MILAN—With the Olympic Winter Games in full swing, Worldwide Olympic Partner TCL has announced that it is supplying advanced display technology and expertise for the International Broadcast Centre (IBC), the central technical hub for global media coverage operated by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS).

The company said it has provided large quantities of TV screens, as well as commercial display screens and a large-scale LED installation.

Additionally, TCL has equipped the IBC's visitor exhibition area with its latest flagship innovation, the groundbreaking TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV. Standing for Super Quantum Dot, it sets a new standard for display technology with unmatched brightness and contrast, exceptional color performance, an industry‑first, ultra‑slim, borderless design, and top‑tier audio.

TCL also provided its 65-inch televisions for the Main Press Center (MPC) to help the world's media follow every moment of the action, and additional TVs across Olympic venues.

TCL’s 55" screens play a vital role in supporting the "Athlete Moment," where athletes can see and speak with family and friends at home immediately after their events. By making it feel as though their loved ones are at their side, TCL's technology is helping to create powerful moments of connection and celebration throughout the Olympic Winter Games.

"We are delighted to welcome TCL as a Worldwide Olympic Partner,” explained Yiannis Exarchos, the CEO of OBS. “Only a select number of companies globally have the scale, capability, innovation, and technology required to meet the demands we face as the host broadcaster of the Olympic Games—and even fewer pair that with a deep understanding of Olympic values and the power of the Olympic Winter Games to bring people together."

Beyond supporting the competition and broadcast, TCL is also enhancing daily life in the Anterselva and Livigno Olympic Villages by providing smart home appliances, supporting athletes' comfort through technology thanks to the smart washing machines and dryers that keep competition gear fresh. Additionally, the Plaza of the Milano Olympic Village features a space showcasing TCL's latest innovations, including AI-enabled air conditioners and TCL RayNeo AR glasses. The glasses are the ideal partner for athletes as they offer real-time translation through augmented reality and can provide navigation cues and information as they explore Milan.

More of TV Tech's coverage of the technologies being used at the Olympics is available here.

LOS ANGELES—Olympic Broadcasting Services said it is implementing technologically ambitious plans for production of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics and Paralympics that will blend cutting-edge technologies and immersive camera systems to improve storytelling and provide deeper insights into athletes’ performance data.

A key part of that effort will see OBS shift to a fully internet protocol- and information technology-based infrastructure enabling flexible, cloud-integrated, virtualized workflows across venues. Other key focus areas of its tech plans include AI-driven content processing, expanded use of 5G and wireless systems for agile camera operations, and sustainable design practices aimed at reducing the overall broadcast footprint.

OBS unveiled its plans for Los Angeles at the OBS World Broadcaster Briefing, a gathering of Olympic and Paralympic media rights holders held from July 14-17. The Los Angeles Summer Olympics are set for July 14-30, 2028, with the Los Angeles Paralympics to follow from Aug. 15-27, 2028.

The meeting provided broadcasters from around the world who will televise the games an opportunity to meet in person, tour key competition venues and assess their proximity to the future International Broadcast Center while also reviewing the progress of Olympic preparations and discussing how the games will be covered.

In May, Los Angeles Rams owner E. Stanley Kroenke announced plans to develop a massive state-of-the-art movie studio and production facility called Hollywood Park Studios that will initially be used to host the IBC during the Los Angeles Games.

The facility is being developed as part of the 300-acre mixed-use destination in Inglewood, Calif., that includes SoFi Stadium, home to Kroenke’s Rams and the market’s other National Football League team, the Los Angeles Chargers.

As the host site of the IBC for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, Hollywood Park Studios will house hundreds of media rights holders from around the world.

During the recent meeting with rights holders, OBS said the broadcasters visited SoFi Stadium, called 2028 Stadium for purposes of the Games, which will co-host the Opening Ceremonies along with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and host swimming events in a reimagined configuration. The tour also visited the Inglewood Dome—known as the Intuit Dome when it hosts its regular tenants, the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers—which will host basketball.

Attendees also drove by the legacy buildings under construction for the IBC, located in Hollywood Park Studios in Inglewood. The tour then moved to Exposition Park Stadium—aka the pro soccer venue BMO Stadium—which will host the new Olympic sports of flag football and lacrosse, and the L.A. Coliseum, a venue for both the 1932 and 1984 Summer Games that will once again host Olympic and Paralympic track and field, as well as both events’ opening and closing ceremonies.

Broadcasters also previewed the Olympics gymnastics and Paralympics wheelchair basketball venue, DTLA Arena (known as Crypto.com Arena when hosting the NBA’s Lakers, WNBA’s Sparks and NHL’s Kings). The day concluded next door at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which will host a mix of Olympic and Paralympic sports including boccia, fencing and wheelchair fencing, taekwondo and para taekwondo, judo and para judo, wrestling, and table tennis and para table tennis, OBS said.

Rights holders also attended a session in downtown L.A. that included remarks from OBS CEO Yiannis Exarchos and LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover.

