Presenters were placed in the set using Vizrt’s AI-driven Reality Connect tool, which generates accurate reflections, shadows, and lighting

The virtual studio used by the BBC for its coverage of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 was powered by Vizrt’s Viz Engine in combination with Unreal Engine.

The studio enabled BBC Sport to blend live graphics with high-end virtual design, in real-time. It built on the same XR infrastructure used during its 2024 Olympics coverage.

The studio was designed to reflect the Swiss setting of the tournament, placing presenters in a mountaintop pavilion overlooking Lake Lucerne.

Behind them were sweeping alpine views, national flags, and skies shifting to reflect the time of day.

The XR studio helped ground the coverage in the look and feel of Switzerland, while giving producers the flexibility of a fully virtual environment.

Presenters were placed within the set using Vizrt’s Reality Connect tool, which is AI-driven talent immersion that generates accurate reflections, shadows, and lighting to make the virtual environment feel realistic on screen.

Creative direction was led by Lightwell, who, along with longtime collaborator Toby Kalitowski, worked closely with BBC Sport to design a set that aligned with the tone and identity of the tournament.

“This wasn’t about adding technology for the sake of it,” says John Murphy, design director at BBC Sport. “It was about using the tools we already have available to us to tell the story of the tournament in a way that was current, and reflective of where the tournament was being played. Fans are tuning in more than ever, and we aim to deliver the best possible coverage.”

“We wanted the virtual space to feel editorially integrated,” adds Jim Mann, creative director at Lightwell. “Not just somewhere for presenters to stand, but a space that helped tell the story of the location and the tournament. It was about giving BBC Sport a canvas that matched their ambition, and the audience’s expectations.”

“The smartest use of technology isn’t always about what’s new – it’s about what’s next,” says Andrew O’Neil, VP sports, strategy and growth at Vizrt. “When broadcasters can adapt a single platform across multiple flagship events and still raise the creative bar each time, that’s where the real value is. It’s not just efficient – it empowers teams to focus on storytelling, not setup.”