BBC Dir of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski unveiled its World Cup studio in Salford, England, the “centrepiece of which is a giant panoramic screen,” according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. That screen will “create the illusion that the studio overlooks whichever of the 16 World Cup host cities a match is being broadcast from, using animated photographs of those cities at different times of day and in different weather conditions.” This will be “coupled with augmented reality features in a 360-degree part-real, part-virtual set-up.” The reveal of the BBC’s “nerve centre” for the World Cup comes two days before the start of the tournament and “six weeks after Gary Lineker mocked its decision not to build a base in the United States.” But the decision was “made to preserve licence-fee payers’ money at a time of substantial cuts at the corporation before the impending renewal of its Royal Charter in 2028.” Kay-Jelski said that “‘millions’ had been saved” by basing the studio in England. Kay-Jelski: “The actual end product people are getting at home, I don’t really think it’s that different.” Kay-Jelski added that “no pundit had turned down the chance to work for the BBC this summer because its studio is not in the US.” Kay-Jelski indicated that the studio “could also be used for major tournaments in future.” However, he said they “haven’t gone into detail” yet on using it for the 2028 L.A. Games (London TELEGRAPH, 6/9).
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