Taiwan's TVBS captured a historic milestone in Barcelona last month, providing live coverage of the blessing and inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Sagrada Família. The event marked the completion of the central spire of Antoni Gaudí's masterwork after 144 years of construction, drawing global attention to one of the world's most visited cultural landmarks. TVBS partnered with Japan's NHK to become the only Taiwanese media organization granted access to report from inside the basilica, underscoring a significant moment for Taiwan's international media presence.
The collaboration between TVBS and NHK was built on NHK's decades-long documentation of the Sagrada Família's construction, which fostered 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. The team conducted interviews with architects and experts involved in the project during preparations for the inauguration ceremony. Construction on the church began in 1882, one year before Gaudí took over as chief architect.
Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling joined the reporting team as a cultural ambassador, meeting with architects and experts to explore the basilica through perspectives of architecture, aesthetics, and cultural heritage. Her involvement added a cultural dimension to the coverage beyond conventional architectural reporting.
The coverage brought together 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 allowing 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. This cross-sector collaboration extended Taiwan's cultural advocacy onto the international stage, connecting the 144-year architectural endeavor to audiences in Taiwan and Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.
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. Together, TVBS, NHK, HTC, and TS Financial Holding Co., Ltd., documented a defining milestone in the Sagrada Família's history.