“In Los Angeles, the Olympic spirit is not just a tradition, it is part of the city’s DNA,” Exarchos said. “As a global hub of technology, storytelling, and sport, LA28 offers us an unparalleled opportunity. Together with our broadcast partners, we are committed to bringing bold ideas to life and redefining what it means to experience the Games—deeper, more connected, more human.”

LONDON—In a notable landmark for the use of cloud-based services at the Olympics, Alibaba Cloud and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), has today announced the launch of OBS Cloud 3.0 for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. 

During the games, a key component of OBS Cloud 3.0, OBS Live Cloud, has become the main method of remote distribution to Media Rights-Holders (MRHs) for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, taking over from satellite which was launched during the Olympics Games Tokyo 1964. 

For Paris 2024, two-thirds of booked remote services (across 54 broadcasters) are now using OBS Live Cloud including 2 Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasters. 379 video (11 UHD, 368 HD) and 100 audio feeds will be transmitted via the Live Cloud. With the benefits of low latency and high resilience, content transmission via cloud has outperformed other methods of distribution when it comes to scalability, flexibility and cost while increasing the stability and agility of worldwide broadcasting of the largest sports event.  

Using a combination of cloud technologies powered by AI, OBS Cloud 3.0 will serve as the backbone infrastructure supporting several critical functions, fully utilizing the benefits of cloud technologies including operational scalability and cost-efficiency, improved sustainability with enhanced remote working capabilities, effective real-time workflow collaboration, and more.

Debuted at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 with an UHD broadcaster, OBS Live Cloud was offered as a standard service for the first time during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 with 22 subscribed broadcasters. Prior to this technology breakthrough, broadcasters had to rely on dedicated and more costly international telecommunication optical circuits and spend a considerable amount of time to set up the equipment, in order to send live footage halfway across the globe back to their home countries.  

At the launch of the OBS Cloud 3.0 during the Alibaba Cloud International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) showcase opening, Yiannis Exarchos, OBS CEO said, “With approximately half of the world’s population watching the Games, technologies like Alibaba Cloud help us tell the stories of the best athletes in the world, but also bring the world together in ways which are more exciting and inspirational. Broadcasting the Games is fundamental in trying to do that, and having partners like Alibaba that help us bring this dream to life are very valuable for us!”

A record-breaking 11,000 hours of Olympic Games content available via Content+ on the cloud 

Content+, OBS' content delivery platform remains fully hosted on Alibaba Cloud, and continues to simplify remote production workflows and ensures seamless content delivery including live sessions, athlete interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and social media content, the companies said. 

For Paris 2024, OBS will produce more than 11,000 hours of content – a 15% increase from Tokyo 2020. The streamlined approach of this cloud-based portal simplifies remote production workflows and ensures seamless content delivering without disruption during the Games.

New functionalities in Content+ allow MRHs to create their own highlights from any location in the world in far shorter turnaround time. Content can be downloaded in three different resolutions facilitating usage including linear, digital and/or social.

Offering worldwide MRHs access to the wealth of Games content produced by OBS, Content+ will deliver content in UHD for the first time through Alibaba Cloud’s robust global infrastructure. This empowers broadcasters to produce even more engaging and refined content, with new features like vertical screen compatibility for optimal viewing on mobiles or other devices.

"We are very excited to see the evolution of Olympic broadcasting from Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024, enabled by Alibaba Cloud's extensive global infrastructure and proven AI technologies.” explained Selina Yuan, president of international business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. “The partnership between Alibaba Cloud and OBS amplifies our commitment to help transform the viewer experience at the Olympic Games, turning technology innovations into practical applications for tangible results. We are honored to support Paris 2024 as the most digitally compelling Olympics ever.”

Albaba Cloud also announced that during the Olympics, AI-enhanced replay systems will be used to elevate viewing experience. During Paris 2024, the OBS Multi-Camera Replay Systems will provide frame-freeze slow-motion replays of athletes’ performances, allowing hardcore sports fans to access detailed information for deeper analysis of the athlete movements. For new viewers, these replays can serve as educational tools for better understanding of the Games at key moments.  

All the multi-camera replay systems used at Paris 2024 will be provided by Alibaba Cloud. These include 17 systems across 14 venues covering 21 sports and disciplines. Those include: rugby sevens; badminton; athletics track and field; basketball; beach volleyball; table tennis; wrestling; tennis; judo; breaking; BMX freestyle; and skateboarding. The footage will be sent to the cloud, where Alibaba Cloud’s AI-driven computing capabilities enable live spatial reconstruction and real-time 3D rendering, before the chosen moments are shared as a replay through live or non-live feeds. The seamless reconstruction of the most exciting moments only takes seconds to get ready in the cloud and integrated as part of the live coverage.

Additionally, OBS Olympic Video Player (OVP), an advanced multi-platform video player service, will also leverage Alibaba Cloud's infrastructure to support UHD live streaming for the first time. The OVP service provides MRHs, especially small and medium-sized organizations, with a turnkey solution to deliver high-quality videos to their audiences without complex in-house development.

