Future Games Spectacle: Innovative Approaches to Television Sports Coverage for the 2024 Olympics
Going Huge in Paris: The 2024 Olympic Games and their Advanced Transmission Technology
Summer is here, and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are everything but small. With a myriad of modern sports on the roster, such as downhill mountain biking, skateboarding, surfing, and kayak cross, interest in the Games has reached unprecedented levels — and that’s not all that's breaking new ground.
With over 11,000 hours of content ready to be captured, modern broadcasting techniques are being put to the test like never before. No longer constrained by two channels, multiple live streams are buzzing with non-stop action, each with its unique challenges and logistics to manage. Digital giants like Discovery+ (Europe) and Peacock (US) are leading the charge, offering up to 55 simultaneous streams to cater to this surge in excitement.
The brain behind the mayhem
Behind the scenes, it's the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) that ensure this broadcasting bonanza goes off without a hitch. Founded in 2001, the OBS mission remains crystal clear: to maintain the highest level of broadcasting consistency for the Games. And with staggering statistics like:
- More than 100 different camera systems, including stabilized boats and over 200 cell phones on the athletes' boats alone at the opening ceremony
- 81 UHD feeds, 70 production galleries, and over 1000 camera units
- Over 20 multi-camera playback systems and a whopping 3,800 microphones
…it's safe to say that they're delivering on their promise.
Cloud transmission technology has been embraced this year, meaning that all transmissions are now cloud-based. This not only offers fantastic environmental benefits by drastically reducing the environmental footprint of production, but it also holds the key to better coverage without skyrocketing costs.
The evolution of broadcasting
Innovation has never been in short supply at the Olympics, and the Paris 2024 Games are a testament to the rapid advancement of technology. This year, the following technologies are making their Olympic debut:
- AI-led cameras: AI-guided cameras have been employed to automatically track athletes, making the switch between shots effortless and ensuring smooth coverage of fast-moving events.
- Computer vision: Computer vision technology, combined with Omega’s innovations, allows cameras to identify athletes based on uniforms or facial recognition, ensuring constant focus on the right participants during races or team sports.
- Cinema-style lenses: For the first time, cinema-style lenses are being used for every sport to enhance the overall production quality.
- PTZ cameras: PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras are being utilized in press areas to guarantee high-quality, flexible shots at all times.
A new generation of broadcasters
The OBS organization also takes pride in fostering the next generation of TV professionals. During each Olympics, OBS onboards graduates and students from the host city, providing paid positions, training, and valuable experience in live broadcasting techniques. In keeping with the Paris 2024 tradition, over 1,300 students have been enrolled in OBS's broadcast training programs.
From Paris with excitement
The 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony played out a memorable extravaganza on the Seine River. Aiming to bring the full experience to home viewers, NBC Olympics went the extra mile to capture every fascinating moment of the event. Chris Connolly, VP of Venue Technology and Engineering at NBC Olympics, shared his thoughts ahead of the ceremony: “It had the potential to be one of the best events we've seen in a long time in terms of the entertainment program and things like that.”
With state-of-the-art technologies in place and the focus on environmental-friendliness, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are setting the bar high for live broadcasting standards. The innovative techniques utilized today will undoubtedly revolutionize the future of live sports broadcasting. The digital age has made it possible to broadcast major events like the Olympics with fewer resources and lower strain on the environment, allowing greater focus on creating engaging and enlightening footage showcasing the world's top athletes at the pinnacle of their sports.
In line with the advancements observed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, various modern sports have been added to the roster, such as downhill mountain biking, skateboarding, surfing, and kayak cross, garnering immense interest from global viewers. The Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) are responsible for the innovative broadcasting techniques being employed at these Games, which include the use of AI-led cameras, computer vision, cinema-style lenses, and PTZ cameras, all aimed at providing exceptional coverage of the diverse sports events.
