Newsletter from 17/04/2013
The TV Live Production Community in Las Vegas and Frankfurt
MOBILE PRODUCTION
Sony Builds World’s First 4K Multi-Camera Live OBVan for Telegenic
Leveraging the collective experience and commitment of Sony and Telegenic, the vehicle will produce new solutions for managing the complicated issues at play in delivering 4K in a live environment. It will be capable of capturing live footage in HD or 4K, supporting two unique formats out of the same truck, and is underpinned by Sony’s existing product portfolio. This includes the HDC-2500R cameras which will be utilised for capturing HD content, and Sony’s F55 35mm 4K cameras for shooting in 4K. Driving the solution is Sony’s MVS-8000X Vision Mixer which handles Quad Full HD Streams (QFHD) as if they were a single source, Miranda’s 4K UHDTV enhanced 8500 Series Routers, and three Sony PVM-300 4K LCD monitors, to deliver a reliable 4K production workflow. A Calrec Apollo 5.1 audio desk will also form an integral part of the trucks technical backbone.
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EVS to Present World’s First 4K Live Slow-Motion Replay System
“4K recording and instant replay capabilities are a natural extension to the EVS XT3 server,” said Luc Doneux, executive vice president, EVS Sports. “We’ve been working on the first step with a two-channel 4K server, and thanks to the tremendous bandwidth of the XT3 server, we’re currently working on a multi-channel 4K server. We’ve been collaborating closely with both customers and key partners to test the solution in real live operating conditions to ensure it can cope with tomorrow’s live 4K requirements. These latest developments are part of our ongoing commitment to providing pragmatic and reliable solutions to our customers, as their needs evolve.”
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Mobile TV Group Buys Evertz Dreamcatcher Replay System
Denver-based Mobile TV Group (MTVG) has selected a 48-channel Dreamcatcher replay system for its triple-feed mobile-production truck. MTVG will add a 48-channel Dreamcatcher as the 4K/3G/HD replay system for its new 33HDX mobile unit, which is primarily assigned to productions for Fox Sports West. The excitement around Dreamcatcher — which was first announced at last year’s NAB Show and was further discussed at IBC 2012 — lies in its capabilities as a 4K production tool. Its “super-zoom” capability allows broadcasters to zoom in on key plays and extract an HD image from the larger 4K frame, providing perfectly visible images of close plays on the field.
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How 3Play 4800 Changes Price Performance of Replay
The 4800’s redundant capture handles four live-video sources and doubles up ISO recordings and protects all media assets. It’s also fully customizable as users can choose to forgo redundancy and simultaneously record all eight inputs as separate camera feeds to add more angles as needed. NewTek hopes that 4800 helps break down the cost barrier to entry in the replay market, opening the door for entities ranging from professional and semiprofessional sports venues to high schools to add produced replay to their production offerings. “Those elements in the game are actually sellable inventory,” adds Nelson. “It’s not just something that’s nice to have. It’s a moneymaker. If people are glued to those screens, that’s money. So we feel like this is going to help a lot of venues have some sellable inventory that’s compelling to look at.”
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Catve and Master TV Invest in EVS Solutions for Sports and Live Events Production
Catve acquired Master TV, a production house specializing in producing and transmitting all kinds of live events, earlier this year. Working closely with Video Systems, EVS’ partner in Brazil, Catve has invested in three EVS XT3 production servers and an EVS XTnano server, while Master TV has installed an XT3 server and two XTnano servers in its 15-meter double-decker mobile production truck. Master TV has also deployed EVS’ XHub3 media sharing network to interconnect its three servers, and EVS’ Epsio Live for inserting live graphics - such as offside lines, distance to the goal, scores and logos - in real-time and instant replays. EVS’ XT3 server provides complete control over the entire production process, from ingest to playout, including live editing, slow-motion replays, multi-channel playback and transfer to third-party systems for collaborative workflows with post-production, automation, archiving and storage.
