Taiwan's TVBS achieved a historic milestone in international media collaboration by partnering with Japan's NHK to provide live coverage of the blessing and inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. The ceremony, which took place last month, completed the central spire of architect Antoni Gaudí's masterwork after 144 years of construction. TVBS was the only Taiwanese media organization granted access to report from inside the basilica, marking a significant moment for Taiwan's international media presence.
The collaboration with NHK, which has documented the construction of the Sagrada Família for decades, built on a relationship of trust with the basilica's team. 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, providing in-depth coverage of the event.
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, bridging Taiwan's cultural advocacy with an international audience.
The coverage was supported by partners from Taiwan's technology and financial sectors. HTC, through its VIVE Arts initiative, contributed its immersive experience "Gaudí, the Atelier of the Divine", a virtual reality program that allows audiences to explore Gaudí's architectural world in new ways. 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. This project showcased Taiwan's ability to connect industries and communities across borders, connecting the 144-year architectural endeavor to audiences in Taiwan and Chinese-speaking communities worldwide. The cross-sector collaboration extended Taiwan's cultural advocacy onto the international stage, highlighting the significance of the Sagrada Família's completion as a global cultural milestone.
