Archive for the ‘Virtual Sets’ Category

‘Nightly Business Report’ debuts new look and virtual set

Broadcasting on PBS since 1979, “Nightly Business Report” debuted a new host, new modern look and virtual studio for the new year.

The new look, using yellows and blues with high tech flying parts is a vast change from the previous package. The new show has a sleek look that is very different for a PBS show. (more…)

Update: More screen grabs from ITN makeover available

TV Live has posted additional images of the new graphics package and virtual set being used at Britain’s ITN.

Click here to see the library of images.

Jacksonville station debuts bland new set

WJXT-TV, an independent station serving Jacksonville, Fla., has debuted a new set, reports Florida News Center, and, while it has some nice potential, the overall look is a bit bland.

(more…)

Big Ben clock face gone from ITN graphics

British television network ITN has dumped the graphical images of the Big Ben clock face from its graphics package and virtual set.

More details, commentary and a video of the network’s old look are after the jump.

(more…)

‘Hologram’ technology headed to ESPN?

Broadcasting and Cable reports about the hologram technology soon to hit ESPN’s air waves. The technology, slated for a spring 2010 debut, will likely be used for ESPN’s coverage of the World Cup.

Ley’s virtual appearance onscreen was remarkably realistic, without the significant image blurring seen in hologram technology used by CNN on Election Night last fall.

Pagano says the hologram technique is an extension of the “EA Virtual Playbook” technology that ESPN already uses for NFL coverage, and Berman said it will allow them to bring the images of players directly into the studio for analysis or interviews.

It is unclear if this is the same technology developed by Vizrt and Stats, but ESPN is a big Vizrt customer. According to the B&C article, “ESPN has written some software for the virtual technology internally, and learned how to tweak the lighting and the seating of talent to create the most realistic effect.”

Ultimatte offers top-line keying solution

Virtual environments require more than just a clean key to be convincing, says J. David Hoffman of Brainstorm America, the company behind NBC’s virtual election night sets.

“To get a truly believable virtual environment you have to match color and lighting, said Hoffman.

(more…)

New system could bring virtual environments to affiliate level

Fully immersive and interactive 3D environments are becoming more and more popular but are still outside the reach of many local TV stations.

However, Brainstorm America hopes to change that with its new “all-in-one” offering starting at $120,000 per camera, says Brainstorm America’s J. David Hoffman. The system includes a robotic camera with built-in motion sensors that make real-time movement possible and is flexible enough to be moved to new locations or even in the field.

(more…)

Vizrt virtual sets add interaction between talent, ’scenery’

During a press demonstration at the 2009 NAB Show in Las Vegas, Vizrt showed off its virtual set offering, which can be combined with its now famous hologram creation or as a standalone product.

The set product is similar in that it allows real-time camera moves but adds the ability for talent to stand behind virtual elements. For example, during the demo, Vizrt’s talent appeared inside a virtual subway car and then stepped out through the open doors onto the platform. He could also walk between the ticket gates on the boarding platform in another scene.

Vizrt virtual environments can also be filmed using handheld cameras. Using a series of five white balls attached to the camera and five ceiling-mounted cameras that track the movement of each ball, the Vizrt computers combined this positioning data with the virtual environment to complete the effect.

CNN’s hologram technology ten years in the making

The idea for CNN’s hologram technology first hatched ten years ago in the head of David Bowman at CNN, says Shalom Nachshon of Vizrt, the company that, teamed with Stats, made the effect a reality a decade later.

“Back then, the technology didn’t exist,” said Nachshon. However, as CNN began prepping for the 2008 election coverage, the idea resurfaced and the research and development team at Vizrt believed they could successfully create the look Bowman envisioned.

Already familiar with Stats’ technical capabilities, Vizrt integrated technology from both companies to create the final CNN hologram effect. Though the hologram technology is available in full HD, CNN opted to add some noise to the picture in order to add a “Star Trek” look to it that also reinforced the fact that the reporter wasn’t physically in the New York stuido.

Stats unveils first look at virtual set technology

Stats unveiled its first look at its standalone virtual set technology that runs off the same backbone of Vizrt’s hologram technology used on CNN this election season.

(more…)

Brainstorm-Dragon adds dynamic new angle to real-time graphics

Brainstorm-Dragon is demonstrating an interesting new real-time graphic implementation at NAB 2009.

The system is dubbed as a “markerless camera tracking system” adds some exciting new dimensions and possibilities to the world of 3D news graphics. The system doesn’t require any senors and therefore is highly portable.

In our demonstration, poster-board size sheet of material was utilized. One side was white while the other was a green hue. (more…)

Suze Orman goes virtual

The Suze Orman Show on CNBC has debuted a new virtual set by Full Mental Jacket and Brainstorm.

The new set allows information to be displayed in new and innovative ways, “One advantage of a virtual set is that informational graphics can be inserted directly into the template, making them crisp and clear.” With this new setup, Suze Orman can give here advice with charts and graphs appearing all over. The technology powering this virtual setup is the same technology NewscastStudio reported on at NAB 2008.

Continue reading for more pics and information. (more…)