Newsletter from 18/05/2018
Super Bowl 50 - Marathon Mumbai - Kazan - 4Hills Oberstdorf
The first Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) tradeshow was held in Geneva, Switzerland in February 2004. Since then, the annual event has grown from 120 exhibitors and 3,500 visitors, to a record-breaking 12th year that saw ISE 2015 welcome more than 1,000 exhibitors and almost 60,000 visitors through the doors of the Amsterdam RAI. This further cements ISE’s position as the world’s fastest-growing and best-attended show for professional AV and electronic systems - setting the benchmark for other industry tradeshows. The organisation behind ISE - Integrated Systems Events LLC - is a joint venture between InfoComm International and CEDIA, the two leading industry associations for the global audiovisual industry.
Spotlight on Exhibitors:
Avid - Adder - AJA - Avolites - Digigram - DirectOut - Guntermann & Drunck - IHSE - NewTek - RTS - Sony
MOBILE PRODUCTION
Four Hills Tournament 2016 – The Event in Oberstdorf
The highlight of the broadcast was the HTTV camera system itself: Two cameras were positioned 4 meters high on center position of the athletes landing area. One camera (Grass Valley LDK-86) was equipped with a 86x zoom lens and operated in 6x SuperMotion mode while the other was using a wide angle lens. The cameras were operated remotely via tripod control. For vision control and SloMo control Hai TV delivers a separate operating van. From here the unique image sections for the flight and the landing of the athletes were transferred to the host broadcast OBVan from TV Skyline where director Thomas Strobl was able to include the emotional images of flight and landing into the host broadcast signal.
Webcasting - A Growing Tiger In The Production Industry
Jean Francois Thyssen explained: “CMG Télévision team is made of a PTZ cameraman, a HF cameraman, a video mixer operator, and me the director. With the ABonAir complete solution, all I have to do is simply plug the transmitter to the camera, setup the receiver and the sector antenna, plug BNC cable, switch on the TX (transmitter) & RX (Receiver) and voilà - we are ready to broadcast live! No need to check for dedicated frequencies; it is very simple. The wireless solution is essential to our business, sometimes when a car is broken we must run to catch special, close angel shot that our viewers like so much …”
Nevion solution boosts ESPN’s sports coverage
ESPN’s remote integration program (REMI) began in January 2015 and seeks to reduce assets on location at sports venues, moving more of the live production back to a central location. Part of this program has seen the sports broadcaster increase its remote production capabilities through the use of outside broadcast uplink providers, such as Coastal Media Group. Coastal Media, a provider of turnkey satellite and fiber transmission solutions, selected the NX4600, an ESPN-approved encoding product, for their work with ESPN.
STUDIO / IP PRODUCTION
The Television Center Ostankino
Television center Ostankino has been the biggest broadcasting center in Europe for more than 45 years. Modern equipment from world’s leading producers and qualified specialists provide technological platform for creation and expansion of content by Russian’s leading tele- and radio companies. Television center Ostankino includes studios, over-the-air and assembly equipment rooms, complexes for making decorations and maintenance of production processes. More than 15 thousand people attend television center daily.
Russia's largest TV production facility now houses 33 Calrec consoles
Television Technical Centre Ostankino (TTC) has installed five more Calrec digital audio consoles as part of its continued effort to upgrade studios in its Moscow facility. The studios are used by Russian broadcast companies such as Channel One, Technostyle, and NTV Plus on a wide variety of programs, including the May 9th "Victory Day" parade in Red Square. TTC has installed Apollo consoles in eight of its studios, each with a companion Artemis console that can be used on the studio floor for tasks such as mixing a band or a live audience.
IP for Live Production
The production and transmission of a live sporting event is one of the most technically challenging assignments for any crew. After all, you can’t ask to take the shot again at a live event! Multiple signals in a variety of formats need to be transmitted around the sporting venue, as well as being seamlessly integrated with feeds from a studio or other locations to form a complete broadcast stream. Managing the various signal types and locations can be challenging; most media signals need to be encapsulated or adapted to work efficiently over a backbone that carries multiple signals. However, by taking advantage of the latest IP technology, networks can be simplified by consolidating all media traffic onto a common platform.
SPORT EVENTS
Introducing the Facebook Sports Stadium
Serving as a dedicated place within Facebook (this is not a separate app or Website) where users can experience and comment on sports in real time, Facebook Sports Stadium takes all the content surrounding a major sports event and brings it into one place. That includes live scores and stats, a play-by-play tracker, related posts from friends, related posts from experts and analysts, and, of course, the ability to share it all. “Sports is truly social and represents a shared interest across the globe, cutting across demographics, cultural differences, and socioeconomic barriers,” says Dan Reed, head of global sports partnerships, Facebook. “It’s a passion point for so many, which is why we are investing in this dedicated sports experience. We hope to make connecting over sports even more meaningful, fun and engaging for the hundreds of millions of sports fans on Facebook.”
FIFA Confederations Cup emblem gives life to Russian dream
From 17 June to 2 July 2017, the six continental champions will join the Russian hosts and the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ winners Germany for this star-studded tournament. The FIFA Confederations Cup will take place in Russia for the first time, with the host country and Copa América champions Chile making their debuts in the competition. Australia and Mexico, who won the tournament in 1999, have both already qualified. "The Official Emblem and look of the tournament were inspired by Russia's rich culture and storytelling tradition. The shape of the trophy inspired the design of the emblem which is brought to life by the mythological firebird, its main character," said FIFA Marketing Director Thierry Weil.
