TL;DR
NBC Sports will use Japan’s viztrick AiDi system to let mobile viewers follow individual athletes in real time, cropping live horizontal broadcasts into vertical clips. The tech, which uses facial recognition and a tap-to-select interface, marks the first use of viztrick AiDi by a broadcaster outside Japan.
What happened
NBC Sports has announced plans to deploy viztrick AiDi, an AI-driven player tracking system developed by Japan’s Nippon Television Network, in its live coverage beginning this year. The tool identifies and follows individual athletes using facial-recognition capabilities and offers a simplified operator workflow in which staff can tap a player on-screen to lock their focus. For mobile viewers, the system can extract live footage of an athlete from the standard horizontal feed and reframe it into a vertical orientation suited for phones. In Japan, the technology has been used to add on-screen overlays with names and stats; NBC Sports intends to use the system to deliver bespoke vertical content within its app. The rollout is the first instance of viztrick AiDi being licensed to a broadcaster outside of Nippon TV. It is not yet specified which events will support the feature.
Why it matters
- Offers viewers a new level of personalization by allowing choice of which athlete to follow during live events.
- Converts traditional horizontal broadcasts into vertical mobile-friendly clips in real time, reflecting ongoing shifts toward phone-first viewing.
- Represents the first international deployment of viztrick AiDi, signaling growing cross-border adoption of broadcast AI tools.
- May reshape production workflows by adding a quick tap-to-follow control for operators to generate alternative live feeds tailored to fans.
Key facts
- Viztrick AiDi was developed by Japan’s Nippon Television Network.
- This is the first time viztrick AiDi will be used by a broadcaster other than Nippon TV.
- The system uses facial-recognition technology to identify and track individual players in real time.
- Operators can select an athlete to follow by tapping on-screen.
- In Japan, Nippon TV has used the tool to add overlays showing player names and statistics.
- NBC Sports plans to use the tech to deliver custom vertical content for mobile devices by extracting athletes from horizontal broadcasts.
- Viewers in the NBC Sports app will be able to stick with the original horizontal broadcast or opt to focus on a chosen player in vertical format.
- NBC Sports intends to implement the feature starting this year.
- It is not yet known which specific events or broadcasts will include the feature.
- NBC Sports will be covering the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano and Cortina (coverage confirmed), but whether the new feature will be used there is not specified.
What to watch next
- Which events will actually offer the player-focus vertical view — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether the feature will be available across all mobile platforms and regions or limited to select broadcasts — not confirmed in the source.
- How NBC Sports will present the choice between the original horizontal feed and the focused vertical stream inside its app (the app will offer both options).
- Any public discussion or guidance about privacy or consent related to facial-recognition use in broadcasts — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- viztrick AiDi: An AI-powered player tracking system developed by Nippon Television Network that identifies and follows athletes in video feeds.
- Facial recognition: A technology that analyzes facial features in images or video to identify or track individuals.
- Vertical cropping: The process of reframing or trimming a widescreen (horizontal) video into a taller, portrait-style (vertical) format optimized for mobile devices.
- Overlay: On-screen graphics or text added to a video feed, such as player names, stats, or other contextual information.
Reader FAQ
How does the system identify and follow players?
According to the source, viztrick AiDi uses facial-recognition technology to identify and track individual athletes in real time.
Will viewers be able to choose between the original broadcast and the player-focused view?
Yes — the NBC Sports app will let fans watch the standard horizontal broadcast or opt to focus on a selected player in a vertical format.
Is this the first use of viztrick AiDi outside Japan?
Yes. The report says this is the first time the technology will be used by a broadcaster other than Nippon TV.
Which events will feature the new tracking option?
Not confirmed in the source.
TECH AI ENTERTAINMENT NBC Sports’ new real-time player tracking lets viewers focus on their favorite athletes The technology was developed in Japan and will be used by NBC Sports during…
Sources
- NBC Sports’ new real-time player tracking lets viewers focus on their favorite athletes
- NBC Sports to introduce real-time player tracking tech from …
- PEACOCK UNVEILS PERSONALIZED OLYMPIC …
- Peacock Adds Personalized Feeds, Interactive Features for …
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