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More than 50 Lawo Systems for the Sound of World Football

Lawo mc²66 in the ITV Audio Controll Room at the IBC in Johannesburg

More than 50 Lawo systems, used by numerous national broadcasters and for the production of international audio feeds, are in use at the World Cup in South Africa. Audio feeds from all the commentators are sent digitally from the stadiums to the International Broadcast Center (IBC) via a Lawo Nova73 HD routing matrix, and are available directly from the IBC or via ISDN for use in home country broadcasts.

Audio Broadcast Services equips South Africa World Cup

More than 50 Lawo systems, used by numerous national broadcasters and for the production of international audio feeds, are in use at the World Cup in South Africa. Audio feeds from all the commentators are sent digitally from the stadiums to the International Broadcast Center (IBC) via a Lawo Nova73 HD routing matrix, and are available directly from the IBC or via ISDN for use in home country broadcasts.

Audio Broadcast Services (ABS), a rental company and subsidiary of Lawo, was responsible for the installation of container-housed mobile control rooms at each of the ten venues designated for this year’s football event in South Africa. Equipped with a Lawo mc256 and an Innovason Eclipse, multiple feeds are created at each stadium: the main stereo audio feed, merged with the respective commentators’ audio by the national broadcasters, which authentically reproduces the stadium atmosphere and the sound of the ball in the home, several interview feeds and, for the first time in history, a program feed specifically designed for cell phones. Pre-mixing for the surround feed is also handled at the stadium. The complete surround feed is created at the IBC using two latest-generation Lawo mc266. A surround program is preferred by many broadcasters, rather than stereo, in order to deliver the atmosphere inside the stadiums to the domestic audience with more reality and transparency.

Several other Lawo customers are using Lawo consoles on-site: ARD and ZDF for the daily broadcast of all the games and studio broadcasts to Germany, numerous providers, such as outside broadcast units from Alfacam, Outside Broadcast, HD Signs and Sky TV, South Africa’s nationwide TV Broadcaster SABC, and, finally, the Chinese national broadcaster CCTV. British broadcasters BBC and ITV, and, for the first time, the American sports channel ESPN are also using Lawo systems for the World Cup.

To guarantee the best possible support for their customers at all times, Lawo specialists are standing by at all the venues and in the IBC, ensuring the sound of football is always perfectly reproduced on TV, radio, and at the public viewing sites.

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About Lawo AG

Lawo, headquartered in Rastatt/Germany, specialises in developing, designing and manufacturing mixing consoles and matrix systems for radio and TV broadcasters, as well as for use in live events. Standards of high quality and innovative technology are supported by decades of experience in the field of professional audio technology. In 2010, the company celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Lawo’s product range covers digital audio mixing consoles for use in radio, broadcast, production and live applications, including the required software. In addition to the provision of matrix systems and audio networks, Lawo also carries out project engineering tasks and acts as a main contractor for radio OB trucks; these services include user training and maintenance. This high level of expertise results in a comprehensive support service for Lawo customers.

Lawo

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