Newsletter from 18/03/2014
Quantel & Snell Unite - Harris Broadcast Split
MOBILE PRODUCTION
Gearhouse Australia HD-5
Established in 1998, Gearhouse Broadcast Australia is located in Sydney and Melbourne. It provides broadcast services around Australia, specialising in Outside Broadcast, Project Solutions and Dry Hire Equipment Rental. Gearhouse Broadcast Australia is a leader in HD Outside Broadcast technology. Its ever-growing fleet currently consists of six HD units of various sizes and two SD units. The Outside Broadcast business covers a wide range of sporting and entertainment events, most notably the Australian Rules Football (AFL) for Network 7, Super 15s Rugby and A-League Football for Fox Sports. Project Solutions operates similarly to Gearhouse Broadcast UK - it delivers broadcast solutions for major televised sporting events and reality television. Gearhouse has led projects at the Australian Open Tennis 2005 to 2010, the Commonwealth Games 1998, 2002 and 2006 and for I’m A Celebrity and Celebrity Love Island.
Get the Specs of HD-5 here
Liga TV OB-2
The HD OB Van was built in 2010 over a one year entirely by Liga TV. Everything but the superstructure was made by our colleagues, including the plans, rack mounting and the wiring. Thanks to the many years spent in the broadcasting industry, and to the expertise of our engineers, the OB Van meets the highest technical requirements, and provides a comfortable friendly workspace. Liga TV covers more then 200 sports events a year, such as soccer, ice hockey, basketball, boxing, water polo, horse race etc.
Get the Specs of OB-2 here
Clay Paky B-EYEs and Sharpys shines on Super Bowl Halftime Show
Super Bowl Halftime Show always glitters, and Bruno Mars’s stellar performance at Super Bowl XLVIII was no exception. This year 330 Clay Paky Sharpys and a dozen Clay Paky A.leda B-EYE K20s were on hand to illuminate the show. Lighting designer Bob Barnhart opted to have “a more rock ‘n roll vibe in the rig than the stylized, choreographed shows that we’ve seen in the past. Bruno wanted this to be more of a live rock show.” Barnhart was challenged to capture that rock ‘n roll sensibility as well as prepare for winter weather conditions that might envelop the open-air MetLife stadium in New Jersey. “It was a question of what we could design that could survive severe weather,” he says. “Another factor was the limitations of rigging positions in the building and how we could symmetrically lay out the rig. We had to cover as much of the full stadium with the stage pushed back against the audience as we could.”
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STUDIO PRODUCTION
ProSiebenSat.1 PULS 4 HD Studio
Puls 4 is a terrestrial television channel in Austria. As its name implies, it is the fourth Austrian-wide full-service television channel, behind ORF eins, ORF 2, and ATV. Puls 4 began as a local Vienna television station called "Puls TV". In 2007, ProSiebenSat.1 Media took over the station outright. On 28 January 2008, with the addition of a nightly newscast, the station relaunched as "Puls 4", Austria's fourth general terrestrial network.
Get the Specs of the PULS 4 HD Studio here
Riedel MediorNet Real-Time Media Network for Endemol
Going into the 2013-14 Dutch football season, Endemol and Fox Sports Eredivisie took on a project that would significantly enhance the quality with which we could produce and deliver live broadcasts of all Dutch Eredivisie matches on the Fox Sports Eredivisie football pay-TV channels. At the Endemol central broadcast hub in Amsterdam, where DutchView provides full-service studio operations, we completed construction of three entirely new HD studios and production galleries dedicated to match-day programming and highlights creation. We also upgraded the supporting infrastructure, using Riedel’s MediorNet real-time media network and Artist digital matrix intercom system to establish a fully redundant communications, A/V, and data link connecting the Endemol studio complex in Amsterdam with the master control room and playout facility, located in Hilversum, where Ericsson provides services and facilities including hardware, glass fiber and operators.
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Robe’s Star Rises Again In Israel
Robe continues to be a popular choice for Israel’s top TV Lighting Designers, with ROBIN MMX Spot and LEDBeam 100s right up there in the eye-catching lighting scheme designed by LD Ronen Najar for the first 24-episode series of brand new singing contest, ‘Rising Star’. The show was recorded in the Globus Group Studios in Jerusalem and broadcast on national Channel 2. Najar was asked onboard because of his work on concert touring shows and large scale musicals. He had also worked with the production company TEDDI on lighting their previous talent contest, ‘A Star Is Born’. Rising Star is a singing competition with a twist, all the contestants started their performances behind a curved projection screen that flew in around the front of the stage – with IMAG images of the artists projected onto it. As they started their song, viewers and the 800 live audience in Studio 4 – having downloaded an App for their Smartphones - registered their ‘likes’ live as the song was being performed. If the ‘likes’ reached a 70% marker, then the screen started to fly out and they made it through to the next round!
