TV broadcasters have no shortage of imagination to host closed-door matches and thus overcome the silence. Recorded songs or a virtual audience, it’s time for innovation.
The resumption of football behind closed doors has pushed TV broadcasters to recreate the atmosphere of stadiums but without an audience, while having the impression of having one.
Therefore, many TV broadcasters and directors, the time is for innovation in times of health crisis, which has deprived clubs of their audience by sanitary measures.
“Without an audience, something is really missing. We can’t be satisfied with it ”, points out Florent Houzot, program director of beIN Sports France, broadcaster of the German and Spanish championships in particular, who have resumed their season without spectators.
During the final of the Italian Cup Wednesday June 18 in Rome, the stands were covered with animations in computer graphics, evoking the deployment of a real “tifo”.
Pre-recorded ambient soundtracks
In Liga, the broadcaster Mediapro has implemented a technology for covering empty stands, so that the lower part of the stands is as invisible as possible on the screen.
“It’s an interesting track, it creates an almost natural feeling”, greets François Lanaud, director of matches on beIN and the channels of the M6 group. “It’s our job to make the absence (of the public) as minimal as possible.”
In this sense, several championship TV producers have had the idea of adding pre-recorded ambient soundtracks from previous meetings.
A new major challenge for the sound engineers in charge of mixing who make sure to offer a natural atmosphere.
“They almost became a DJ”, according to Florent Houzot, who welcomes returns “Predominantly favorable” viewers.
A method that is not unanimous
If this process seems to correspond to many TV channels, the feeling is quite different for the groups of supporters who criticized “ digital devices deployed solely for the entertainment of viewers ” in a press release co-signed by 27 national supporters’ organizations in Europe.
Many leagues are discussing the possibility of reintroducing supporters to the stadium, at least virtually pending the lifting of the closed doors, as is the case in England through the “fan-cams”.
“Even if it remains a device, it is especially interesting during the goals, to have a real interaction with the supporters. These giant screens become an integral part of capturing ”, judge François Lanaud.
In Italy, Lazio Rome has offered its fans to buy a cardboard model representing them, which will be installed in the stands of the Olimpico. Part of the profits will go to the Italian Red Cross.
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