Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Live From NBA All-Star: Inside Intel, Turner's NBA on TNT Virtual-Reality Production

18/02/2018

Live From NBA All-Star: Inside Intel, Turner's NBA on TNT Virtual-Reality Production It marks the beginning of live VR coverage for a weekly game By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor

Saturday, February 17, 2018 - 3:59 pm

Print This Story

Story Highlights

This weekend's NBA All-Star festivities mark the launch of Turner Sports and Intel's virtual-reality-production effort. The partnership, announced in November, tips off this weekend with live VR coverage of Rising Stars on Friday, All-Star Saturday Night, and the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday on the NBA on TNT VR app. Beginning next week, Turner and Intel will team up to present one NBA on TNT game per week for the rest of the season, as well as TNT Playoff games.

We announced our partnership all the way back in November, so we're very excited to finally be starting it up with All-Star weekend, says Nadia Banks, customer Implementation manager, Intel Sports. Our core VR group has grown so much over the last couple years, and this is definitely a big moment for us. It's now starting to become more like a rinse and repeat: we go, we learn, we optimize, and then we go again.

Inside the Truck: NEP's Cobalt Serves NBA on TNT VR

Both NBA on TNT test VR productions, which took place on Jan. 15 (Rockets at Clippers) and Jan. 25 (Timberwolves at Warriors), were produced out of NEP's Cobalt mobile unit, the same truck onsite at the Staples Center truck compound this week for the All-Star VR show. Intel and Turner worked with NEP to customize Cobalt for VR production, and it will serve as the primary Intel True VR mobile unit for the rest of this season.

Intel Sports' Nadia Banks (third from right) and the NBA All-Star VR team inside NEP's Cobalt mobile unit.

We have a couple other trucks that we will start to introduce also, but this is the main truck [for NBA on TNT VR], says Banks. What is great about this truck is, it lets us have a bigger camera show. For MLB [VR weekly productions], we used a smaller Sprinter van, and it had four cameras. We can have twice that on this truck.

The camera complement for the VR productions varies throughout this weekend depending on the event, with as many as eight for the Slam Dunk contest and All-Star Game itself. Among the primary positions on the court will be a midcourt camera sitting on Turner's announcers table, one under each basket's stanchion, two behind the glass, and a Steadicam.

You have to remember that you're not just capturing the event itself. It's also about how we cover the player intros, the concerts, and things like that, says Banks. You also have to remember that these cameras aren't just looking forward; they're capturing [180 degrees]. So, when we work with the league on camera angles, we've got to think about everything that's being captured, not just what's right in front of it.

NEP's Cobalt mobile unit will serve as home to Intel and Turner's weekly NBA on TNT VR productions throughout this season.

In addition, Intel has deployed an ENG camera to capture scenic shots from throughout Los Angeles this week.

Since we don't have commercials in our [VR feed], we are looking to push shoulder content, notes Banks. We are thinking about what kinds of content we can create when television goes to break. We're not trying to be television; we're trying to give you a glimpse of what it's like to be sitting and watching in the arena. But we also want to keep [the viewer] engaged when there are breaks in the game.

Intel has rolled out two types of True VR camera pods at Staples Center. Its primary rig features 12 4K cameras with specialty lenses, six on each side of the pod. These six camera feeds are stitched together in the truck to create the full 180-degree image. The second camera-pod model, which is being used for the Steadicam and ENG, is smaller and more portable.

VR vs. Broadcast Production: So Similar and Yet So Different

This weekend's VR production marks one of Intel's largest to date - in terms of crew members, totaling 26 onsite. As Banks and company develop a live-VR-production model for basketball, they are also cognizant that much of the operation should follow the traditional broadcast-production model.

At the front bench, the director often must wear the VR headset in order to properly guide the show.

When it comes to the operational side, says Banks, we try to keep it as close to broadcast rules and processes as possible because it's familiar and proven. The difference is, if you're looking at the image, you're not just getting a picture of what's happening in front of the camera, you're getting a 180 view. So you do have to train everyone to look not just at the center but also at what is happening all around.

Even with talent, he continues, they have to remember that they're not just calling the play; they need to look left or right sometimes to see what is happening. Also, the director has to put the headset on to actually see what's happening in the 180 space. It's really just trying to embrace what the environment is and get comfortable with that.

Among the chief differences between broadcast and VR productions is the added element of stitching for the video operator.

Our main camera pods have six lenses for the left, six for the right, so we're stitching them together. That's a completely brand-new [role]. The video [operators] aren't just coloring and shading your video; they are also making sure you're stitching it together properly. Unlike broadcast, where you've got one role that does this one specific thing, you're wearing multiple different hats.

The User Experience: Dedicated Commenters, a Virtual Studio J

The free NBA on TNT VR app officially launched for Samsung Gea
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2018/02/17/live-from-nba-all-star-inside-i...
See more stories from svg

North America Stories

29/03/2024

Dalet to Demo AI-Enabled Production, Automation and Monetization at NAB Show

PARIS Dalet has announced that during the 2024 NAB Show (booth #W1713), attendees can experience firsthand Dalet's collaborative, AI-enabled workflows that ...

