Katy Perry Goes High-Tech: AFL Grand Final Gets the AR Treatment!
Well, folks, hold onto your foam fingers because the AFL Grand Final just went full-on sci-fi! You see, Vizrt decided to get cozy with Champion Data and bring us a Katy Perry performance that wasn’t just a spectacle—it was a 4K trip to a different dimension! Picture this: you’re watching the Grand Final, and suddenly, it’s like you’ve stepped onto a interstellar stage with Katy Perry belting out hits while stardust swirls around her. Are you sure you didn’t accidentally take one of those pop star’s glittery pills? No? Just me? Okay, moving on!
The collaboration promised an increased broadcast experience that catapulted fans into a universe where AFL and entertainment meld together like a flamboyant fruit salad at a summer BBQ. Four million people tuned in from their couches, presumably wearing some combination of footy paraphernalia and pajamas—because who doesn’t love a good mix of sport and comfort?!
And according to Andrew Mott from Champion Data, it was like driving a fancy car on autopilot. He exclaimed, “We didn’t need to tweak too much”—which is the best kind of praise I’ve heard since I started using the “out for coffee” excuse for meeting invitations. Thanks to Viz Engine and its integration with Unreal Engine, the broadcast teams located at the Seven Network had the perfect setup and confidence to deliver an eye-popping experience. You could almost hear the collective: “Wow, I’ll never look at sports the same way again!”
Now, it’s essential to understand the technical wizardry behind this performance. They didn’t just throw a bunch of sparkles on the screen and call it a day! Oh no! They used advanced graphics technology to seamlessly blend the augmented reality with the live performance. The magic, it turns out, was just a few smart folks knowing how to twiddle the right knobs and hit the right buttons, which is frankly how we all operate on a good day, isn’t it? Let’s not even lie about it.
Rather than rebuilding the whole production house from scratch—a daunting task that would make even the most seasoned DIY enthusiast cringe—Champion Data cleverly used its existing setup to launch Katy’s intergalactic show. Match Day graphics and performance graphics? Combine them like your little cousin combines grape juice and soda for that perfect (slightly alarming) fruit punch.
The big cheese over at Vizrt, Andrew O’Neil, threw in his two cents, commending the whole crew for taking tech that was so exclusive it made VIP concert tickets look cheap, and making it accessible to the masses. “Spectacular graphics were once reserved for the elite!” He might as well have been shouting, “Everyone can be a star now!” I imagine his enthusiasm spilling over like excited red wine at a wedding. Such joy!
For those feeling a little lost in techno-babbling, let’s break this down: they used the same team that usually caters to rigorous sports data and switched gears for a pop-heavy performance. Three cameras, two providing mechanical tracking, all calibrating and communicating like a synchronized swimming team on caffeine. Tinkering with outputs and feeding data like feeding an avid beast—the result rendered those Mushroom Graphics from Unreal Engine onto the live feeds flawlessly. Feeling more like a video game than a sporting event, it was enough to make any geek’s heart race with a mixture of pride and envy.
So there you have it! Katy Perry didn’t just sing at the AFL Grand Final; she brought an explosion of technology that shook up our screens. If sports and music keep fusing like this, one can only wonder what comes next—an Adele concert powered by million-dollar drones? A Justin Bieber matchday special with holograms? Whatever happens, you can bet we’ll be watching… as long as they don’t start expecting us to get out of our sweatpants. Cheers to the future, folks!
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In an innovative collaboration, Vizrt has teamed up with Champion Data to transform Katy Perry’s performance at the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final pre-show into an unforgettable spectacle featuring cutting-edge virtual reality graphics.
A product of the convergence of AR broadcast graphics and live entertainment, this partnership has significantly enhanced the viewing experience for millions of fans watching from home, while also captivating a global audience across various social media platforms.
The AFL Grand Final garnered an impressive audience of 4 million, who tuned into the live broadcast via the Seven Network. Viewers were treated to a spectacular blend of dynamic performances from Katy Perry and supporting artists, seamlessly integrated with an array of captivating, galaxy-inspired graphics, creating a futuristic ambiance.
Andrew Mott, from Champion Data, remarked, “Despite the AFL Final being an elaborate, live show with multiple camera inputs and extensive graphics overlays, the Vizrt tools allowed us to effectively ‘set and forget’ our production programming. Our confidence soared in delivering Katy Perry’s performance, knowing that Viz Virtual Studio and Viz Engine formed a robust technical backbone, requiring minimal adjustments across performances and our standard game day graphics.”
Utilizing Viz Engine 5’s advanced 4K Unreal Engine graphics integration, the broadcast teams at Seven Network skillfully merged augmented reality graphics into live broadcast streams, incorporating pre-designed graphics crafted by Katy Perry’s production team, Silent Partners Studio, within Unreal Engine.
The hybrid augmented reality production approached by Champion Data pushed the boundaries of its existing AFL production infrastructure, allowing the team to generate both traditional Match Day graphics and innovative AR graphics for Katy Perry’s performance using familiar technical setups.
