Bexel Global Broadcast Solutions

posted:

05/01/2017

Bexel Live Production Unit

Bexel expertly delivers unparalleled production services and bespoke solutions for the live broadcast market, with expertise in hire equipment, systems integration, fibre solutions, managed services and product sales. With a global footprint that has recently expanded beyond North America to include the United Kingdom and Mexico, Bexel is equipped to deliver the most important sporting and entertainment events to a worldwide audience.

The company has earned the reputation of an innovative broadcast services provider with international aptitude, where dependability and expertise come standard. Whether local, or on location, Bexel’s operational excellence is evident by the company’s ability to adapt in technically challenging and high profile environments.

Bexel has mastered the art of service, with a distinctive approach that demonstrates that no two projects are the same. On any large-scale project, Bexel evaluates the site perimeters, technical environment and production expectations to ensure a unique solution scaled to the client’s needs, creating a true partnership. The company has a keen ability to anticipate risks for technical failure due to environmental conditions, shipping logistics and tight deadlines. The combined experience, knowledge and technical know-how of Bexel’s team make up the company’s competitive edge.

As a Vitec Group brand, clients benefit from access to a remarkable range of Videocom equipment with presence in North America, Europe and Asia, bringing complete engineered solutions for around the camera, in the studio and outside broadcast. Most notably, Bexel’s portfolio of top tier production services companies is comprised of Autocue Hire/QTV Teleprompters, Autoscript Hire, Bexel ESS, Bexel TSS, Camera Corps and The Camera Store. Operating globally, Bexel’s expansive footprint is positioned to provide technical support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Equipment Hire and Production Services

Bexel continually invests in leading broadcast equipment and technologies to meet the needs of the market. From the latest 4K and HD broadcast camera systems, to robotic, super slo-mo, and specialty cameras, Bexel has a host of equipment to complement any production, including lenses, recorders, server solutions, LED lighting, fibre optic solutions, graphics and virtual production, custom flyaway systems, RF audio and intercom, 4K monitors, and terminal gear. All equipment is maintained to the highest standards by a rigorous QC process conducted by in-house certified engineers for inbound and outbound equipment.

Bexel Warehouse

Bexel is able to fulfill the needs of some of the most high profile networks and broadcasters, do in part to the company’s continual expansion and investments in key trends. Bexel’s 4K assets have extended to include Sony HDC-4300 camera systems, Fujinon UA80x9BESM 4K telephoto lenses, and the Sony BVM-X300 4K OLED critical monitor. Unique terminal investments include the Leader LV5490 4K waveform monitors, For-A ESG-4000 4K test signal generator, and For-A SCV-8000 bi-directional 8K and 4K signal processors.

The company’s talented engineering team has an ongoing commitment to enhance and evolve the media production experience. Through comprehensive site surveys, transparency in logistics and project planning, and their ability to anticipate on-site challenges, Bexel has a proven track record for meeting the requirements of mission-critical projects.

Bexel provides bespoke production systems and uncompromised engineered solutions to help capture the essence of live event production. The company has a rich history in supporting many of the industry’s largest and most respected broadcasters, and have since developed long-term relationships with:

ESPN (USA)
NBC (USA)
CBS(USA)
Turner Broadcasting (USA)
NFL (USA)
Telemundo (Mexico)
Boomdog (Mexico)
Netflix (US)
BBC (UK)

Bexel’s ability to design, build and support technically advanced, scalable production environments with an exceptional engineering team has been their recipe for broadcast excellence.

Bexel’s mastery in fully managed production services support large-scale, technically advanced projects involving fibre optic solutions, RF intercom and audio, graphics production, specialty cameras, workflow solutions, flyaway systems and mobile facilities. The company’s operational excellence has played an integral role in the broadcast success of some of the world’s most recognized events.

Project: Pope Francis’ Apostolic Visit to Ecuador

Bexel was contracted by Secretaría Nacional de Comunicación (SECOM) to support the broadcast of Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Ecuador by providing the host feed infrastructure.

Pope Francis' visit to Ecuador

To capture Pope Francis’ welcome ceremonies and mass in both Quito and Guayaquil, Bexel built two International Broadcast Centers (IBC’s) across both cities. To ensure the most complete coverage possible while the Pope traversed public routes, Bexel installed wireless camera systems in a lead vehicle and a chase vehicle around the popemobile, along with two stabilized camera systems mounted on two police helicopters for city-wide coverage. This maximized flexibility in securing coverage between locations in both cities.

The company received, managed, and reviewed all program signals from the eight Outside Broadcast (OB) mobile units stationed along the Pope’s travel routes, and distributed the feeds from their IBC to broadcast to a worldwide audience. In addition, the company provided the press distribution in both cities. Bexel’s international aptitude was key to delivering the best-in-class production services that offered viewers a unique experience of the historic event.

Project: Super Bowl 50 heads to California

Bexel supported CBS Sports in building a large post-production and graphics facility for the broadcast of Super Bowl 50 from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The facility included fully outfitted Avid editing suites sharing 64 terabytes of ISIS storage; Adobe Premier editing systems; Adobe After Effects, Red Bee, and Vizrt graphics systems for a CBS production team that numbered approximately 80 people.

