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ITV's ambitious World Cup studio project has made headlines back home since its first broadcast outing shortly before the World Cup.
With a view of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge, ITV decided very early on into the location scouting process that what you see on your screens should be their base for the tournament.
FourFourTwo were invited for a behind the scenes tour of the facility at the undisclosed location in New York City , making ourselves very comfortable in the pundits' chairs.
ITV Sport's amazing World Cup studio
There are three sets on the site, which overlooks an exclusive New York hotel and its rooftop pool, two of which are on the custom-built rooftop.
ITV began scouting locations as soon as Euro 2024 had come to a close and despite viewing several sites, it was the Brooklyn location they viewed first and subsequently set their hearts on.
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In order to achieve the best visual outcome, ITV built three metres up from the building's existing rooftop. After getting the lift up to the top floor, FFT were guided along a corridor, past commentary suites, the production team and gallery, and up another set of stairs to the outdoor studio.
Even though on the day of our visit, it was a cloudy morning, the view is sensational. Lower Manhattan and its skyscrapers dominates from one angle, whilst from the other, Brooklyn Bridge sprawls across the skyline connecting Manhattan with its sister borough.
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The A and B sets are ITV's prized possession this tournament, even with the star-studded panels on show whenever the broadcaster is on air. Only when storm warnings are issued does production need to move downstairs to the indoor studio, which is less spectacular but more than fit for purpose.
Despite the scale of the project, which to the eagle-eyed can be spotted from the opposite side of the East River, ITV confirmed the studio only took seven weeks to build and become operational.
In addition to the presenter and panelists' set there is a huge green screen that allows ITV to broadcast unique World Cup themed imagery to its viewers and give the impression of an ornately decorated background when in actuality, what's behind the camera is a bunch of producers, camera operators, a director and large, plain black wall.
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the panelists' A set, is the implementation of cooling vents beneath each pundit's seat, intended to blow cool air up.
This is to ensure on-air talent don't get too warm in the New York summer weather, which can be particularly humid and sweltering - take it from us.
Compared to rival broadcaster the BBC 's Salford setup, which will be replaced by in-stadium production for the latter stages of the tournament, ITV have hit this one out of the park when it comes to their studio.
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