Leveraging AR for spectacular broadcast production, reaching a record 4 million viewers

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Vizrt, a specialist in real-time graphics and live production solutions, teamed up with Champion Data to deliver a high-tech spectacle for the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final pre-show featuring pop icon Katy Perry. By merging broadcast with Augmented Reality (AR) graphics, the partnership created a viral broadcast experience that captivated audiences on both television and social media worldwide.

The AFL Grand Final, aired by Seven Network, achieved a record-breaking viewership, attracting 4 million viewers, who witnessed a unique fusion of Katy Perry’s energetic performance and dynamic, galaxy-inspired AR graphics. This enhanced production showcased the potential of AR graphics within a live broadcast environment, offering fans at home a visually immersive experience and a social media frenzy.

“Despite the AFL Final being an elaborate, live show with multiple camera inputs and extensive graphics overlays, the Vizrt tools very much enabled us to ‘set and forget’ when it came to production programming,” commented Andrew Mott from Champion Data. “We had such confidence in delivering Katy Perry’s production knowing that Viz Virtual Studio and Viz Engine formed the technical backbone. We didn’t need to tweak too much – whether it be for her performance or our standard game day graphics – it all came together perfectly.”

Central to the broadcast’s success was Viz Engine 5, which seamlessly integrated 4K Unreal Engine graphics from Seven Network’s broadcast team into the live feed. These pre-made graphics, designed by Katy Perry’s production partner Silent Partners Studio, added a stunning visual depth to the performance.

This project also exemplified how Champion Data pushed its existing AFL production infrastructure beyond the traditional Match Day graphics, using Vizrt’s hybrid AR production capabilities to overlay AR graphics onto Perry’s performance without needing a full technical overhaul. The AR-enabled broadcast was managed via Champion Data’s established Vizrt infrastructure, including Viz Engine, Tracking Hub, and Studio Manager. This setup collected data from three cameras (two equipped with mechanical tracking) to calibrate and render Mushroom Graphics’ Unreal-based visuals in real time, enhancing the on-screen experience for audiences.

According to Andrew O’Neil, Vizrt’s Head of Sports, “Seeing the Champion Data team leverage its Vizrt setup to pull off a remarkable feat of creative graphics for Katy Perry’s show is testament to the skill, dedication, and expertise of the Champion Data team. Spectacular venue-based graphics were once only reserved for select high-end projects using specialist equipment, but the Champion Data team have proved that Vizrt ecosystems can be used to unlock the same incredible results, broadening access to show-stopping graphics capabilities to everyone.”

The project brought together a powerhouse of production expertise, with contributions from Vizrt, Champion Data, Silent Partners Studio, NEP Group Inc, Seven Network, Epic Games, and Mushroom Events, showcasing the innovative potential of AR graphics to elevate live broadcasts and reshape viewer engagement in sports and entertainment.