BBC 2012 - The Olympic Broadcaster

Was around the Olympic Park earlier, took this pic of the BBC One and BBC Three studios:



The BBC One studio on the left - used in the World Cup in South Africa - looks out at the Olympic Stadium and I think the backdrop for BBC Three will roughly be the Basketball Arena (AKA the "marshmallow") and the Velodrome.

That may be the case but I suspect as we move forward broadcasts won't want to be doubling up on cameras so 2D images may be produced using 3D cameras regardless of the issues which you state.

This is already possible, and done. As well as vice-versa, processing 2D feeds to make a fake 3D image. It doesn't resolve the problem of the camera angles.

The problem with the camera angles can be resolved by putting 3D cameras where the 2D cameras currently are. Simples.

I thought the point of the lower angles was to accentuate the 3D effect.

On the note of the 2D/3D switch I believe it is only supported by the latest revision of MHEG as used on Freesat and Freeview HD. I don't believe Sky's OpenTV system supports it (the current Linux system probably does, but I don't think Sky exposes this for interactive applications yet, which all currently run through the OpenTV emulator). I'm not sure about cable, but I would be very surprised if the old V+ boxes support this feature. I don't know what system the TiVo boxes are using yet.

Therefore the separate broadcasts are still very much necessary.

Got it one- the low camera angles are needed to get the best from 3D, but are far from the best camera angles for anyone watching in 2D. So you'd have to massively compromise your 2D coverage for the benefit of a tiny number of 3D viewers. Sky's (terrible) coverage of the Isle of Wight festival used the same cameras for 2D and 3D- and it didn't look too bad because filming a music stage you are generally looking straight at it, but for sport its totally different.

Prime example- the main 3D camera angle for Wimbledon is at ground level. Its similar to the sort of shot you sometimes see directors throw in when a player serves but then cut away from once the rally starts because you can't see the far base line. However on 3D coverage it's the angle you see most of the time because it gives the best depth on the image. I haven't seen any of this years Wimbledon in 3D but pressing the red button today on BBC HD on Freeview it seemed the same as last year- my feelings then were that being able to see where the ball was landing and easily seeing the position of the opposing player was far more important any benefit 3D added. Sure the player serving stood out, and the ball sometimes bounced out of the screen at you, but it was a novelty, it wore off very quickly. Conversely sticking the 3D camera where the main 2D camera position is wouldn't give you much of a 3D effect.

incidentally, I believe the 3D highlights show will be an OBS production, with a small BBC intro at the top. There's not a whole lot of 3D production facilities in the BBC part of the IBC.

And, of course, if will only feature highlights of sports filmed in 3D for the world feed. So no rowing or sailing, amongst others. It certainly won't be an all-singing, all-dancing traditional BBC highlights show.

Wimbledon is getting it's Olympic look pretty quickly, looks good, not too garish as I had feared http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18766965

And here is a quick overview of some of the changes that will be made: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18689673

Watch out for the full stop! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18689673

Very interesting watch. I wonder what Debbie Jevans meant by 'moving the broadcast positions' in Centre Court? I presume she means the commentary boxes? I wonder where they are moving to . . . further up in the grandstand? It will be strange not seeing the boxes right beside the big scoreboard.

I've got tickets for Centre Court so can't wait to see it close up . . . canee wait!