Canon Inc, has announced that during seven matches of Rugby
World Cup 2019, to be held from September 20 to November 2, the company will
provide highlight footage created by the Free Viewpoint Video System to the
International Games Broadcast Services (IGBS). These video highlights feature
viewpoints and angles not possible with conventional cameras, effectively
conveying the thrill of such sports as rugby and delivering an experience that
feels like being right on the field, a
statement by Apo Group, made available to OpenLife, stated.
Canon will create Free Viewpoint Video content during all seven of the
tournament matches to be held at the International Stadium Yokohama. Captured
video footage will be curated into highlight reels that display the excitement
and superb skill of each play from the ideal viewpoint and angle. Generated
video will be provided to IGBS, who will then distribute the content to rights
holders for broadcast, streaming, news, sports commentary programs and other
forms of content viewing. In addition, content will be made available on the Canon
homepage approximately 24 hours after
the conclusion of each match.
Canon has continued to refine such aspects of the Free Viewpoint Video System as camera positioning, method of image capture, image-processing algorithms and hardware to achieve higher image quality and faster content generation workflows. The system is now capable of delivering high-quality, newsworthy content to broadcasters and content distributors. With the system, Canon is able to generate Free Viewpoint Video content and freely control its time and positioning. This technological evolution has been recognized by IGBS, thus laying the foundation for full-scale professional use by broadcasters.
The system comprises multiple high-resolution cameras set up around a stadium, which are connected to a network and controlled via software to simultaneously capture the game from multiple viewpoints. Afterward, image processing technology renders the videos as high-resolution 3D spatial data within which users can freely move a virtual camera around the 3D space, resulting in video that can be viewed from various different angles and viewpoints.