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Alfacam Expects Bankruptcy
Troubled outside-broadcasting giant Alfacam has been unable to win support from its bankers, and expects to file for bankruptcy. A statement on April 16th said: “The company then checked with the banks in particular whether they would be able and willing to support the new scenario of a protection under CEA III. This Monday 15 April 2013, the banks have officially communicated that they will not support Alfacam Group in its request for protection under CEA III (WCO III). Consequently the company no longer has the opportunity to use its funds to support its operations. The company will ask the Commercial Court of Antwerp to put an end to the CEA procedure. This procedure will probably be followed by the bankruptcy of the company.” Alfacam has an enviable reputation for its OB work, and on Sunday provided coverage of the Vienna marathon, and played a key role in supplying OB facilities to last year’s Olympic Games.
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STUDIO PRODUCTION
The New RTL Show "Unbeatable"
"Unbeatable" is a production by Endemol Germany and is produced on behalf of RTL in the MMC studios in Cologne-Ossendorf. Ladislaus Kiraly directed the show premiere. A total of 14 cameras were used for the HD-production of the show premiere at MMC studio 32 and the Coloneum Mall. These included one Grass Valley (GVG) LDK 8000 and two GVG LDK 8300 Super SloMo cameras on Vinten Quattro pedestals, one GVG LDK 8000 on a SuperTechno 30 crane, one GVG LDK 8000 on a Jimmy Jib crane, one GVG LDK 8000 elite cable-connected handheld camera, and one GVG LDK 8000 elite wireless Steadicam. For special camera settings, three GoPro-Hero-2 and two GoPro-Hero-3 cameras were used.
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Christie YK200 & Christie MicroTiles at the live finale of "The Voice of Germany"
As for the Christie® MicroTiles® they were used for the first time during a German TV live show. MicroTiles are high-quality small DLP® projection cubes with LED illumination that can be cascaded to various display sizes. Da Costa admits to having been curious: "Once more, I was looking around for new products and the high resolution attracted and interested me." With a diagonal measurement of 20 inches, MicroTiles offer a resolution of 720 x 540 and a pixel pitch of 0.567 x 0.567 mm. With excitement already running high before the start of the final show the fact that MicroTiles were being used for the first time added to the atmosphere – and everything ran smoothly. At the front, the stage podiums were appropriately adapted with the aid of the 3D stage crew.
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Télé-Québec Implements Flexible EVS Workflow for Fast-Turnaround Studio Production
Télé-Québec has equipped each studio with an identical EVS workflow based on the XT series server. The three studios are interconnected through EVS’ centralized media sharing network, enabling them to share clips for shows that are produced at multiple studios. The fully file-based workflow eliminates the cost of tapes and requires minimal maintenance and management by Télé-Québec staff. Each studio has a six-channel XT server for ingesting all ISO camera feeds from the studios, with native support for multiple codecs. The IPDirector video production management suite provides flexibility and powerful asset management capabilities. Its IPEdit timeline editing module enables Télé-Québec to edit footage as it’s being ingested, reducing turn-around times.
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SPORTS
The Production Facilities for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013
Sony Professional, which was awarded by FIFA with the Broadcast Production Contract for the Confederations Cup 2013 and the World Cup 2014 subcontracted sono Studiotechnik in Munich to carry out all the systems integration work. Supervised by HBS sono delivered all the equipment racks, the display stands and the furniture. However also the Harris routers with multi-viewer capabilities, the Harris digital glue products, the Cisco IT routers, the Guntermann + Drunck KVM switches, the Genelec audio monitors and the audio monitoring units from TSL and Sonifex were delivered and integrated by sono. HBS provided the XT3 servers from EVS, the Artist intercom equipment from Riedel, the Lawo audio mixers and the Virtual Studio Manager from L-S-B (via ABS), the microphones from Schoeps and Sennheiser, and the measurement equipment from Tektronix. Finally Sony Professional delivered all remaining key products: the vision mixers, the cameras (including wireless adaptors) and the video displays.
