2024 Accelerator Project

Champions: BBC, TV2 Danmark, YLE, EBU, Channel 4, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)/TRANSMIXR, Trinity College Dublin, HSLU Lucerne University, Switzerland, ITN, Al Jazeera Media Networks, XReco, Vodafone Group, SVT

Participants: Tinkerlist, Nxt Edition, Loopic, SPX Graphics, Cuepilot, Erizos.TV

This groundbreaking Challenge combined two original Accelerator 2024 proposals into one overarching project with two key R&D streams that explored the evolution of live production workflows: one focused on the Control Room using XR (Extended Reality), Voice and AI, and the other showcased a deep dive into modular solutions with HTML-based Graphics.

Both POCs were developed with 21 multi-national consortium members who experimented with hands-on, tangible learnings via several intensive, hybrid hackathons that reveled into the trial, error and little victories of discovery.

The results prompted quick adoption with their own professional, real-world scenarios that will forever change the face of workflows within our Control Rooms, Remote Galleries and HTML-based graphics productions. Check out their Final Showcase Session as VOD here. 

The POC Objectives of the Control Room workstream: 

• Explore the current live broadcast production model to identify areas that could be improved by leveraging advancements in XR technology, developments in human-computer interactions such as voice control, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), and embrace a modular approach to HTML-based graphics workflows.  

• New solutions were developed to overcome the challenges facing broadcasters, with consideration for growth, flexibility, accessibility and environmental sustainability at its core.   

• The PoCs demonstrated an evolution of the control room, from the traditional, hardware-dependent, on-premises gallery, to include new models that incorporate decentralised workflows, remote-working and flexibility for the production crew, and expands the range of media production solutions for multi-platform delivery.  

• The television production model was adapted to meet audience needs in a sustainable and cost-effective manner, to enhance the production value of all our output formats, and explore new platforms, including immersive interactive experiences.  

Key Objectives of the HTML Based Graphics workstream: 

• A generic broadcast-friendly HTML-format   

• Work towards a generic API for interoperability between the components in the workflow  

• A modular graphics workflow, where all components are replaceable, so:  

• Media houses can publish content to multiple platforms 

• Media is consumed across multiple platforms 

• Multiple viewing aspects are in use 

• Better support for user-controlled customization

• A customisable, virtual control room for XR HMDs that transformed any workspace into a full production gallery, supporting remote collaboration, distributed studios, work-from-home solutions and flexibility. This reduced reliance on physical infrastructure and allows for rapid scalability. A unified workflow ensured interoperability and facilitates hybrid models, mixing virtual screens with connected hardware devices. 

• AI solutions that sourced, analysed and reported breaking news stories fast. 

• AI assisted voice control optimised workflows that enabled natural language interaction with the running order, data sets and the automation system, in both XR and on-prem environments, that resulted in a complete transformation of live production control. 

• Voice-driven automation empowered presenters to trigger events and complex sequences automatically while they read the script from the autocue prompter. Without any technical assistance, the presenter delivered high production value for the audience without impacting their normal workflow. 

• XR studio solutions with live volumetric video offered multi-format delivery including immersive and interactive audience experiences. Virtual cameras were framed for various output formats, with pre-defined smooth camera paths and spontaneous camera paths with no camera-tracking equipment, provided cost-effective and sustainable virtual production options. 

• An end-to-end HTML-based graphics workflow that supported multi-platform delivery, with an open and visionary collaboration between vendors and media houses 

• Modular HTML Graphics: successful use of widely accepted formats 

• Modular HTML Graphics: Break workflow apart and into interchangeable components