, and advancing a step beyond what's been done before."

Technology Testing Arenas

In anticipation of 2024, it's forecasted that artificial intelligence utilities will see widespread application throughout the Olympic events.

Organizations such as the Olympic Broadcasting Service and NBC are leveraging artificial intelligence to sift through thousands of hours of video content to identify and compile the most significant moments, creating ready-to-watch highlights for audiences. Certain enterprises are fully embracing AI technologies; for example, NBC is employing an AI-generated version of the iconic sports announcer Al Michaels' voice to provide commentary for its highlight reels on Peacock. This AI voice model was developed by analyzing Michaels' previous TV broadcast recordings, producing a narration that is both fluid and eerily distinctive.

As viewers enjoy live games, artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize the experience by instantly generating and presenting crucial details on screen, such as athletes' statistics, the likelihood of successful shots or timely finishes, and enhanced virtual perspectives of the on-field action. The AI integration goes further than just the games; NBC is adopting AI for its advertising platform, aiming to more effectively tailor the commercials that air during intervals.

This extravagant media fest continues to serve as a proving ground for emerging technologies. The Olympics are being leveraged by NBC as the inaugural significant trial for its Multiview function and personalization options, indicating we might start seeing these features more commonly in standard live sports coverage. An NBC representative shared that the aim is for the technology premiered at the Paris Olympics to extend to additional live sporting occasions, and potentially to other types of live broadcasts, such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Ultimately, Exarchos emphasizes that the aim of these innovations is to enhance the sense of connection among spectators and the participants of these events, particularly following two Olympic games that were heavily impacted by pandemic-imposed attendance restrictions.

"Exarchos notes that we're currently experiencing a period where there's a strong longing and yearning among individuals to revisit tangible experiences, particularly those shared with others. He highlights that sports play a significant role in sparking this interest."

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