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FIFA Appoints Goal-Line Technology Provider for Brazil 2013
FIFA awarded GoalControl a licence for its GLT system GoalControl-4D. The system uses 14 high-speed cameras located around the pitch which are directed at both goals. The position of the ball is continually and automatically captured in three dimensions – using X, Y and Z co-ordinates – as soon as it approaches the goal-line. When the ball has completely crossed the line, the central analysis unit sends an encrypted signal to the referee’s watch in less than a second. GoalControl-4D can be used with both standard goalposts and balls. GoalControl and FIFA signed the initial licensing contract after successful tests in February at Dusseldorf’s Esprit-Arena and the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen.
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Hawk-Eye Wins Contract for Premier League Goal-Line Technology
The English Premier League has become the first domestic football competition to adopt goal-line technology (GLT) by announcing that Hawk-Eye will provide systems at its games from the start of the 2013-14 season. The system will enable Television audiences and crowds in stadiums to watch replays of goal-line technology decisions. The first domestic match to use the system should be the Community Shield at Wembley on August 11, and the first Premier League match will be the 12:45 kick-off on August 17. The agreement, hailed by England manager Roy Hodgson as "a momentous day" for football, will see all 20 top-flight clubs use the system and the Football Association is set to follow suit with Wembley Stadium.
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Eredivisie Live Chooses EVS
Eredivisie Live launched in 2008 to broadcast live coverage of the Dutch top-tier football league, and has since broadcast competitions such as the KNVB Cup, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Europa League. As the nation’s largest pay TV channel, Eredivisie Live wanted a solution that would allow it to best exploit its valuable content and deliver it instantly to multiple platforms - including its downloadable web application. They also wanted to be able to enrich their programming with exclusive footage, sophisticated graphics and HD-quality images. EVS Sports will supply Eredivisie Live with a wide range of solutions to create an enhanced live production workflow from ingest to playout. The end-to-end HD production infrastructure includes XS servers for ingesting multiple feeds and for studio playout and XT3 production servers with LSM remote control panels to create highlights and analysis packages for live shows. The servers will support XDCAM HD for all file transfers and playout.
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SHOWS
Clay Paky Fixtures Rock with the Rolling Stones on 50th Anniversary Tour
London-based lighting company Neg Earth supplied all the lighting equipment including Clay Paky Sharpys – now firmly established as rock show stalwarts with their pure, laser-like beam – Clay Paky Alpha Spot 1500s, Alpha Profile 1500s and Alpha Wash 1500s fixtures. However it was the Sharpys that created that all important laser like outline of Fisher’s suggestive set design. Lighting director Dave Hill discusses: “We used 32 Sharpys on the Horseshoe/Tongue truss and 14 on the Arched Truss behind the lips. They were used to create an outline of sharp beams,” explains Dave Hill. “As always, they were reliable and looked brilliant, really adding dynamics to the show with incredible power. They are compact, light and punchy units with outstanding speed in movement - I love them!”
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Robe is Ultra Impressive!
The six day event is one of the highest profile EDM (Electronic Dance Music) events in the world. This year’s truly stellar line up over the two weekends included David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto, Avicii, and many more who rocked the house big style. Ultra 2013 was brought to a tumultuous close by the VERY final gig by The Swedish House Mafia … giving a characteristically show-stopping performance. It is the first year that Sydney Australia based Neville, associate designer Alex Grierson and Neville’s company Mandylights has designed for Ultra, brought on-board by the event’s producers James Klein and Bruce Rodgers. Neville is well known for his work designing lighting for EDM and stadium rave events across Australia, Asia and the Pacific Rim and he and Klein worked closely on the production design for the Main stage.
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Silent House Backs XC-5's for Major World Tours
So how are these fixtures being deployed? The P!nk set features the XC-5’s, strategically placed on ladders of trussing upstage left and right, for use as an audience blinder, and also on the roof and side trussing to provide more traditional strobe lighting onto the stage and performers. “In other words we use them both as a strobing feature, a hyper-flash blast and as a color bump for some more regular musical dynamics,” Baz Halpin explains. He describes the set as “a sort of grungy Pulp Fiction game show world” with a lot of different types of performance within the show. “Therefore the set had to be as versatile as possible,” he continued. “It is an asymmetric design with a lot of moving video screens which constantly change the shape and feel of the set depending on the act within the show and the visual we try to create for an individual song.”
