ESPN, DMED Break New AR Ground With Real-Time Data Visualization on Monday Night Football New real-time AR telestrator tool takes data-driven storytelling to a new level By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Monday, October 3, 2022 - 3:10 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
From the Emmy Award-winning K-Zone 3D to the 3D spray charts that revolutionized how fans watch the Home Run Derby, ESPN and Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution (DMED) have stretched the barriers of what's possible in terms of visualizing data in a live baseball broadcast. Last week, for the first time, ESPN and DMED brought this data-fueled augmented-reality technology to the gridiron on Monday Night Football.
After roughly two years of development, last Monday's Cowboys-Giants MNF game featured the launch of what could be described as a real-time, data-driven AR telestrator. It appeared for the first time on-air to showcase the precise speed of Giants running back Saquon Barkley on a breakaway 36-yard touchdown run. Just after Barkley scored, viewers saw a replay of the run with an AR pointer graphic showing his running path and his exact speed at any given second as he scampered away from Cowboys defenders toward the end zone.
DMED's real-time AR data-visualization tool debuted during the Monday Night Football broadcast Sept. 26.
We view this as a really important milestone from a technical standpoint because it is live data-driven spatial AR, says Kaki Navarre, VP, software engineering, DMED. That's a much bigger deal than any one graphic. It's technologically meaningful, and we are just scratching the surface of how this could be used to enrich the viewing experience for fans. From a technology standpoint, we have the capability to do things that have never been done before, and we couldn't be more excited.
How It Works: A Symphony of Next-Gen Tech in Action The system uses proprietary DMED software and tools to sync live player and game data from the NFL's Next Gen Stats (NGS) platform with SMT camera telemetry and live video to provide a real-time, player-specific statistical visualization. As of now, these AR replays are available on both the Skycam and All-22 angle, but other cameras could be added in the future.
Deploying Epic Games' Unreal Engine and Pixotope's AR-creation technology, the DMED team can create real-time graphics that visually showcase live data. Most notably, these segments are available to the MNF production team in two seconds or less, enabling them to be used in the broadcast as first replays.
Early in development, the technology functioned as a CG application before DMED transitioned it to a full AR ecosystem. At the end of the 2021-22 NFL season, the DMED team completed onsite tests of the technology for director Jimmy Platt and producer Phil Dean, who were instantly enthusiastic about what it could mean for this season's MNF broadcasts.
They took a look at it and got very excited, says Principal Real-Time Artist Brian Rooney, who helped to lead the project. This year, we have been invited to be on the truck full-time to roll this out and scale it up as the season goes on. This Saquon play was our first execution, and we plan to see a lot more moving forward.
Rooney and Principal Software Engineer Jeffrey Bradshaw will be the operators in the truck tonight, using a touchscreen interface on the MNF production. Prior to each play, the operators click on the players of interest - quarterback, running back, receiver - and the system creates automated AR highlights based on the player's position and Next Gen Stats data. Stats cover anything from the speed of a player on a TD run to the separation between a receiver and defensive back on a key catch to how quickly defenders rush the passer on a sack.
For every single highlight that we create, says Rooney, the goal is to have the viewer understand something that they couldn't see otherwise in 3-5 seconds. No lower-third graphic or explanation necessary; they understand what's happening right away.
Storytelling: Changing Data Visualization for Both Live and On-Demand Experience ESPN and DMED believe this technology unlocks previously impossible storytelling opportunities through real-time statistical graphics visually showcasing live data on the field.
DMED is able to track all the players and balls during a game using this interface.
There are two main ways this helps enhance storytelling, says Navarre. One is that it allows folks who may not as easily grasp advanced statistics to understand the details [because they] can see [the data] in real spatial dimensions. The other is obviously advanced stats for hardcore fans, who already understand those concepts; we can now take them a level deeper.
ESPN sees this as not only a new opportunity to enhance how fans see statistical data in the live linear game broadcast but also on its sprawling portfolio of studio shows and digital platforms.
Everything is being architected for both live and on-demand from the ground up, says Christiaan Cokas, director, software engineering, DMED. The team has done a great job getting the data embedded into the video so it can be easily scrubbed back and forth. Our team is working on a platform to let you go into that game, mark up a video, and output that for highlights.
In addition to being part of a live game [broadcast], he continues, our system can let editors and producers of other shows go into the Monday Night Football game and grab a play, mark that up, and use that as well in their packages.
Cokas adds that this technology also opens up a whole new universe of possibilities for more personalized and interactive experiences for fans.
When you have an [operator] with a touchscreen in their hands and they can just click on a player and get a uniq
North America Stories
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Grass Valley has entered into a three-year enterprise agreement with Phoenix Broadcast Solutions as the Singapore-based company expands its live production oper...
19/05/2026
Clear-Com supported Musikal Perahu Kertas, a large-scale musical theater production in Indonesia adapted from the acclaimed novel by Dee Lestari, through the d...
