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hese days, there’s no excuse for less-than-stellar graphics. In a world of VOD, social media and hundreds
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BBC, every broadcaster is getting the same databases and using the same polling
of national and regional channels, broadcasters have to work hard to stand out from the competition. Producing more visually engaging content is key. So, what do broadcasters need to know about gaining a competitive edge with graphics? We caught up with Ross Video’s Patrick Twomey and Gideon Ferber about their work on everything from the US election, to LED display extended reality shows. DON’T JUST DISPLAY REAL-TIME DATA. ANALYSE IT “I’m old enough to remember when people used to literally put white letters into a velvet board on a wall in the background,” begins Twomey. “Now, things have changed. Audiences expect key data, fast – it’s common to see real- time information flowing straight across the bottom of the screen.” While impressive, for Twomey, simply showcasing data is no longer enough. To truly stand out, broadcasters need to analyse that data in real-time, too. “Everyone is using the same feeds. It doesn’t matter if you are CNN or the
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services,” he continues. “So, how do you differentiate the story you’re telling? You need to analyse the data, find patterns, and then illustrate these creatively using the best graphics. These bring more value to your audience by helping them visualise the stats in a different way.” Chicago-based news station NBC is the perfect example of how analysing data in a more dynamic way can boost growth. “The station used our real-time 3D motion graphics platform, XPression, to create better graphics and analyse stats around the US elections last year,” Twomey reveals. “We also helped with our Rocket Surgery team – Ross Video’s in-house creative and professional services division. It was a true measure of efficiency. By the end, we accelerated the analytical graphics process from almost 29 minutes to 18 seconds.” LEAP INTO EXTENDED REALITY For those moving into next-generation graphics, extended reality (XR) sets
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based on Unreal Engine visuals feeding into LED displays can make results even more eye-popping. For example, during an election, you could display anything from legislative chambers that pop up out of the floor, to completely virtualised candidates for both live and broadcast audiences during debates. “These XR stages have been used on Hollywood productions like The Mandalorian ,” begins Ferber, who worked with the Ross Video team on an XR workflow for the CCTV (Chinese Central Television) New Year’s Gala – certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s most-watched TV show.
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