29/03/2024

DirecTV Inks Deal to Carry 2024 Colorado Rockies Games

DENVER AND EL SEGUNDO, Calif. DirecTV has announced a new agreement with Major League Baseball that will allow Colorado Rockies fans to see this season's ga...

29/03/2024

S&P: Media, Telecom M&A Plunges to 13-Month Low

S&P Global Market Intelligence has released new data showing that dealmaking in the North America for media and telecom companies remains in the doldrums....

29/03/2024

NAB Show: Pebble Launches PRIMA Software Platform

EPSOM, Surrey, UK The automation, content management, and integrated channel specialist Pebble, has announced that it will be launching a new software platform ...

29/03/2024

Gray Television to Air Arena Football League Local Games

ATLANTA Gray Television Inc. has inked a multi-year agreement with the Arena Football League to bring Saturday arena football games over-the-air to local audien...

28/03/2024

Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know 8 Women Filmmakers With Shorts at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival

A still from Jasmin Baumgartner's Bye Bye, Bowser, which screened as part ...

28/03/2024

The Best Shared Storage For Video Production

alt= class=wp-image-12214 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Best-Shared-Storage-EVO-logo-960x540-1.jpg/> Embarking on a cinematic journey or crafting a ...

28/03/2024

Future-Proofing the B-52

L3Harris is upgrading critical electronic warfare systems to ensure the iconic aircrafts spectrum superiority for decades to come....

28/03/2024

Supporting the RCAF for more than 25 Years with L3Harris' WESCAM MX-Series

L3Harris' WESCAM MX-Series EO/IR systems have supported the RCAF for more than 25 years....

28/03/2024

ENCO to Add AI News Anchor to Qimera Virtual Production Set

NOVI, Mich. During the 2024 NAB Show, ENCO will be showcasing an AI-driven virtual anchor delivering live news from a realistic 3D virtual news set....

28/03/2024

Johan de Nysschen Named President and CEO of ARRI Americas

MUNICH ARRI has announced that Johan de Nysschen has been put in charge of the ARRI Americas team as president and CEO ARRI Americas Inc....

28/03/2024

Fubo Inks Carriage Deal with YES Network

NEW YORK The YES Network and FuboTV have reached a multi-year carriage agreement that will allow Fubo to launch YES in its Pro base channel plan in time for YES...

28/03/2024

Dalet to Demo AI-Enabled Production, Automation and Monetization at NAB 2024

PARIS Dalet has announced that during its 2024 NAB showcase (booth #W1713), attendees can experience firsthand Dalet's collaborative, AI-enabled workflows t...

28/03/2024

Blackmagic Design Used on 2024 Oscar Nominated Films

Blackmagic Design Used on 2024 Oscar Nominated Films Brie Clayton March 28, 2024 0 Comments Blackmagic Design congratulates the many film professional...

28/03/2024

Arkona to Introduce BLADE//master Control and Orchestration Service at NAB 2024

Arkona to Introduce BLADE//master Control and Orchestration Service at NAB 2024 Brie Clayton March 28, 2024 0 Comments New option for BLADE//runner ke...

28/03/2024

Join Maxon for NAB 2024

Join Maxon for NAB 2024 Brie Clayton March 28, 2024 0 Comments Maxon returns to NAB with presentations by artists from around the world and demos of t...

28/03/2024

Boston Conservatory to Present Center Stage Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Huntington

Boston Conservatory to Present Center Stage Production of A Midsummer Night'...

28/03/2024

2024 Big Night In Raises $145k to Support Triangle Arts Councils

Capitol Broadcasting and WRAL-TV once again proudly supported our local arts community with the broadcast of Big Night in for the Arts Thursday, March 7, 2024. ...

28/03/2024

JIC, MRC Announce Accord On Roles In Judging Measurement Companies

With more companies offering different approaches to measuring television viewing and campaign effectiveness, two of the groups that evaluate potential media bu...

28/03/2024

Hulu Added to Disney Plus App for Bundle Subscribers

The Walt Disney Co. said that it launched Hulu on Disney Plus, which makes Hulu programming available via the Disney Plus app....

28/03/2024

GroupM To Double Ad Spending On Women's Sports Programming

Giant media buyer GroupM said it plans to double its media spending on women's sports....

28/03/2024

Scripps Renews State Farm As Sponsor of Friday Night WNBA on Ion

Scripps Sports said that State Farm has signed a new multi-year agreement to continue as the title sponsor of Ion's Friday night WNBA telecasts....

28/03/2024

Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington Sign On for Imperfect Women' on Apple TV Plus

Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington will star in, and executive produce, Imperfe...

28/03/2024

Telemundo Station Group Addresses Climate Change With Month-Long Initiative

Telemundo Station Group launches the month-long climate change initiative Our Planet Thursday, March 28. The multiplatform campaign ends on Earth Day, April 22,...

28/03/2024

Circle City Broadcasting Renews Nielsen Ratings Deal

Nielsen said that Circle City Broadcasting, owner of WISH-TV in Indianapolis, has renewed its local TV measurement deal....

