Exploring broadcast design trends from the PyeongChang Olympics

Smaller and offsite locations

Some broadcasters opted not to base primary coverage from PyeongChang — actually originated hundreds of thousands of miles away. Thanks to tech such as video walls, these broadcasters were able to utilize dynamic backgrounds that still had that Olympic “feel.”

In addition, smaller studios seems to be more of a trend this year — with CBC’s studios, mentioned above, being rather small. NBC also utilized a handful of smaller, windowed studios for broadcasting, including “NBC Nightly News.”

In addition, the winter snow and ice found so frequently in the games themselves was interpreted in a variety of walls, whether it be cooler or stark white color palettes, literally snowflake imagery or the used of frost or crystalline shapes. 

[picbox id=”63450″ caption=”BBC opted to keep its primary Olympic set in the U.K., creating a temporary setup in an event space.”]

[picbox id=”63357″ caption=”Danish broadcaster NOS split its setups between South Korea and the Netherlands and, thanks to video wall technology, was able to incorporate imagery of the Olympic flame.”]

[picbox id=”63744″ caption=”Even Korean broadcasters MBC and KBS has smaller setups overlooking the Olympics stadium, while also relying on larger studios elsewhere.”]

Wintery mix

[picbox id=”63984″ caption=”South Korean broadcaster SBS created a sleek space that looked a bit like an ice skating rink — but also could be seen as a nod to ice and show.”]

[picbox id=”63975″ caption=”Another Korean broadcaster, KBS, created a colorful studio that blended in hints of snowflakes, icy glass panels as well as the drop pendants.”]

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[picbox id=”63302″ caption=”NBC’s primary domed studio also featured faux rock and plenty of frosty glass panels, as well as icicle-inspired ceiling elements. Its cozy ‘lodge’ set included references to winter sports against the sweeping views of real mountainscapes.”]