SK Telecom and Kakao VX to broadcast metaverse golf

Industry

Published: 20 May. 2021, 19:30 Updated: 21 May. 2021, 09:30

SK Telecom and Kakao VX to broadcast metaverse golf

SK Telecom signs a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kakao VX. From left, Kakao VX Marketing head Lee Sang-won, Kakao VX director Lee Jong-suk, head of SK Telecom's Media Strategy Support Division Lee Jong-suk and Oh Kyung-sik, SK Telecom's sports marketing manager. [SK TELECOM]

SK Telecom will collaborate with Kakao VX to live-stream the SK Telecom Open 2021 golf tournament using a metaverse, a 3-D virtual-reality space where people can interact with computer-generated environments and virtual people.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday to jointly develop metaverse golf broadcasting technologies.

Metaverse broadcasting will be introduced at the SK Telecom Open 2021, a golf tournament taking place at the Pinx Golf Club, at Jeju Island, on June 10. Only three holes – 7th, 13th and 18th – will be shown through the virtual reality universe.

During the game, SK Telecom’s AI technology will recognize the contestants and automatically compile game highlights by player and hole. Audio processing technology will be used to cancel out background noise, allowing fans to hear game-related conversations between players and their caddies. The mobile carrier’s Supernova AI program will convert swing movements to 120 frames per second to show the shots in detail.

Kakao VX will build a 3-D map of the golf course that shows ball drop points, trajectories, driving distance and shot patterns.

“With live broadcasting golf tournaments using a metaverse and AI now possible, sports players will be able to closely interact with their fans,” said Lee Jae-kwang, head of SK Telecom's Media Strategy Support Division.

SK Telecom Open 2021 will be broadcast on JTBC Golf on June 10 at 11 a.m.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]