Visions Supplies Host OB Facilities for First Live 3D Wimbledon Broadcast

posted:

17/06/2011

Visions working with AELTC, CAN Communicate, Sony

NEP Visions has won the contract to supply host OB technical facilities for the first ever live 3D coverage of the Wimbledon lawn tennis championship. Visions will work alongside the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), Sony and CAN Communicate to deliver live 3D pictures around the world of the men’s and women’s finals matches. This prestigious project represents Visions’ first live 3D broadcast, utilising its state-of-the-art 3Gb/s Gemini OB units.

Six Element Technica 3D camera rig systems will be installed around Centre Court, utilising Sony P1 cameras, HDFA200S and MPE-200 control systems.

Element Technica Rig with Sony P1 cameras, HDFA200S and MPE-200 control systems

Visions will utilise the newest trucks in its fleet, Gemini I/II, to provide the 3D feeds for broadcasters including the BBC, while also broadcasting to cinemas worldwide. The facilities in Gemini comprise two full three-tier production spaces and two Calrec Apollo sound desks for cinema and television sound mixes. Special consideration has been given to the workflow with regard to the EVS systems and on-site editing / graphics in 3D, with the convergence operators situated adjacent to the EVS operators to aid the production process. The employment of the latest 3D image processing technology from Sony via the MPE-200 will provide the highest quality output.

Brian Clark, Commercial Director, NEP Visions, said, “We are honoured to have been appointed to provide technical host coverage for this unique broadcast of Wimbledon for AELTC, Sony and CAN Communicate. Successful tests on Centre Court have already taken place, and we are very much looking forward to this exciting 3D broadcast.”

Visions is also providing HD trucks and flypacks to NBC and ESPN for their US Wimbledon coverage.

VISIONS

Visions is the largest independent Outside Broadcast facilities company in the UK and is amongst the largest in Europe. It has 25 years of experience delivering first class facilities and service for television production across the world. Its facilities include a fleet of 20 trucks plus edit facilities, OB fly-pack facilities, production offices and studio facilities. Visions is a pioneer in HD OB production facilities, working on its first HD production in 2003 and continuing to be at the forefront of the development of this standard in OB facilities. Visions’ credits includes THE premier events in the world of broadcasting including three Olympic Games, football and rugby World Cups, Asian Games, Premier League and Champions League Football and a host of music, light entertainment and corporate events, all over the world.