Live From X Games Minneapolis: ESPN Gives Its Coverage New, Colorful Graphics

The package is a collaboration of ESPN Creative Services, Echo Entertainment, Big Block, Rawmotion

Viewers of this summer’s X Games Minneapolis (which continues through Sunday on ESPN) will notice a completely fresh look across the broadcast’s graphics package. Both the insert package and the time and score bugs have been completely revamped in an effort to provide a more eye-catching look while being less intrusive on screen space.

Bringing this new package to fruition required a mega collaborative effort. ESPN, its X Games division, and X Games-production partner Echo Entertainment entrusted Los Angeles-based Big Block with development of the overall branding and design. Germany-based Rawmotion was responsible for the live-scoring and timing graphics.

“[The graphics package] is a more contemporary and youthful look with a lot of bright colors to invigorate it,” says Echo Entertainment President Hugh Arian.

The time-and-score graphic received most of the TLC when ESPN and Echo Entertainment worked to freshen up the look while also being more efficient with the size and placement of the graphics. For the first time in a long time, the traditional score bug in the top left corner of the screen (or as Arian refers to it as the “home chip”) will not be shaped like a hat, changing instead to a more standard “tombstone” shape.

“One of our goals with our cameras this year is to get closer and into the action, so this graphics package is much smaller and less intrusive, giving us much more real estate for the action,” says Arian. “Everything generates from the home chip and either drops down or slides out, but it’s not nearly as big as what we’ve had in the past.”

He and ESPN, VP, X Games, Tim Reed, saw the package live and in action for the first time on Wednesday night, Arian says, and are “really excited about it.”