Joined as an Olympic Worldwide Partner in January 2017, Alibaba Cloud and OBS launched OBS Cloud in 2018. The leading cloud company supported Tokyo 2020 as the first Olympic Games to be broadcasted via the cloud and has been working with OBS since to help maintain the highest Olympic broadcasting standards with its proven cloud technologies.

Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) has revealed some of its plans to bring next year’s Summer Olympics to TV screens around the world.

Media Rights-Holders (MRHs) from around the world gathered in Paris last week to attend the second World Broadcaster Meeting ahead of next year’s event, which takes place July 26-Aug. 11.

OBS revealed plans to provide more than 11,000 hours of content from the Games, including more athlete-centric coverage and behind-the-scenes material, pre-and post-competition.

The organization announced it will use cinematic lenses for the first time, with shallower depths of field to further bring the viewers into the heart of the action. OBS said it also intends to deploy technology to enhance storytelling with access to more data and provide more immersive solutions, including an increased number of multi-camera replay systems as well as dynamic graphics such as live pinning and biometrics data.

Attendees at the meeting were also told of OBS’s plans to support broadcast operations in and outside of Paris, along with a versatile suite of cloud-based tools enabling live signal distribution, and remote production.

OBS said technology has enabled it to achieve “more with less,” offering broadcasters smarter, more agile, and efficient solutions while drastically reducing physical space and power demands at the venues and the IBC.

Paris 2024’s IBC will be located in the existing Paris Le Bourget Exhibition Centre Halls 2B, 3, 4 & 5. The temporary overlay of the facility has begun, with the handover to OBS due to take place in January 2024 when the OBS fit out will begin. The first media rights holders are expected to start moving into the facility in May, with the centr due to become a 24/7 facility on June 26.

OBS CEO Yiannis Exarchos told attendees that “beyond the scale of the event, there is always an underlying desire among broadcasters for the Games to be different, innovative, creative, surprising, and exciting. The anticipation and enthusiasm for this approach are palpable, and I believe this is where Paris will truly shine and set new standards.

“We eagerly look forward to witnessing the outcomes of this creative vision, and I am optimistic that Paris 2024 will deliver in flying colors, surpassing expectations with its distinct and extraordinary approach.”

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand TVBEurope.

PARIS—With just under two years to go until the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) has revealed its initial plans for the event.

OBS played host to a number of Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHBs) in Paris at the end of July, where they offered a first look at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) at Le Bourget.

The IBC is located in the north of Paris, 13km south of the Charles de Gaulle Airport and 8km east of the Olympic and Paralympic Village.

It occupies a total of four halls (one currently under construction), and will feature a total net area of 45,300 sqm. During the Games, it will house a variety of technical and administrative facilities for both OBS and the RHBs.

The IBC handover is scheduled for January 2024, where the fit-out process will begin under the direction of the OBS construction team. This space will then be transformed from an empty shell into a working environment where every detail has been designed to enable OBS and the RHBs to seamlessly deliver the broadcast of the Games, said OBS.

For Paris 2024, OBS said it is aiming to produce an “unprecedented” amount of content and deliver it to the RHBs in a wider range of options. Broadcasters will be able to rely on an expanded service offering and cloud technologies to deliver their content to their home territories in a more efficient fashion, said the organization.

Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet, told the RHBs: “The athletes, fields of play, spectators, and beauty shots are just some of what is needed to tell the Paris 2024 story. What the athletes and fans also need is you, the broadcasters. We at Paris 2024 value your role immensely.”

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand TVBEurope.

HANGZHOU, China--Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), the broadcast arm of the International Olympic Committee, has teamed up with Alibaba Cloud, the public cloud service division of e-commerce company Alibaba Group, to develop a cloud-based broadcasting platform to be in place in time for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The partnership between Alibaba and the International Olympic Committee began in January 2017 when the two parties signed a long-term strategic agreement that the two parties say will help transform the Olympic Games for the digital era. Alibaba now serves as the official “Cloud Services” and “E-Commerce Platform Services” partner.

In the past, distributors and content creators have kept the use of cloud-based platforms for broadcasting live sporting events to a minimum due to concerns over latency, speed and volume. To address those quality concerns, Alibaba and OBS have also partnered with Intel to deliver higher quality volumetric content over the cloud. Intel expects to also use its virtual reality solution to enhance the Olympic viewing experience.

“We are very pleased that Alibaba Cloud has come up with this innovative and powerful approach to Olympic broadcasting. As the host broadcaster of the Olympic Games, we at OBS see ourselves as a leader in transforming the media industry,” said Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of OBS. “Tokyo 2020 will be an opportunity for the International Olympic Committee to champion digital transformation in the media industry, as well as empowering broadcasters around the world with a cloud platform that delivers new possibilities for how the Games are enjoyed by fans around the world.”