19/05/2026
Actus Digital, a LiveU company, and a leading provider of intelligent media monitoring and broadcast compliance platforms, announced today that METEO CONSULT ha...
19/05/2026
Globecast, a leading provider of managed services for the broadcast and media industry, today announced the completion of a major renovation of its Singapore fa...
19/05/2026
Following a major upgrade to its Connecticut remote production centre with the installation of three 60-fader Argo S consoles in 2023, RPS has switched one of t...
19/05/2026
PlayBox Technology today announced the launch of Celebro Play, a browser-based media orchestration platform designed specifically for broadcast facilities and p...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
LYNX Technik, provider of modular signal processing solutions for broadcast, post, and professional AV will showcase its latest signal processing solutions at B...
19/05/2026
Media Links, a leading developer and manufacturer of IP media transport solutions, has announced the integration of its Xscend platform with Skyline Communicat...
19/05/2026
Collaboration expands regional partner ecosystem as Media Links showcases IP media transport solutions on stand 4M4-4 and alongside Clearcast Asia on stand
Me...
19/05/2026
Company Highlights Labor-Saving Control and Custom Branding Opportunities Designed to Increase Integrator Profitability
LynTec, a leading manufacturer of ele...
19/05/2026
Mago Studio Moves AI Video Beyond Prompts with New Production-Focused Tools
Brie Clayton May 18, 2026
0 Comments
New Capabilities Bring Controllable, ...
19/05/2026
It May be Time to Stop and Take an AI Breather
Brie Clayton May 19, 2026
0 Comments
If the rock you stay on starts to roll, jump clean. Or you'll...
18/05/2026
Despite a bumpy start to the year, the provider of event-production support and ...
18/05/2026
Daktronics has partnered with the University of North Carolina to manufacture and install 11 LED displays totaling more than 10,000 square feet and more than 14...
18/05/2026
CBS LA has announced a multi-year partnership with the Los Angeles Rams, covering exclusive local broadcasts of Rams preseason games, weekly year-round programm...
18/05/2026
Skyline Communications has announced an integration between its DataMiner xOps p...
18/05/2026
eCLUTCH, the hybrid esports platform powered by iKOMG, has announced an expansion of its distribution across Europe, MENA, Africa, and Asia, along with new cont...
18/05/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/05/2026
With 22 games this season, the production team looks forward to tweaking and enhancing the coverage
After 8,660 days off the air, the WNBA returned to NBC yest...
18/05/2026
(L-R) Midori Francis and Natalie Erika James attend the Saccharine premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 22, 2026, in ...
18/05/2026
The Australian Defence Force uses L3Harris T4 and T7 robots for explosive ordnan...
18/05/2026
Continued investment across Europe and Germany is expanding local teams and improving access to stock, regional expertise, and specialist broadcast support.
CV...
18/05/2026
Agentic AI inference at one-tenth the cost per token with NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL7...
17/05/2026
Back to All News
Oasis Premieres on Netflix June 19
Entertainment
17 May 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Summer, sunshine, the beach, parties. T...
16/05/2026
Boris FX Continuum Pairs AI Precision and Advanced Creative Controls
Jessie Electa Petrov May 16, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic de...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/05/2026
Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, in partnership with RAVE Foundation an...
15/05/2026
Dan Brumm has served as sound designer on Bluey, the Australian children's t...
15/05/2026
The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance (PAMA) and Shure Incorporated are accepting applications for the 6th annual Mark Brunner Professional Audio Schola...
15/05/2026
Netflix has announced an expanded NFL schedule for 2026 and beyond under a four-year partnership extension with the NFL through the 2029-30 season. Each season,...
15/05/2026
Ateme is supporting TVRI (Televisi Republik Indonesia) with a contribution and d...
15/05/2026
Concacaf has announced the launch of a new website and mobile app built on Deltatre's FORGE platform. Concacaf.com and the mobile app, available on iOS and ...
15/05/2026
Eutelsat has announced the launch of QBC Business Economic Channel by Qatar Media Corporation, broadcasting in 4K/UHD via Eutelsat's 7/8 West video neighbo...
15/05/2026
Major League Soccer has announced four original content series timed to the 2026...
15/05/2026
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) has announced it will exhibit and present at InfoComm 2026, taking place June 13-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Cente...
15/05/2026
InfoComm 2026 will take place June 13-19 (exhibits June 17-19) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show will include sessions and exhibits covering broadcas...
15/05/2026
Tracy McGrady's Ones Basketball League (OBL) and FuboTV Inc. have announced ...
15/05/2026
Disguise has partnered with Creative Technology (CT) to deliver visual playback ...
15/05/2026
Sony Electronics has announced two new products for professional imaging: the Alpha 7R VI full-frame mirrorless camera and the FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS super-te...
15/05/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
ESPN, DMED Break New AR Ground With Real-Time Data Visualization on Monday Night Football New real-time AR telestrator tool takes data-driven storytelling to a new level By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
