wTVision deploys Unreal Engine virtual sets for European FIFA World Cup broadcasts
wTVision is deploying virtual production, AR graphics, and technical broadcast infrastructure for FIFA World Cup coverage across several European networks. The workflow integrates Unreal Engine for rendering, Studio CG for playout, and real-time data feeds from SportRadar to provide immersive tactical analysis and virtual studio environments.
Key Takeaways
- DAZN Italy is utilizing a 360-degree virtual environment at the NVP Innovation Hub, featuring two new sets for World Cup and OddsChecker programming.
- In Portugal, wTVision is managing the complete production workflow for LiveModeTV, coordinating match feeds via satellite, fiber, and mobile journalism kits.
- SPORT TV's coverage uses an AR workflow to visualize team formations, group standings, and top scorers with data feeds provided by SportRadar.
- Broadcasters are using a hybrid model of chroma studios and converted auditoriums to support pre-match, commentary, and post-match segments.
- Technical infrastructure includes wTVision's Studio CG for playout and PCR support for multi-platform content ingestion.
Why It Matters
The deployment of real-time virtual sets for a major global event signals a shift from static digital scenery to fully dynamic storytelling environments that integrate live data for immediate tactical insight. This adoption by DAZN and SPORT TV validates the scalability of Unreal Engine-based workflows in mission-critical live sports. As broadcasters face increasing pressure to deliver visually distinctive content across fragmented digital and linear platforms, these AR-driven solutions provide essential editorial flexibility. Watch for the performance of these virtual environments as FIFA expands the 2026 tournament to 48 teams, requiring centralized hubs like the NVP Innovation Hub to handle higher match volumes.
Additional Context
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is serving as a large-scale testbed for decentralized, software-defined production. According to ISE Europe (June 2026), the tournament is generating nearly 9,000 hours of content in UHD HDR, supported by a private cloud architecture and SMPTE ST 2110 networking based out of the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas. This shift toward remote production allows specialist functions, such as graphics control and audio mixing, to be performed centrally rather than at each of the 16 host venues, reducing travel costs and operational risk.
In Italy, the wTVision partnership with DAZN builds on a 450-square-meter virtual studio facility in Milan developed alongside NVP. Per SVG Europe (October 2025), this Innovation Hub features a U-shaped LED wall, Grass Valley LDX 135 HDR cameras, and Stype tracking systems. The facility was designed to support DAZN's exclusive Italian broadcast rights for the entire 104-match tournament while maintaining visual continuity between morning and evening programming through modular 360-degree virtual sets.
Meanwhile, the digital broadcast landscape in Portugal has shifted with the launch of LiveModeTV. According to SportsPro (December 2025), LiveModeTV is leveraging a digital-first model to stream 34 matches for free on YouTube, targeting younger audiences with a creator-led format. This mirrors the successful CazéTV model from Brazil, emphasizing a dual-market approach where traditional pay-TV provider SPORT TV maintains the full 104-match package while LiveModeTV provides a free, interactive streaming layer powered by wTVision's Lisboa-based virtual production tools.
Read full article at tvbeurope.com
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