
La Liga is set to release a documentary detailing the broadcast innovations it has introduced since the league’s return in June.
The programme is titled ‘BehindTheCameras’ and is a one-off documentary. It will be shown on La Liga’s broadcast partners around the world and focuses on how the Spanish top-flight and the broadcast team were able to create a virtual atmosphere for matches.
A virtual atmosphere became necessary after the league returned without crowds. However, they’ve committed to giving fans the best home experience possible.
The documentary shows how they used virtual stands and crowd audio to improve its television broadcast. The stands displayed to-scale images of fans as well as the home team’s colours and club slogans. The league worked with Norwegian company VIZRT to create this experience.
Crowd audio was also used thanks to EA Sports who had previously recorded audio of fans. New camera angles were also a part of the virtual experience – different cameras and angles were used such as aerial cameras.
“It will focus in particular on how La Liga has offered virtual atmosphere as part of its broadcasts across the last 11 match days. The one-off programme will be aired around the world by La Liga’s international broadcasters,” La Liga said in a statement on Friday.
“Broadcasting a live sporting event with virtual crowd noise has been a veritable challenge for La Liga, a pioneer in this kind of virtualisation, and a step unprecedented among sports leagues around the world.
“With this in mind, La Liga has decided to offer a behind the scenes view of the entire process and show fans the innovation and hard work which underpins the technology.
“The BehindTheCameras documentary will showcase everything that has gone on behind the scenes and feature interviews with those who have played a major role in making it possible, including La Liga’s Audiovisual Director Melcior Soler; Head of TV Production at LaLiga Sergio Sanchez; Match Director at Mediapro Oscar Lago; and wTVision’s Willem van Breukelen.”
This is the second documentary La Liga has produced, following TodayWePlay, which premiered last month. TodayWePlay focused on the creation of the Return to Competition Protocol during the league’s break due to the Coronavirus.