Virtual studio delivered for Channel 9’s Winter Games coverage
AE Live has delivered a major new virtual studio for Channel 9 Australia launched during its coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, setting a new benchmark for immersive storytelling and live presentation.
The virtual studio sits at the heart of Channel 9’s Winter Olympics coverage, operating across the full duration of the Games and supporting up to 20 hours of live transmission daily, from pre-Games programming that took place in early February through to the Closing Ceremony on Sunday 22 February.
The project builds on the virtual set extension that AE Live delivered for Channel 9 for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games and represents a significant expansion in creative ambition and scale.
“Off the back of our Olympics Games virtual set extension for Paris 2024, we set about a seismic revamp of our facilities back home in Australia, reimagining what was possible for all our major sports presentations and more. What better time to debut this amazing technology than during the Winter Olympic Games, we're thrilled to be telling Australian stories in a dynamic environment that elevates our coverage beyond what's been possible before in Australia. Once again, we decided to collaborate with the leaders in implementing extended reality studios, our friends at AE Live. Across years of partnership AE have developed a deep understanding of Nine's vision and culture which when overlayed with their world leading expertise in all things Virtual, allows us to achieve exceptional things together.” Alex Rolls, Head of Creative and Innovation, Nine Network
Designed specifically for live broadcast, the virtual studio allows presenters, graphics, and immersive environments to blend seamlessly on air. Real and virtual elements combine to create a flexible space that can adapt instantly to different sports, segments, and moments throughout the Games.
The Winter Games studio makes use of a significantly larger physical footprint than the Summer Games, enabling more ambitious camera movement and a stronger sense of depth and scale. Design features include a halo screen, pillars and columns, frosted glass floors, and a virtual ice rink, offering producers a wide range of visual storytelling options.
A large LED wall wraps the environment, displaying panoramic views of Livigno and bringing the atmosphere of the Italian Alps into Channel 9’s North Sydney studio. The virtual design also connects visually with Channel 9’s on-site studio in Italy, creating a consistent look and feel across both locations.
Live broadcast graphics are fully integrated into the virtual world, including medal tallies and data displays that appear naturally within the environment. One standout moment sees the medal tally emerge on the Ice Wall and appear to freeze across the studio floor.
“Our enduring partnership with Nine has seen us deliver many fantastic projects together over the years. Nine's incredible Virtual Studio is the pinnacle of our collaboration to date. Nine have always been committed to world class creativity and innovation. With the launch of their new virtual world, they've elevated the XR landscape to a new highpoint in Australian Broadcast. We couldn't be prouder of our virtual team's work, nor more grateful to Brent, Alex and the huge team at Nine who have pulled out all the stops to launch their new XR facility during the Milano Cortina Games. With plans afoot for future rollout across a plethora of Nine's programming, we can't wait to keep raising the XR bar with Nine.” Narelle Vine, General Manager Australia, AE Live
Delivered by teams across Australia and the UK, the project reflects months of close collaboration between AE Live, their longstanding extended reality studio partner Jago Design and Channel 9, establishing a foundation for future sports and studio productions across the Nine Network.
