Taiwan's TVBS made history last month as the only Taiwanese media organization granted access to report from inside Barcelona's Sagrada Família during the blessing and inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ, completing architect Antoni Gaudí's central spire after 144 years of construction. The collaboration with Japan's NHK, which has documented the basilica for decades, enabled live coverage of this landmark event.
The ceremony marked a milestone for one of the world's most visited cultural landmarks, drawing global attention to Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece. TVBS crews filmed in areas rarely accessible to media, including the crypt where Gaudí is buried, architectural workshops, and key structural sections of the basilica. The team conducted interviews with architects and experts involved in the project during preparations for the inauguration ceremony.
Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling joined the reporting team as a cultural ambassador, meeting with architects and experts to explore the basilica through the perspectives of architecture, aesthetics, and cultural heritage. Her involvement added a cultural dimension to the coverage beyond conventional architectural reporting.
HTC, through its VIVE Arts initiative, contributed its immersive experience "Gaudí, the Atelier of the Divine", a virtual reality program allowing audiences to explore Gaudí's architectural world. TS Financial Holding Co., Ltd., which has long supported arts and cultural exchange, sponsored the live broadcast, citing values of integrity, innovation, and sustainability.
TVBS integrated AI-powered real-time translation technology throughout the live coverage, facilitating multilingual communication across international production teams. The project showcased Taiwan's ability to connect industries and communities across borders, bringing together partners from technology and financial sectors to document a defining milestone in the Sagrada Família's history.