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SPORTS
ATP World Tour Coverage with freeD™ Technology
Gearhouse Broadcast, the longtime provider of facilities and crew to ATP Media for their production of the ATP Masters 1000 Series and the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, has partnered with Replay Technologies to bring tennis fans revolutionary new viewing angles for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA. Gearhouse Broadcast provides all the facilities and crew to ATP Media, to showcase battles of tennis titans in new and exciting ways. Gearhouse Broadcast tasked by ATP Media, has brought Replay Technologies’ freeD™ into the existing production model to enhance the coverage even further for a worldwide audience. “We are delighted to be working with Replay Technologies and ATP Media to bring a fresh take on some great tennis action,” explains, John Newton, CEO Gravity Media Group, parent of Gearhouse Broadcast. “I really think that viewers will enjoy the different aspects of play that this system will highlight.”
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International Equestrian Sword Festival in Qatar
EVS live video production systems were at the heart of the recent Emir’s International Equestrian Sword Festival, one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the international calendar. The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (REC), located near the capital Doha, is one of the most modern racecourses in the world, featuring a state-of-the-art video production, broadcast and archive workflow built around EVS technology. The EVS production workflow was used to deliver all the action from the event to race-goers at the course. EVS technology was also at the heart of the outside broadcast unit from Qatari broadcaster Al Kass, which was providing the television coverage. The event was also the first time EVS’ XTRef software was used, a multi-camera review solution specially designed for stewards and race officials.
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Counting down to the FIFA World Cup
Less than a hundred days are remaining to the beginning of the FIFA World Cup™. São Paulo is under the expectation of hosting six games of the biggest sporting event on the planet. Its preparations include projects related to social and economic development of the east area of the city, including new jobs positions offer. To mark the date, the City Hall of São Paulo is launching social network channels aiming to inform citizens and tourists about the projects progresses, the city operation and the plan of activities which will take place during the event. Furthermore, together with the other eleven host cities, the national touristic attractions will be kept under special lighting.
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Auditoria Specifies Optocore Network for Sochi Opening/Closing Ceremonies
Within the newly constructed 42,500 capacity Fisht Olympic Stadium in the developing Russian city of Sochi, the XXII Olympic Winter Games drew to an end with the spectacular Closing ceremony. Just as he had done at the Opening extravaganza 16 days earlier, Audio Director Scott Willsallen (of Auditoria) designed the technological infrastructure, placing all the transmission on a 24-node Optocore dual redundant ring and working with two different creative teams to fulfil different objectives. The formal operatic and cultural Opening Ceremony display, creatively designed by Konstantin Ernst and directed by Andrei Boltenko, made way for the more party atmosphere of the Closing Ceremony, directed by Italian Daniele Finzi Pasca. Featuring nearly 800 performers and representing hundreds of years of Russian history, it was an exacting task.
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SHOWS
XL Video at The BRIT Awards 2014 with MasterCard
The BRIT Awards 2014 with MasterCard - hailed as one of the liveliest and most compelling to date for content, production and visual presentation - featured a fresh and epic look at London’s O2 Arena with an eye-catching stage set designed by Peter Bingemann and XL Video once again supplying LED screens, projection and crew. The accompanying cameras, PPU, control systems and a Twitter feed-to-screen/moderation system were supplied and managed by Ogle Hog’s Chris Saunders who continued his 20 year relationship with The BRITs. It’s the twelfth consecutive year that XL - and Production Manager Paul Wood - has been involved as the video contractor for the high profile annual Music Awards, once again working with Papilo Productions, who manage the project for BRIT Awards Productions.
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Strictly Come Mixing: Yamaha Steps Up To The Cha-Cha-Challenge
Fans of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing are flocking to a 21 date live UK arena tour to see seven celebrity dancers and their professional partners show off their moves on stage. Four Yamaha digital mixers are ensuring that the sound is, as judge Craig Revel Horwood might put it, “Fab… u… LOUS!” Taking place in January and February, South Wales-based Sonalyst has designed and facilitated the Strictly tour’s sound and lighting for a number of years. Managing Director and Sound Designer Rory Madden chose a pair of Yamaha PM5Ds, an M7CL and an LS9 to deliver the 2014 production’s intricate mix. The show follows the format of the television show, each couple dancing twice and receiving comments from the judges, a full production number, routines by the professional dancers, an audience vote (by text message) and presentation to the night’s winning couple.
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SSL Live Console on the Road with Peter Gabriel's Back to Front Tour
When the company’s owner mandates the use of its latest technology for its first major tour, you can be sure everyone involved, knowing his perfectionist approach, gives it their full attention and then some. Peter Gabriel’s Back to Front tour made full use of the new SSL Live consoles supplied by Britannia Row Productions for the first part of the tour in Sept/Oct 2013, and will continue to demand perfection from the console when the tour resumes in April 2014. Happily, the hard work paid off and artists, engineers and SSL’s design team were all thrilled with the results – as were audiences across Europe. Three Live consoles were employed to handle the Back to Front performances. One at front-of-house, one was for the band’s monitors and one was used for Peter Gabriel’s monitoring system. All the consoles performed flawlessly.
