Nik Wallenda Tightrope Walk Across Grand Canyon Streamed Live with TriCaster

Live stream aired on skywire.discovery.com on June 23

On June 23, 2013, Nik Wallenda, the tightrope walker known as “the king of the high wire,” crossed the Grand Canyon without a net or safety harness – and Mobile Studios, Inc. used six TriCaster systems to live stream the event to a worldwide audience on skywire.discovery.com.

“After we were contracted to handle the Latin American feeds for Discovery, we decided to use TriCaster because it provides an elegant solution that met the stringent production requirements for this event,” said Richard Rubin, President of Mobile Studios, Inc. “NewTek products deliver tremendous functionality and excellent reliability, so it was an obvious choice for this momentous occasion.”

Tricaster 455 and TriCaster 855

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Wallenda’s highly anticipated Grand Canyon walk is more than 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River, a height greater than the Empire State Building. The Mobile Studios production crew was on the ground with six TriCasters; four TriCaster 455 systems and two TriCaster 855 systems. Five technical directors were on hand, running the TriCaster systems and providing audiences with a view of the Canyon they’ve never seen before, along with step-by-step coverage of the entire tightrope walk.

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“We are thrilled that Mobile Studios has chosen TriCaster to be a part of this historic event” said Philip Nelson, SVP of Artist and Media Relations at NewTek. “Broadcasters around the world have made TriCaster the preferred choice for live streaming major events, and on June 23, viewers all across the world had a front row seat to Nik’s Grand Canyon walk. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime live viewing experience with TriCaster again the center of the action.”

The walk was aired live exclusively on the Discovery Channel’s worldwide network covering more than 217 countries.

Mobile Studios, Inc, a leading builder of video production vehicles and PortaCast® flypacks for multi-cam video production just released a Ford Transit Connect van equipped with NewTeks’ TriCaster 855 and 3Play 425 replay system.

The “Transit Mobile Studio” provides a cost effective mobile platform for producing high school and college sports as well as complex live events. “Our goal was to design a very economical and compact production vehicle capable of broadcasting multi-cam HD video at a very attractive price point”, says Mobile Studios President, Rich Rubin.

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Transit Mobile Studio PortaCast Deluxe Double Wide Console Flypack TriCaster 855 NewTek 425 3Play Portable Mobile Studios Compact OB Video Production Vehicle
The TriCaster and 3Play are housed in Mobile Studios’ unique PortaCast Deluxe/T console; handling switching, replays, graphics, recording and streaming. “With space at a premium, we chose NewTek products because they deliver tremendous functionality and excellent production values,” said Rubin.

The PortaCast console is loaded/unloaded easily using two lightweight aluminum retractable ramps, which travel with the vehicle. “You can produce events in the van, or simply unload the console and roll it into a building for ultimate flexibility,” says Rubin.

About 3DStorm & NewTek
3D Storm, distributor of NewTek products in Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Turkey, Russia and Pakistan since 1999, is a leading player in the convergence of IT & Broadcast industries. 3D Storm professional team delivers bespoke services on the field, providing customers with an exclusive access to the newest and most innovative solutions on the market, such as TriCaster and 3Play. 3D Storm offers cost-effective solutions for anyone to bring their vision into real live television production.

3D Storm clients such as BBC, Sky, Mediaset, RAI, Radio RAI, CNBC, Azzura TV, Telenova, TF1, France Televisions, BFM TV, RTL, WDR, MDR, RTBF, MBC Dubai, SBC Seychelles, TV4, Borsen TV, Kanal Sport Denmark, Super Sport South Africa, TVGA (TV de Galicia), TV3, Banco Santander, Real Madrid F.C, Arsenal Media, Paris Parc des Princes Stadium, Copenhagen Parken Stadium, City of Paris, European Parliament, Metropole Orchestra, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, King Abdullah University Saudi Arabia... deliver daily live and streaming productions with NewTek products.

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NewTek is transforming the way people create network-style television content and share it with the world. From sporting events, Web-based talk shows, live entertainment, classrooms, and corporate communications—to virtually any venue where people want to capture and publish live video, we give our customers the power to grow their audiences, brands and businesses, faster than ever before.

Clients include: “The X Factor,” ESPN X Games, New York Giants, NBA Development League, Fox News, NHL, Nickelodeon, CBS Radio, ESPN Radio, Fox Sports, MTV, TWiT.TV, USA TODAY, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).