SuperBowl 50

Bexel had 25 skilled engineers and project managers on the ground to support nine fully equipped multi-camera flyaway systems, consisting of Sony and Grass Valley camera systems, Evertz routing, and Sony and Grass Valley switchers. The company supplied over 50 Sony and Grass Valley camera systems (including 4K and slo-mo), 30 Panasonic P2 ENG camera packages, over 50 Canon and Fujinon HD lenses, complementary camera supports, RF intercom, and terminal accessories, in addition to over 5 miles of fibre to cover a variety of sporting venues, including beach volleyball, diving, cycling, golf, gymnastics, rowing and rugby.

The summer games in Rio de Janeiro spotlighted the breadth and expertise of Bexel’s broadcast capabilities, ensuring the success of a high profile, multi-venue event for a worldwide telecast.

Systems Integration and Managed Services

For decades, Bexel has designed robust systems to meet the demanding requirements of broadcasters across the globe. The creation of the company’s specialized business segment, Bexel ESS, offers that same level of experience and engineering expertise, focusing on the vital part technology plays in media and broadcast production. The ESS team offers clients a unique view on the selection, implementation and integration of broadcast and media technology.

Since it’s introduction in 2012, Bexel ESS has been the choice vendor for custom systems integration, managed services and fibre optic solutions for high-profile broadcasters and networks. Bexel ESS designs and installs complete turnkey solutions for permanent facilities, major events and live game production. Their custom solutions are fine tuned to deliver outstanding product performance and broadcast workflow. From small multi-camera systems and flyways, to completely integrated control rooms and studios, Bexel ESS is a long-term partner in engineered broadcast systems.

Bexel ESS

Whether it is a stadium, arena, entertainment venue, campus or a remote environment, Bexel ESS has the experience, equipment and renowned technical expertise to deploy complex broadcast solutions.

Bexel ESS provides a full complement of services, expert optical equipment installation, and infrastructure solutions for live event production, partnering with some of the most notable stadiums and arenas:

AT&T Arena
US Bank Stadium
LA Coliseum
University of Notre Dame
University of Arkansas
Texas Rangers Ballpark

Bexel ESS has a unique industry perspective and understands the future of broadcast-specific technology and its impact on the market. As a result, the ESS team can advise its clients about future technology applications and how to properly plan for them while designing a facility or preparing for an event, maximizing their client’s investment.

Case Study – Crewless Studio

With thousands of hours of live event, news and originally programming annually, Fox Sports 1 and the Big Ten Network needed a flexible way to easily contribute remote interviews into their broadcasts. Traditional methods, like satellite links, take too long to commission and are costly.

Bexel ESS designed and built a cost effective and efficient solution, helping broadcasters gather interview content quickly, and with more flexibility. The Crewless Studio is an innovative system that enables the analysts to go on-air immediately.

Production Facility

The Crewless Studio’s Haivision’s HD encoders stream bi-directional, low latency video over a private or public network, encoding up to 1080p video for interactive communications between the remote commentator to the studio during a live broadcast.

The units also include an AW-HE60SN Panasonic camera and Litepanels 1x1 Bi-color panels, both of which can be controlled remotely, allowing the client to pan, tilt, zoom the image or adjust the light intensity.

The custom case includes a UPS to control power, an IP power switch, a network switch that keeps the circuit open, and audio/video support that provides the IFB and camera feeds.

Doug Levy, VP, post production for Fox Networks Engineering and Operations commented, “Speed to market is crucial in the world of sports news, and these in-home studios have been very effective for us in delivering breaking news. Bexel ESS was the most appropriate choice for this project. They have a long and extremely good track record as both a rental house and an integration company, and we knew their team could get the job done.”

Product Sales

Bexel’s specialized business segment, Bexel TSS offers competitive pricing on new and used broadcast video and professional audio equipment. From complete camera chains to lighting systems, audio mixers and converters, Bexel TSS provides customers with comprehensive solutions to support a variety of production needs and budgets. Backed by Bexel’s world-class engineering and a proven track record for reliability, Bexel TSS ensures the best in audio and video technologies.

Project – CCI Communications

When CCI Communications upgraded their Gerling production truck to high definition, Bexel TSS helped meet their goals on time and on budget, with added capability and flexibility for future projects.

CCI’s Vice President of Operations, Steve Selinger, commented, “Working through Bexel TSS, we were able to secure equipment from top-of-the-line manufacturers, and remain within the confines of our budget. What separates Bexel from other equipment providers is the high level of product they carry, both in their rental and sales departments. The company provides quality equipment that is reliable, and their customer service personnel are dependable. I was confident that all purchases would be in good condition, and if an issue arose, I was just as confident that Bexel would stand by their products and work to reach a resolution.”

Bexel Liquidation Services

The company has recently introduced an additional service to their offerings, assisting companies with asset removal and auction coordination. Clients are able to maximize return on marketable equipment, and properly dispose of equipment in compliance with environmental regulations. Bexel Liquidation Services offers routine auctions throughout the year to assist in a variety of equipment sell-off needs.