Fox Sports Adding Computer-Generated Fans to Baseball Broadcasts

Fox will be taking viewers out to the ballgame by adding a virtual crowd in parks during its baseball telecasts this season. The network revealed on Thursday that it will include computer-generated fans in the stands beginning with their three games on Saturday. Fox begins its coverage with Milwaukee at the Chicago Cubs, followed by San Francisco at Los Angeles Dodgers, and concluding with the New York Yankees at Washington. Fox has been working on a solution to no crowds since late March, when most realized crowds were not going to be allowed to return to stadiums and arenas because of the coronavirus pandemic. The fans can do up to 500 actions, ranging from high fives during a home run to doing the wave. The system is also advanced where it can control the percentage of fans in the stadium during a game as well as who they are cheering for. For example, Saturday’s Brewers-Cubs game could create a crowd that is 75% Cubs and 25% Brewers. It can also make it appear as if most of them have left if it is a 9-1 ballgame in the ninth inning. The system will also be able to adapt to the weather. When the temperature gets colder in the fall, winter jackets and hats can be added to the fans.