Australian Open TV / YouTube
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Australian Open shows matches in YouTube live streams with Wii Sports-like avatars

Kim Muntinga
16.1.2025
Translation: machine translated

The Australian Open shows its matches on YouTube as animated livestreams that depict players as Wii Sports-like avatars. The commentary and sounds on the court remain real.

How the technology works

The animations mimic the players' movements, the trajectory of the ball and the athletes' outfits. This allows Tennis Australia to circumvent broadcasting restrictions and offer an alternative form of transmission.

The animated streams include live commentary, crowd noise and announcements from the umpire, creating an immersive experience. The animations also include subtle mannerisms and reactions from the players to make the visualisation more authentic. The realisation of the live experience only takes place with a two-minute delay.

Reactions from the players

The players certainly like it. Carlos Alcaraz, four-time Grand Slam champion, described the initiative as "a good alternative". Leylah Fernandez, finalist at the 2021 US Open, found the animations "funny and strange". However, she had not yet seen herself. However, she became curious after watching other players and would now like to see footage of herself as well.

The Australian Open runs until 26 January, and the animated livestreams remain a welcome feature.

Alternative broadcasts for other sports

Header image: Australian Open TV / YouTube

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