28/03/2024

Lionsgate Extends Deal With Seth Rogen's Point Grey Pictures

Lionsgate Television said it extended its deal with Point Grey Pictures, the production company led by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver....

28/03/2024

Ariana DeBose Back as Tonys Host

Ariana DeBose returns as host of the Tony Awards Sunday, June 16, on CBS and Paramount Plus. It is her third consecutive time hosting, and it will be the 77th T...

28/03/2024

The Steve Wilkos Show' Renewed for Season 18

The Steve Wilkos Show has been renewed for its 18th season in national syndication, Tracie Wilson, executive VP, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios & E! News, sai...

28/03/2024

Sinclair Selects Embrace as Its Media Orchestration Engine

PARIS Embrace, a developer of advanced automation and orchestration software solutions, has announced that Sinclair Broadcast Group has selected Embrace's P...

28/03/2024

Nielsen and Circle City Broadcasting Renew Local TV Measurement Deal

NEW YORK Nielsen has a multi-year renewal with Circle City Broadcasting, Indianas only locally owned and operated broadcast and digital news media network, for ...

28/03/2024

JVC to Demo Its First Ever 40x Zoom PTZ Camera Series at 2024 NAB Show

LAS VEGAS JVC Professional Video has announced that it will debut its new KY-PZ540 Series PTZ Cameras with 40x zoom at 2024 NAB Show (Booth C4720)....

28/03/2024

Brightcove Launches Cloud Playout 2.0

BOSTON Brightcove has announced the launch of Cloud Playout 2.0, a platform that the company said will offer customers new ways to create linear channels, monet...

28/03/2024

NBC Sports Chicago to Air First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Telecast

The Chicago Blackhawks and NBC Sports Chicago have announced a collaboration with the NHL to bring fans the first-ever local animated real-time sports telecast....

28/03/2024

The Best News Coverage is Real, Live, Balanced, Professional

The Best News Coverage is Real, Live, Balanced, Professional Andy Marken March 28, 2024 0 Comments Hero image source News of the World, Perfect Wo...

28/03/2024

TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio

TNT Sports Gets Its College Game On for March Madness Audio Marching bands, crowds make up for lack of court FX and wired players By Dan Daley, Audio Editor ...

28/03/2024

Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Shared Reality' Venues

Cosm/ESPN Deal Will Bring NBA, NHL, Tennis, College Football, and More to Share...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2024 Home Games

MLB 2024: The Famous Group, Miami Marlins Team Up for AI-Powered Intro for All 2...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production

MLB 2024: MLB Network Showcase Opts for Secaucus-Based Remote Production The league's production arm marks 15th-anniversary season with packed schedule By ...

28/03/2024

MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volumetric Replays, Win Probability' in Scorebug

MLB Opening Day: ESPN Brings Sunday Night Baseball Into Analytic Age With Volume...

28/03/2024

MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans

MLB 2024: FOX Sports Steps Up to the Plate With Big Audio Plans More player and field sound will be on tap By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Thursday, March 28, 202...

28/03/2024

Netflix Announces Agatha Christie Series 'The Seven Dials Mystery' by 'Broadchurch' Writer Chris Chibnall

Back to All News Netflix Announces Agatha Christie Series The Seven Dials Myste...

28/03/2024

Haivision Showcases World-Leading Live Video Contribution Ecosystem at the 2024 NAB Show

Makito X4 video encoders, Haivision Pro mobile transmitters, StreamHub receiver,...

28/03/2024

FOR-A shows production flexibility for entertainment and sports at CABSAT

Compressed and uncompressed IP solutions alongside SDI...

28/03/2024

Greater Scope: Doctors Get Inside Look at Gut Health With AI-Powered Endoscopy

From humble beginnings as a university spinoff to an acquisition by the leading global medtech company in its field, Odin Vision has been on an accelerated jour...

28/03/2024

Get Cozy With Palia' on GeForce NOW

Ease into spring with the warm, cozy vibes of Palia, coming to the cloud this GFN Thursday. It's part of six new titles joining the GeForce NOW library of ...

27/03/2024

Inside the Archives: It's Lights, Curtains, Action When Sundance Films Become Stage Productions

By Jen Scott It's time to unwrap those noisy candies and put your phone on ...

27/03/2024

Sencore and Showfer Announce Collaboration at NAB 2024, With a Brand-New Content Management and Distribution Solution

Las Vegas, NV, April 14-17, Booth W2401 Sencore, a leading provider of profess...

27/03/2024

I Am L3Harris - Sam Bonelli

I'm proud to be a woman in aerospace making an impact on our world and among my peers, team and future generations of women in STEM....

27/03/2024

Bitmovin to Show Live Encoder Running on Akamai Cloud at NAB Show

DENVER Bitmovin has launched its Live Encoder running on the Akamai Cloud Computing, optimizing live streaming and reducing total streaming costs by up to 90%, ...

27/03/2024

Hulu Launches on Disney+

BURBANK, Calif. The Walt Disney Company has officially launched Hulu on Disney+ in the U.S. in a move that brings together the extensive Disney+ and Hulu librar...