During Saturday’s anticipated soccer matchup between Barcelona and Real Madrid, now dubbed El Clasico, Intel’s 360-degree replay technology will be on full display.
With both Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeau — home of the respective clubs — now equipped with the replay system, La Liga becomes the first European soccer league to have the technology permanently installed at any of its stadiums. The 3D replays will give fans and broadcasters the ability to see any play from any angle. Additionally, it is the first time the El Clasico matchup will integrate the technology.
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“The incorporation of 360-degree technology will help to continue to improve perceptions of match broadcasts, complementing the innovations previously introduced by La Liga through the regulations on television broadcasts,” Melcior Soler, Director of La Liga’s audiovisual department, said in a statement. “Indeed, these regulations are being complied with by clubs at a 95 percent rate, so we’re extremely pleased. This hard work lays the foundations for the value of broadcasting rights to keep rising.”
Intel’s replay technology, a project the company had been working on since May, utilizes 38 high-definition 5K cameras to capture 3D videos at the stadiums, which are then processed through Intel servers to create a new image altogether.
Even former league players, like ex Real Madrid forward Fernando Morientes, expressed that the sport is constantly evolving, and it’s important for professional leagues and teams to “always keep up with things” and stretch the traditional broadcasting boundaries.
“It’s amazing to see the impact (the technology) has,” added Morientes, now a La Liga ambassador. “As a player you experience the match as if you were in a bubble, but after you retire you realize the importance of giving the viewers the best game experience possible. … It’s a huge step towards making the game as real as possible for the fans.”