IBC 2025: FOR-A and Nippon TV unveil AiDi real-time sports graphics platform

FOR-A, in collaboration with Japanese broadcaster Nippon TV, used IBC to unveil sports graphics tool, viztrick AiDi.

The AI-powered platform operates without internet connectivity, delivering real-time video analysis with very low latency.

It enables operators to draw directly on screen while automatically following moving players or objects.

Real-time speed quantification visually emphasises athletic performance, while distance and angle analysis tools highlight player’s abilities.

The system also has facial recognition technology to make it possible to instantly display player profiles without interrupting match coverage.

Furthermore, viztrick AiDi can recognise scoreboards and automatically input scores faster and more accurately than manual operation, says Nippon TV.

AiDi was developed in-house by Nippon TV’s Engineering and Technology Department and is already in use across Japan on Nippon TV’s sports programmes.

At IBC, AiDi’s capabilities were demonstrated in a live football-focused showcase featuring drawing tools (brush, arrow, and number), 2.5D ground drawing, comprehensive motion data (speed, distance, and distance/angle calculations), face recognition capabilities, and automatic score graphics generation.

All functions run locally on a PC without internet connection, without relying on cloud processing. FOR-A says that, unlike cloud-based alternatives, the system’s on-device processing ensures consistent performance regardless of internet connectivity. 

“Viztrick AiDi represents a fundamental shift in how AI can enhance sports broadcasting,” says Fabio Varolo, sales manager, FOR-A Europe. “By operating entirely on-device without internet dependency, it provides broadcast-grade reliability while delivering intelligent automation that empowers creative teams to focus on storytelling rather than routine tasks.

Hiroo Sueoka, associate managing director, AiDi Project, Nippon TV, added: “Nippon TV is dedicated to revolutionising digital media in this ever-evolving industry, and we have been developing AiDi for many years, aiming for this global launch.

“This in-house innovation, created by Nippon TV’s Engineering and Technology Department, draws upon our more than 70 years of live production expertise, especially in professional baseball and soccer. Equipped with features such as automatic score generation and real-time player tracking, AiDi’s intuitive system processes everything locally on a PC, enabling faster, more reliable, and more secure performance.”