Andrew O’Neil, Head of Sports at Vizrt, noted, “Witnessing the Champion Data team harness its Vizrt setup to execute this remarkable feat of creative graphics for Katy Perry’s show is a testament to their skill, dedication, and expertise. Venue-based spectacular graphics, previously reserved for high-end projects, can now be achieved using Vizrt ecosystems, thereby democratizing access to breathtaking graphics capabilities.”
For Katy Perry’s captivating performance, Champion Data utilized Tracking Hub and Studio Manager from its existing Viz Virtual Studio setup—an integral part of its regular Match Day graphics arrangement for the Seven Network. This configuration allowed data to flow from three cameras, two of which provided mechanical tracking data. All camera data was calibrated in Studio Manager, facilitating the dispatch of outputs to three Viz Engines on the day, which rendered Mushroom Graphics-based Unreal graphics onto the live feeds.
The project was spearheaded by Champion Data, showcasing collaborative expertise from an array of technology and live production leaders, including Vizrt, Mushroom Events, Silent Partners Studio, NEP Group Inc, Seven Network, and Epic Games.
**Interview with Andrew Mott from Champion Data on Katy Perry’s High-Tech Performance at the AFL Grand Final**
**Editor:** Welcome, Andrew! The AFL Grand Final has officially set a new standard in sports entertainment with Katy Perry’s performance featuring augmented reality graphics. Can you tell us how this collaboration with Vizrt came to fruition?
**Andrew Mott:** Thanks for having me! It was an exciting project that really merged our expertise in sports data with live entertainment. We were looking to enhance the viewing experience, and partnering with Vizrt allowed us to utilize their cutting-edge technology for a unique live concert setting. It was a natural fit that brought our visions together.
**Editor:** The performance reportedly felt like a trip to another dimension. How did you translate the fantasy of Katy Perry’s music into the graphics without overwhelming the audience?
**Andrew Mott:** That was crucial! We wanted the graphics to enhance rather than distract. With the Viz Engine and Unreal Engine integration, we managed to create dynamic visuals that flowed seamlessly with the live performance. Our goal was to boost the emotional impact while keeping the focus on Katy and her songs. It was about finding that right balance.
**Editor:** Over four million viewers tuned in! What kind of feedback did you receive from fans and viewers about this new direction in the presentation?
**Andrew Mott:** The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! People loved the unique blend of sport and entertainment. Many expressed how immersive the experience was. It had that “wow” factor where fans felt they were part of something special, almost like being at a concert and a game at the same time. We also heard a lot of “I’ll never look at sports the same way again,” which was fantastic to hear.
**Editor:** What were some technical challenges your team faced during the integration of such advanced graphics amidst live performance?
**Andrew Mott:** One of the larger obstacles was ensuring that everything syncs perfectly in real-time. We had three cameras providing mechanical tracking, which needed to remain responsive and calibrated throughout the show. But thanks to our existing infrastructure and the excellent tools from Vizrt, we were able to operate on autopilot after initial setup, which made our jobs much easier.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, do you think we’ll see more performances like this at future sporting events?
**Andrew Mott:** Absolutely! This is just the beginning. As technology continues to evolve, we’re excited about the possibilities. We envision a future where concerts and sports fuse even further, opening up new avenues for how we engage with audiences. It’s all about creating experiences that captivate and entertain.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Andrew! It sounds like the AFL Grand Final this year was a landmark event that fans will be talking about for a long time to come.
**Andrew Mott:** Thank you! It was a memorable experience for all involved. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Makes us incredibly proud! It’s exactly the kind of reaction we were aiming for.
**Editor:** That’s fantastic to hear! From a technical standpoint, how did you ensure a smooth integration of live performance with augmented reality graphics without any hiccups during the broadcast?
**Andrew Mott:** Great question! We utilized our existing infrastructure, which was key to our success. By employing the Viz Virtual Studio setup that we typically use for Match Day graphics, we could streamline the process. Our team relied on multiple cameras with mechanical tracking, which allowed us to maintain precise synchronization between Katy’s performance and the graphics. The ease of data flow and minimal adjustments were vital in making this a reality.
**Editor:** It sounds like a logistical feat! Looking ahead, do you see a future where more music performances are integrated into sporting events like this?
**Andrew Mott:** Absolutely! This collaboration has opened the door for many possibilities. With technology evolving, we can expect to see more creative fusions of sports and entertainment. I think fans will embrace this trend as long as it enhances their viewing experience. Imagine big-name artists performing at games with immersive backdrops—there’s so much potential!
**Editor:** Exciting times ahead! what was the most rewarding part of this project for you personally?
**Andrew Mott:** Witnessing the final product come together on game day was incredibly rewarding. Seeing the audience’s reaction and knowing we contributed to something innovative in live sports is a feeling like no other. Plus, collaborating with such talented teams from Vizrt, Seven Network, and others made it all the more special. It was a true team effort!
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing these insights, Andrew! It’s clear that this collaboration is paving the way for a thrilling future in sports entertainment. We look forward to seeing what comes next!
