From Weather to Elections: How Virtual Production Elevates Broadcast News

Modern broadcasters can now produce content at the speed of news, seamlessly incorporating immersive visual elements into live broadcasts through virtual production technologies and integrated workflows. This rapid production capability ensures timely and relevant news delivery while addressing the industry’s persistent challenge – creating high-quality, impactful content within tight deadlines.

Extended reality and virtual production are becoming instrumental in transforming broadcast studios into modern spaces for engaging and dynamic news broadcasting. Our team has consulted in developing virtual sets and connecting external data sources for weather, finance, election results, and sports to Unreal Engine, a powerful real-time 3D graphics tool.

We are fortunate to be a part of the consulting team for CNN’s new Studio H at their new Techwood Campus in Atlanta. This multi-venue set features virtual environments that can expand the look of the main stage. The goal was to give the space a high degree of flexibility, including AR/VR extensions of the physical space.

Virtual Set Extensions

VSE technology represents a breakthrough in television production, combining real and virtual elements to create immersive environments that enhance storytelling. By integrating live-action footage with computer-generated imagery (CGI), productions can achieve:

• Expansive sets without physical space limitations
• Cost-effective production solutions
• Enhanced creative control over environmental elements
• Dynamic, adaptable broadcasting environments

Key Applications: Weather and Elections Coverage

This year, we’ve been excited to see news broadcasting come to life with real-time weather animations, including water, wind, and fog. VSEs and interactive maps are useful for augmented reality (AR) graphics during severe weather coverage. Broadcasters are able to show detailed regional weather analysis, featuring adaptable displays for different locations.

Virtual production technology can revolutionize election broadcasts. As the media landscape continues to evolve, the adoption of virtual production techniques will undoubtedly play a crucial role in delivering engaging and impactful news and election coverage.

2024 marks a pivotal year for election broadcasting, with major elections occurring across the US, UK, India, Russia, and the European Parliament. With approximately 3.7 billion people eligible to vote across 70 countries, broadcasters are leveraging virtual production to deliver:

• Interactive data analysis displays
• Fully virtual news sets with international-standard presentations
• Dynamic AR elements including polling and results charts
• 3D candidate animations

The 2024 elections present an unprecedented opportunity for broadcasters to innovate and captivate audiences with immersive, visually stunning coverage. See how this technology is being adopted worldwide:

Virtual production technology exemplifies how advanced tools can transform election broadcasts and news coverage. As the media landscape evolves, these technologies will continue to play a crucial role in delivering engaging, informative content to global audiences.