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PRODUCTS
Quantel Acquires Snell
Postproduction developer Quantel has acquired Snell, which creates technology for TV live production and the management and distribution of web content. The combined company will have revenue of more than $170 million and offices in 16 locations around the globe, making it one of the larger vendors in the broadcast industry. The enlarged company will be called Quantel and headquartered in Newbury UK, Quantel’s current HQ. According to an FAQ issued by the company, all existing products from Snell and Quantel will continue, and the Snell brand will remain. Quantel CEO Ray Cross will lead the enlarged company. Current Snell CEO Simon Derry will exit the business after acting helping to support the integration of the two companies for several months.
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Harris Broadcast Becomes Imagine Communications and GatesAir
Harris Broadcast, a portfolio company of The Gores Group and a market share leader of media software, networking and over-the-air solutions serving the global media and entertainment markets, today unveiled Imagine Communications and GatesAir at its inaugural MediaDay held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Under the new corporate structure, the Harris Broadcast portfolio of radio and TV broadcast transmission products are now part of GatesAir, and the rest of the company’s product line-up are part of Imagine Communications. The split is effective immediately, and the companies will have separate booths at the upcoming NAB 2014 tradeshow. Although the announcement marks the end of the Harris name of the broadcast industry after more than half a century, it also marks the re-entrance of the Gates name. Founded in 1922, Gates Radio was acquired by Harris Corporation in 1957, and became the Harris transmission division. With the use of the Gates name for its new company, the Harris Broadcast transmission business has come full-circle. The grandson of Gates Radio founder Parker Gates was on hand at the event and said the family was pleased by the news.
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90 years of "Generation Audio"
In Germany, there has now been electronic media, such as the radio, for around 90 years – and beyerdynamic has been there right from the start. Founded in 1924, as "Elektrotechnische Fabrik Eugen Beyer" in Berlin, the company has radically influenced and promoted audio recording and sound reproduction. Products like the first dynamic headphones DT 48 (1937), the first studio-grade dynamic microphone M 19 (1939) or the tour guide system for museums and factory tours which was presented by beyerdynamic for the first time in 1974 were milestones in this field. But they are just three examples of the many innovations that have made beyerdynamic a leading audio specialist over the years.
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POLARIS evolution: The First Fully Personalised Network Mixing Console
SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP is raising the bar in the digital mixing console market with the new POLARIS evolution. Its individual components are connected via a standard Ethernet network and recombined with each other for every mixing project! POLARIS evolution consists of three main components, namely the control surface POLARIS access, the multi-user capable audio processor POLARIS scala, and the touch-screen upgrade POLARIS view. Almost any number of these modules can be combined within an IP network, irrespective of physical location, and can also be used in parallel simultaneously for different mixing projects. This enables the customer to select the appropriate audio processing power for each application with the required number of fader strips and controls. A single POLARIS access has 16 faders and the same number of dual rotary encoders, 48 buttons and a display screen strip across the width of the console. The POLARIS view touch screen upgrade can be docked at an angle onto POLARIS evolution and provides a convenient user interface.
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NewTek Integrates TriCaster and 3Play For YouTube Live
NewTek announced it has completed work with YouTube to ensure the compatibility of TriCaster and 3Play as powerful and affordable tools for sports enterprises of any size to live stream a wide range of competitive events over YouTube’s live sports streaming service. With more than a billion visitors every month, YouTube is playing a growing role as an online distributor of live sports coverage. TriCaster is the industry standard for high quality yet affordable HD multi-camera video production and live streaming. 3Play is a professional slow motion replay server, a must-have for sports broadcasting, available at a fraction of the cost of traditional replay systems. Together they level the playing field for sports producers on YouTube.
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Airfilms Productions Deploys Cobham’s Nano HD Transmitter
Airfilms Productions, a leading Dutch production house focussed solely on aerial imaging services, has successfully deployed Cobham Broadcast’s Nano HD transmitter for a range of high profile events in the Middle East with Airfilms’ unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Cobham Broadcast is a UK-based RF specialist company dedicated to technology that will transmit and receive images and information in difficult environments. Its ultra-miniature Nano HD is an HD digital video transmitter designed specifically for point-of-view (POV), body-worn and aerial applications. According to Airfilms’ Operations Manager Marvin Dechene, “Weight is obviously an important factor in how long our remotely controlled airborne vehicles can stay aloft, and the Cobham’s Nano HD is so light, yet powerful and reliable that is has greatly extended our ability to capture aerial footage from fabulous perspectives.”
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3D/4K ARISING
Smart 4K TV Sets Stage for Breathtaking Beauty, Variety
You may not recall the first time you saw an HD TV but “Waterworld” was the movie everyone had on their sets at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) to highlight the eyepopping imagery and illustrate the difference between HD and the old-fashioned SD TVs. At this year’s NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) no one will say anything but 4K! This year, Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” took box office, award honors– because of its utterly perfect presentation of 4K content you can enjoy on medium to monster-sized UHD TV sets that totally replace one wall in your man cave. The images were amazingly sharp and breathtakingly clear/crisp. With no hallucinogenic side effects I had proclaiming 3D was going to sweep the industry, I see 4K UHD taking off more quickly than many analysts predict. Face it … bigger images, content, action is just, well, beautiful.
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