why such a representation?
This choice may prove daring for some, but the reason for this innovation is quite simply material… The rights to broadcast live matches belong to television channels. Therefore, the Australian Open is not allowed to show the actual rallies on YouTube. However, to circumvent this restriction, the tournament chose to transcribe the movements and exchanges of the players using animated avatars in real time (we know some who will be delighted…)
This version lively will faithfully reflect the reality of the blows exchanged, in a somewhat particular style it must be admitted… Once the match is over, the channel will also retrieve the images to broadcast interviews with the players and their live reactions.
Which matches are affected?
The matches broadcast in this way concern in particular the matches taking place on the Rod Laver Arena, the center court of the tournament. However, other courts are also entitled to this entertainment, such as the John Cain Arena. The elimination of Stefanos Tsitsipas against Alex Michelsen, for example, was transcribed in this format.
Although it is a fairly original experience, it is not certain that viewers will be hooked from the first service coup. But the trend is definitely there! If the realism of these avatars still leaves something to be desired, it seems that this is not the main objective of the Australian Open. The idea is above all to offer a different and entertaining experience for fans, while avoiding the constraints linked to television rights.
This initiative is part of a broader trend, in particular to make sport accessible to a wider audience, while innovating in the way of consuming sporting events. On December 25, the NBA experimented with a similar animated broadcast for the match between the Spurs and the Knicks, with Disney characters.. At the beginning of December, on the NFL side, players from the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys had transformed themselves into Simpson.
