CBS has introduced "Center Court," a groundbreaking virtual environment designed for its coverage of the 2025 March Madness tournaments. This innovative approach to the traditional brackets offers a fresh perspective on tournament presentation.
The versatile virtual set is adaptable and can be implemented in any CBS-owned station equipped with the necessary technology and studio space. WFOR was the first to utilize this advanced setup. CBS Stations has been actively upgrading its facilities across various markets to accommodate this consistent configuration.
Beyond college basketball, the studios boast multi-purpose functionality. They can be utilized for local weather forecasting and diverse storytelling applications, many of which take place within a circular environment characterized by slatted accents. However, Center Court retains the classic rectangular layout of a basketball court, featuring a sleek black floor with distinct white markings, virtual hoops, and a wraparound mezzanine. A skyline depicting host cities is subtly visible above, adding a touch of local flavor.
The design seamlessly integrates a virtual CBS logo and a large floating basketball, harmonizing with the circular elements frequently incorporated into the on-air aesthetic of many CBS-owned stations. A key element is the "Dialed In Bracket," a circular, stepped design resembling a dial. This innovative concept employs wedges to visually represent the tournament brackets, allowing on-air talent to dynamically highlight team progression through the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The "Dialed In Bracket" uses the winning team's colors to raise segments as teams advance, while losing teams' sections become muted and lower. Each round (first and second rounds, Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, and Final Four) gets its own ring. Further enhancing the experience are additional virtual elements like a vertical LED element beneath the hoops or floating 3D boxes for showcasing dynamic graphics.
Zero Density’s Reality solution and Unreal Engine power the virtual set. CBS collaborated with Myreze on the design, who also designed the virtual weather set.