BALS begins work as a partner of “Future-Build Powered by IOWN” to resolve issues in remote virtual production at film production sites

(Figure 1) Conceptual image of remote “virtual” production

• background purpose

BALS has been selected as a future co-creation partner for “Future-Build Powered by IOWN,” a project promoted by NTT West Japan to create a future with the next-generation communications and computing infrastructure “IOWN,” and is working to create future use cases.

Now, we are working to realize remote “virtual” production (RVP) by combining remote production, in which filming and production of video and audio take place in different locations, with the IOWN All-Photonics Network (APN), which features high capacity and low latency.
RVP believes that it has the potential to take on new markets by leveraging the IOWN APN in the field of digitally distributed live entertainment*3, which is expected to grow in the future.

Remote production, which has been expected to be used for video production for a long time, is carried out remotely at multiple locations,

1) Line delays occur, causing discrepancies in the timing of operations at each location, making centralized control difficult.

②To prevent deterioration of video quality, it is necessary to lay communication lines for each purpose.

These issues have arisen and the system has not been put to good use.

This RVP aims to solve the above two issues by utilizing the IOWN APN's features of “low latency” and “large capacity.” Regarding ①, the IOWN APN's feature of “low latency” will enable simultaneous switching of cameras (angle of view) of virtual and real performers at multiple locations, reducing the number of operations. Regarding ②, the IOWN APN's feature of “large capacity” will reduce the number of installed lines and simplify the equipment configuration, aiming for more convenient video shooting and production.

• Overview

(1) Details of the project

The three Interop venues, Makuhari Messe, QUINTBRIDGE in Osaka, and OPEN HUB Park in Tokyo, will be connected by IOWN APN, and videos will be produced and distributed that appear as if the performers at Makuhari Messe and QUINTBRIDGE and the VTubers at OPEN HUB Park were recorded in the same location. The line speed will be approximately 700 km between Tokyo and Osaka, with a delay of less than 5 msec. In addition, the Interop venue will have a distribution program by VTubers and provide an opportunity for visitors to experience the event.

(Figure 2) Image of the Interop exhibit

(2) Location

Makuhari Messe 2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture

(Remote Venue) QUINTBRIDGE 4-15-82 Higashinoda-cho, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

(Remote Venue) OPEN HUB Park Otemachi Place, 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

(3) Division of roles

Bals

・Planning and running the streaming program and experience opportunities for this demonstration, utilizing our XR live streaming know-how

・Confirm the feasibility of XR live streaming using RVP methods through a demonstration of a streaming program

NTT West

・Verification of RVP performance at video production sites using IOWN APN's “low latency” and “large capacity”

・Verification of use cases and business model considerations using RVP

• Future developments

We will continue to work towards resolving the issues of remote virtual production in video production sites.

*1 NTT West Press Release, February 5, 2024 ( )

*2 Interop Tokyo 2024 ( )

*3 Digitally distributed live entertainment refers to the online distribution of real live entertainment such as music concerts and stage performance events.
*4 “OPEN HUB Park” is a workplace equipped with cutting-edge technology that was opened by NTT Communications Corporation in February 2022.

• Company Profile

BALS Co., Ltd.

Established: 2017

Representative Director: Norikazu Hayashi

Business description: Operation of live platform “SPWN”, planning, production and operation of XR content

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