Is this the weirdest thing to ever happen at the Australian Open? Fans are saying yes
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Something strange and unexpected happened at this year’s Australian Open, leaving fans both amused and perplexed.
What began as an ordinary moment on the court soon spiralled into a viral sensation, catching the attention of tennis lovers around the world.
The twist? It’s a move that has never been seen before, sparking a range of reactions that have made headlines.
The Australian Open found an inventive solution to its broadcasting restrictions this year by turning players into Nintendo Wii characters, much to the delight and confusion of fans.
Due to YouTube copyright rules, the players were depicted as animated avatars reminiscent of the popular Wii Tennis game, a move that has also been used in the NFL in recent years.
Fans quickly took to social media to voice their reactions to the unexpected transformation.
'This is hilarious!! This is how the MLB needs to get around blackout restrictions!' one user wrote on social media.
'This is the definition of brilliantly thinking outside the box,' agreed another user.
'Looks awful, but it's a workaround I guess,' remarked a sceptical tennis fan.
'WTF is this real? If so it is hysterical... what is going on in the world LMAO,' shared a bewildered observer.
One user, not impressed by the animation, described the makeover as 'legit terrifying.'
The animated workaround for the tournament involved the cartoon avatars mimicking the movements of their human counterparts in real time.
Sounds like ball hits, crowd cheers, and commentary were all taken from the game itself, adding to the bizarre experience.
According to The Guardian, the technology used to create the animated characters was also implemented at last year’s event.
Machar Reid, Director of Innovation at Tennis Australia, explained the process involved using 12 cameras to track the silhouette of each player in real-time.
The system tracked 29 key points of the players’ skeletons to generate the animations, though Reid admitted it wasn’t perfect, stating, ‘It's not as seamless as it could be — we don't have fingers — but in time you can begin to imagine a world where that comes.’
This technology allowed a two-minute delayed animated version of the match to be broadcast to viewers.
The creative workaround has already garnered significant attention, with the animated broadcasts attracting around four times the viewership compared to the 2024 tournament.
Reid noted that the quirky animations were pulling in a new category of tennis fans, much like similar strategies in other sports.
For example, the NFL had previously experimented with a Nickelodeon broadcast featuring the network’s signature orange blimp and slime, which proved popular with younger viewers.
In December, the NBA followed suit, incorporating Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy into a Christmas Day broadcast, embracing the animated trend.
This shift in sports broadcasting may very well signal a future where more tournaments and games adopt similar creative methods to sidestep streaming restrictions.
Was this the perfect way to sidestep restrictions, or did it go too far in the name of creativity? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
What began as an ordinary moment on the court soon spiralled into a viral sensation, catching the attention of tennis lovers around the world.
The twist? It’s a move that has never been seen before, sparking a range of reactions that have made headlines.
The Australian Open found an inventive solution to its broadcasting restrictions this year by turning players into Nintendo Wii characters, much to the delight and confusion of fans.
Australian Open players transformed into Nintendo Wii characters. Image source: Youtube/Australian Open TV
Due to YouTube copyright rules, the players were depicted as animated avatars reminiscent of the popular Wii Tennis game, a move that has also been used in the NFL in recent years.
Fans quickly took to social media to voice their reactions to the unexpected transformation.
'This is hilarious!! This is how the MLB needs to get around blackout restrictions!' one user wrote on social media.
'This is the definition of brilliantly thinking outside the box,' agreed another user.
'Looks awful, but it's a workaround I guess,' remarked a sceptical tennis fan.
'WTF is this real? If so it is hysterical... what is going on in the world LMAO,' shared a bewildered observer.
One user, not impressed by the animation, described the makeover as 'legit terrifying.'
The animated workaround for the tournament involved the cartoon avatars mimicking the movements of their human counterparts in real time.
Sounds like ball hits, crowd cheers, and commentary were all taken from the game itself, adding to the bizarre experience.
According to The Guardian, the technology used to create the animated characters was also implemented at last year’s event.
Machar Reid, Director of Innovation at Tennis Australia, explained the process involved using 12 cameras to track the silhouette of each player in real-time.
The system tracked 29 key points of the players’ skeletons to generate the animations, though Reid admitted it wasn’t perfect, stating, ‘It's not as seamless as it could be — we don't have fingers — but in time you can begin to imagine a world where that comes.’
This technology allowed a two-minute delayed animated version of the match to be broadcast to viewers.
The creative workaround has already garnered significant attention, with the animated broadcasts attracting around four times the viewership compared to the 2024 tournament.
Reid noted that the quirky animations were pulling in a new category of tennis fans, much like similar strategies in other sports.
For example, the NFL had previously experimented with a Nickelodeon broadcast featuring the network’s signature orange blimp and slime, which proved popular with younger viewers.
In December, the NBA followed suit, incorporating Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy into a Christmas Day broadcast, embracing the animated trend.
This shift in sports broadcasting may very well signal a future where more tournaments and games adopt similar creative methods to sidestep streaming restrictions.
Was this the perfect way to sidestep restrictions, or did it go too far in the name of creativity? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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