The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics are set to offer an unprecedented viewing experience, with a plethora of new technologies and platforms available to sports fans. NBC, the main broadcaster of the Olympics in the US, aims to address past criticisms by providing more live coverage and offering viewers the ability to curate their own Olympics experience on its Peacock streaming platform. Other online platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, are also joining in on the action, providing exclusive content and behind-the-scenes glimpses leading up to the Games.
The Olympic Broadcasting Service (OBS) is taking the coverage to new heights, producing content in ultrahigh definition and high dynamic range. The OBS has doubled its multi-camera systems to capture multiple angles for super-slow-motion replays, and it is utilizing cinematic camera lenses to capture artsy shots previously reserved for movies. Thanks to advancements in AI and cloud technologies, the OBS can now incorporate these complex shots into its live coverage, including 360-degree replays that immerse viewers in the action.
Sound is also a priority for the OBS, as it records in 5.1.4 audio to create an immersive experience for viewers. Augmented-reality stations and AI-generated on-screen information further enhance the sense of being closer to the games.
Artificial intelligence plays a significant role in this year’s Olympics coverage. Broadcasters like NBC and the OBS will use AI to compile highlights from thousands of hours of footage, personalize ads, and provide real-time statistics and augmented views of the events. NBC even trained its AI voice engine to replicate the voice of sportscaster Al Michaels, adding a touch of familiarity to its highlights packages.
While the Paris Olympics serve as a training ground for these new technologies, NBC hopes to deploy them in other live sports events and non-sports shows in the future. The ultimate goal is to foster a stronger connection between viewers and the events, especially after the pandemic restrictions that limited physical attendance at the previous two Olympics.