Domo SOLO HD transmitters and PRORXD receivers are marathon winners
Domo SOLO HD transmitters were fitted to three live chase motorbikes and multiple ground bases throughout both marathon courses. In Singapore, video from each was sent to four PRORXD 8-Way Diversity-equipped sites strategically mounted on high-rise rooftops, including Suntec 4 Tower, Marina Bay Sands hotel, and two sites in the East Coast Park Area of Singapore. The Suntec Tower served as the primary switching hub. n Mumbai, a similar set-up with the PRORXD receivers included their positioning atop two tall apartment buildings as well as the 23-storey Air India building, which served as the main switching hub.
SHOW EVENTS
Super Bowl 50 and Its Lasting Legacy
First, of course, there are the whiz-bang technologies. CBS Sports made use of a new Sony 4K camera that can record at eight times speed (coupled with a new Canon UHD lens) and both of those tools seem destined to make big news at NAB and in the marketplace. Then there was the FreeD technology that was the backbone of the EyeVision 360 system. That system’s pinpoint accuracy came to light during the end of the game when CBS used it to show that Denver Bronco running back CJ Anderson had broken the plane of the goal line. There’s little doubt that a system like that could also be a boon for for official reviews of scoring plays and other crucial down-and-distance plays as well as things like determining ball placement and more.
Clay Paky delivers ultimate impact on Knockout Circuz
Indoor ‘hardstyle’ festival Knockout Circuz returned to iconic Sydney venue The Hordern Pavilion at the end of last year, with lighting designer Arian Yeganeh creating a spectacular 8-hour light show using Clay Paky Mythos, Stormy and Sharpy fixtures. Promoted by organisers Hard Styles United (HSU) as “one of the most spectacular and intense indoor rave arenas [we] have ever created” with “hours of lasers, spectacular lighting shows and crystal clear audio”, Knockout Circuz saw a line up of such international artists as Technoboy and Bioweapon.
Something for The Weeknd from Ayrton
The sold-out Madness Fall Tour by Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer, The Weeknd, in support of his third studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness, was a spectacular production, with set and lighting design by LeRoy Bennett of Seven Design Works. It incorporated over 650 lighting fixtures from Ayrton - including ‘every available IntelliPix™-R fixture on the planet’ – to help realise a design concept that delivered a multiplicity of looks from the subtly atmospheric to a totally engulfing spectacle.
PRODUCTS
Genelec 8351 Smart Active Monitor™ (SAM™) Receives NAMM TEC Award
Genelec, the leader in active monitoring technology for over 35 years, is proud to announce that its 8351 three-way Smart Active Monitor™ (SAM™) has received a NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the Studio Monitor Technology category. Presented by the NAMM Foundation, the awards celebrate the best in professional audio and sound production. The 31st Annual TEC Awards were presented Saturday, January 23, 2016, at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
SAM launches Kula – The most powerful production switcher in its class
The new Kula switcher combines a powerful feature set with a market leading price point, while easy installation and set-up means operators can work quickly and efficiently, focusing on high value creative tasks. Ideal for multiple applications, from live events (flyaway packs, OB vehicles), broadcast production, sports and house of worship to entertainment and conference/events, Kula has been designed to meet a wide range of production needs.
Hitachi Redefines HD Box Camera Performance and Versatility with DK-H200
Hitachi is again setting a new price-performance benchmark with the immediate availability of the DK-H200 multi-format, compact, HDTV box camera. Hitachi's first box camera to feature native, full frame rate 1080p acquisition, the new DK-H200 provides the outstanding performance and feature-rich functionality of the company's renowned SK-series studio and field cameras, all in a form factor ideal for point-of-view and remote observation applications. The DK-H200 will be introduced at the upcoming NAB2016 Show, taking place April 16-21 in Las Vegas. Hitachi Kokusai Electric America will exhibit in booth C4309.
4K / 8K ARISING
NHK’s Newest 8K Mobile Unit Brings the Big Game Into 8K Era
Both the World Cup and the Olympics have been broadcast in 8K, and now, finally, America’s largest sports event, the Super Bowl, will have its chance to shine in 8K. Super Bowl 50 will be the first ever to get the 8K treatment. NHK is on hand to shoot the game with a new 8K mobile unit and six 8K cameras, good news for tech geeks everywhere. The bad news? The only place to see the game live in 8K will be in the compound at Levi’s Stadium or at NHK headquarters in Tokyo.
MEDIAPRO chooses SAM’s Kahuna for first 4K production of El Clásico soccer match
SAM supplied its Kahuna 9600 enterprise level production switcher, along with the Maverik modular control panel. Kahuna’s unique FormatFusion3 technology enables multi-format operations, supporting any combination of SD, HD, 1080p (level A & B) and 4K. MEDIAPRO had complete confidence that it could handle any formats without the need for external conversion. This meant not only cost savings but also faster set up times. Sitting at the heart of the dedicated 4K mobile production unit, the Kahuna handled 4K signals from 10 Panasonic AK-UC3000 cameras, which supplied 4K and HD signals simultaneously. It integrated seamlessly with five EVS XT3 servers, an XFile 3 system for file transcoding, a Sony PWS-4400 AV storage unit and a For-A FT-ONE for Super Slow Motion as well as graphics systems from Vizrt, which was controlled by SportStat CG application from WTVision.
LEADER Test & Measurement Rental Promotion Sets Focus on 2016 Year of Sport
"2016 is a major sporting year, including the Rio Olympics and UEFA European Football Championships," comments European Regional Development Manager Kelvin Salvidge. "The resultant pressure on mobile broadcast services puts rental companies in a dilemma when it comes to investing in test and measurement equipment to support their customers at these events. Do they simply purchase more HD equipment and ignore the growing demand for 3840 x 2160 UHD? Or do they protect their investment by selecting products which can be upgraded at any time to UHD?"