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PRODUCTS
NAB Show 2013 - A Focus on TV Live Production
Anton/Bauer - ARRI - AVIWEST - Axon - BLT - BroaMan - BSI - Calrec - Chyron - Clear-Com - Cobham - Compix - Cunima - Dalet - Dejero - DVS - EditShare - EVS - Eyeheight - FOR.A - Grass Valley - Guntermannn & Drunck - Harris Broadcast - Hitachi - hybrid - I-MOVIX - Ikegami - IMT - Infostrada -- Jünger Audio - L-S-B - Lawo - Litepanels - LiveU - Lynx - Marshall - Matrox - Miranda - Mobile Viewpoint - mosart - NewTek - Orad - Pixel Power - Pro Max - Riedel - Ross Video - RTS/Telex - RTW - Sencore - Snell - sono - Sony - Steadicam - TSL - Vizrt
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ProLight+Sound 2013 - A Focus on TV Live Production
Allen & Heath - Audio-Technica - Ayrton - beyerdynamic - Clay Paky - Clear-Com - Delec - ETC - Lawo - Martin - Optocore - Philips - PIXLED - Riedel - Robe - Sennheiser - SGM - Sommer Cable - Soundcraft - SSL - Stagetec - Studer - Yamaha
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SuperSport Scores Scalability with New Harris Broadcast Router
The Harris Broadcast Platinum router led the industry by being the first to offer genuine dual-path routing, allowing video and audio to be contained in the same device without losing signal paths. The Platinum IP3 takes that to the next logical stage, incorporating data as well to offer triple-path routing. It makes it the ideal router for facilities moving toward a hybrid or IP-based infrastructure, and as a means of routing data separately from video and audio. The internal architecture is designed to allow expansion at any time without taking the router out of service — a unique capability. Cards can be added, and additional chassis connected, without affecting on-air performance. This will transform the way that mission-critical facilities, such as playout centers, will be designed for future expansion.
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3D / 4K ARISING
NAB Show 2013 - A Focus on 4K
AJA - Bexel - Blackmagic Design - Canon - DVS - EVS - Fairlight - Gefen - Leader - Matrox - Miranda - MultiDyne - NHK - Snell - Sony - Stereolabs - Studio Technologies - TVLogic - Utah Scientific
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Improving Outlook for UltraHD?
Annual conferences that are key to the TV and broadcast industries saw UltraHD as the “talk of the shows” and the stage by which to unveil key developments. A number of announcements were made, but the most important in NSR’s view in terms of impact for the satellite industry are the following:
• NAB in Las Vegas and MIPTV in Cannes saw Sony unveil a new range of UltraHD TV sets, which brings the cost down to relatively affordable levels. The XBR-55X90A (55-inch) and the XBR-65X900A (65-inch) will retail for $4,999 and $6,999 respectively beginning April 21. Earlier this year, UltraHD TV set price points were in the $20,000 range at the low end.
• Intel unveiled its next-generation Thunderbolt technology, which raises the data rate from 10 Gbps to 20 Gbps in both directions; this addresses the issue of distribution and bandwidth constraints specifically in getting 4K content to operate with existing workflows.
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Pope Francis’ inauguration mass, the first to be filmed in 4K
“The filming of Pope Francis’ first mass in 4K, took place after the equipment had been used for the first time to film Pope Benedict XVI’s last public hearing at the end of February,” said Monsignor Viganò, Director of the Centro Televisivo Vaticano (CTV). “This is a hugely significant event and so we wanted to ensure we captured every possible detail using the most technologically advanced equipment. This technological innovation enhances the viewer experience, making it possible to explore the entire frame rather than focusing only on the centre of the image. Viewers can now discover details it would not have been possible to perceive with older technologies.”
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