FOR-A's Software-Defined, AI-Powered Development Advances With Nippon TV And NVIDIA Technology
NBC Sports Deploys viztrick AiDi to Stream Live Events in 9:16 Mobile-First Formats with Auto Tracking, Development Signals Strategic Shift for FOR-A
Long recognized for its precision-engineered broadcast hardware, FOR-A Corporation is redefining its future. The company today announced a major step forward in its transformation into a software-defined, AI-driven solutions provider, built for modern live production workflows that span cloud, IT infrastructure, and edge-based intelligence. FOR-A will exhibit in NAB Booth #C4920 during the show.
At the center of this shift is viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered globally by FOR-A, and powered by NVIDIA AI infrastructure (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 with 24GB GDDR7 Laptop GPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti with 16GB GDDR7 desktop GPU.)
The collaboration marks a turning point for FOR-A that positions the company squarely at the intersection of AI, software, and real-time live content creation. As further proof of its commitment to a software-defined workflow, FOR-A also recently introduced the live production platform, FOR-A IMPULSE, and the MixBoard software switcher.
viztrick AiDi has been deployed by NBC Sports, marking its first commercial implementation and signaling a broader expansion into AI-enhanced live production markets worldwide. NBC Sports is using it to deliver live sporting events in 9:16 mobile-first formats with minimal delay, which is essential to reach today's audiences. It delivers real-time player tracking, face tagging, object recognition, 2.5D telestration, auto-score graphics, and motion data analytics—without internet connectivity. Automatic 9:16 cropping with auto-tracking using highly intuitive operation enables incremental streaming business for mobile phones.
AI at the Edge, Powered by NVIDIA
Delivering AI-driven cropping, tracking, and analysis in real time demands extraordinary computational power. viztrick AiDi's core processing is driven by NVIDIA accelerated computing, selected specifically for their ability to handle the intense workloads required to manipulate live video streams without latency.
Unlike cloud-based alternatives, viztrick AiDi operates entirely on-device, eliminating reliance on internet connectivity while ensuring consistent performance in outside broadcast and remote production environments.
NBC Sports: Expanding Live Streaming Without Delay
For NBC Sports, viztrick AiDi solves a critical challenge: delivering compelling, vertical video experiences for mobile audiences without disrupting live workflows. "We needed a way to produce high-quality 9:16 live content with virtually no delay," said Tim Canary, Senior Vice President of Engineering, NBC Sports. "viztrick AiDi does exactly that. The AI tracking is fast, accurate, and reliable—and when you need manual control, it's instantly available. It gives us flexibility without sacrificing the pace or quality of our live coverage."
Built by Broadcasters, for Live Producers Everywhere
Developed by Nippon TV's engineering team, viztrick AiDi reflects decades of real-world broadcast experience. "We created viztrick AiDi to be an AI that truly works on site," said Takayuki Shinoda, Lead Developer of viztrick AiDi, Global Strategy Headquarters, Nippon TV. "Seeing it adopted by NBC Sports confirms that our approach—practical, real-time, and production-focused—resonates globally. This collaboration with FOR-A and NVIDIA allows us to bring that vision to producers worldwide."
FOR-A America President and COO Satoshi Kanemura added: "FOR-A has entered a new chapter. We're evolving from a hardware-centric company into a provider of intelligent, software-defined solutions that leverage AI and GPU acceleration. viztrick AiDi is a powerful example of what this new era looks like—where innovation happens at the edge, in real time, and without compromise."
Source: FOR-A Company Limited