Sphere Entertainment Launches Sphere Studios

Big Dome Exterior Credit Sphere Entertainment 1
Photo credit: Sphere Entertainment

Sphere Entertainment announced the launch of Sphere Studios, an immersive content studio that will be dedicated to creating the multi-sensory live experience for patrons of the new Sphere Las Vegas venue.

“Sphere Studios is not only creating content, but also technology that is truly transformative,” David Dibble, Chief Executive Officer of MSG Ventures, a division of Sphere Entertainment focused on developing advanced technologies for live entertainment, said in a statement. “Sphere in Las Vegas is an experiential medium featuring an LED display, sound system and 4D technologies that require a completely new and innovative approach to filmmaking. We created Big Sky — the most advanced camera system in the world — not only because we could, but out of innovative necessity. This was the only way we could bring to life the vision of our filmmakers, artists and collaborators for Sphere.”

The new campus is located in Burbank and includes a 28,000 square-foot, 100 foot-high dome with a quarter-sized version of the Las Vegas screen to serve as a specialized screening and production facility for the content displayed at Sphere.

The first of Sphere Studio’s innovations is Big Sky, an ultra high-resolution camera system that includes the largest single sensor in commercial use. Big Sky is also the world’s highest resolution LED screen. The first project harnessing the Big Sky is “Postcard from Earth,” which premieres at Sphere on Oct. 6, with tickets currently onsale via Sphere’s website.

“Big Sky is a giant leap forward for imaging and a testament to the innovation teams at Sphere Studios who made this technology a reality,” Deanan DaSilva, lead architect of Big Sky at Sphere Studios, said in a statement. “Big Sky allows us to capture cinematic content at a level of detail never before possible, opening up extraordinary possibilities and pushing immersive imaging technology forward in a way that will resonate throughout the entertainment industry.”

Sphere opens on Sept. 29 with a round of dates from U2, who will be performing “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere.”