Newsletter from 18/05/2018
Eurosport to be sole Olympic broadcaster in Germany
The Discovery-owned broadcaster, which took the media rights to the Games for that period across Europe in a €1.3 billion (US$1.45 billion) deal in June 2015, will not complete a sub-licensing deal in Germany with the free-to-air outlets ARD & ZDF, as it has done so far in a range of territories including the UK, Switzerland, Finland and the Netherlands. Instead, beginning with the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, free access will be made available for selected events across Eurosport 1, DMAX, and the Eurosport Player digital service. Eurosport has stated that it would go beyond the levels of free coverage required by local regulators and the IOC. "We are excited to bring German fans an outstanding Olympic Games experience that will be highly comprehensive and in-depth," said said Susanne Aigner-Drews, the senior vice president and general manager of Discovery Networks Germany and she continued, "For the first time, our multi-platform approach will give fans the opportunity to enjoy every single moment live, with all of the data available in real time, for every German athlete and every event."
In addition The Olympic Channel is now a little more than three months into its true existence but the efforts to get into launch mode, and now into growth mode, began well before it fired up its offering following the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics on August 21. The digital-first, multiplatform service is designed to give Olympic sports more exposure, fill the gap of Olympic sports fans between the games, and, most importantly, ensure that younger sports fans are engaged with Olympic sports both as a participant and a fan.
Read the Interview of Ken Kerschbaumer with Mark Parkman, General Manager of the Olympic Channel here
MOBILE PRODUCTION
Croatel UHD OB5
CROATEL company has been active on the market for over 20 years and currently has 60 employees. CROATEL has been licensed by the Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency since 1995. Ownership, realization and 24/7 service of HDTV playout system that broadcasts 4 sports channels in HD resolution currently broadcasted through Croatian Telecom MAX TV platform (UEFA Champions League, Europa Football League, Croatian Football League etc.) Playout Facility, HDTV sports production, ownership of the HD OB van including 16 HD cameras (realization of the UEFA Champions League HD production, realization of all Croatian Football League games etc.
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Clark Media UHD Truck
CLARK MEDIA provides corporations, production companies and networks with broadcast equipment rentals and production services. We have a full-time staff of rental managers, engineers and production professionals ready to provide a custom solution for your project. Clark Media has extensive experience in providing modular video and audio systems for the production of in-studio and on-location television series and events. We harness the resources of our in-house engineering department with the large inventory of broadcast equipment in our rental department to provide a single source solution for even the largest events.
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NEP Australia HD12
HD12 is the company’s second purpose-built 4K outside broadcast vehicle and the first to launch from the active Victorian market. It is equal in size, technical capabilities and work environment to HD11, which NEP launched in August of last year. HD11 and HD12 are unmatched by any other mobile production facilities in Australia. They are equipped with Sony’s HDC4300 4K and high-speed camera technology, bringing to 50 the number of these camera units in NEP’s fleet. Initially based in Melbourne, HD12 will service productions around Australia including major live sport and outside studio broadcasts. HD13 and HD14 will launch early next year, ready for the 2017 AFL and NRL seasons, and further enhancing the NEP Australia fleet. Each truck creates 65m2 of internal space, 34 seats, 9 Rec/Replay, 7 CCU, 2 TD/BE, 3 Audio, 13 Production Gallery
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A New Force in 4K Content Production
4K Garden, a major 4K content services platform of Alibaba group in China has signed an agreement with Sony China Professional Solutions Group (CPSG) to purchase an IP- 4K outside broadcast truck. The agreement was signed at a ceremony on 24th August at the Beijing International Radio, TV & Film Exhibition 2016 (BIRTV 2016), held this year at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing. During the signing ceremony, Moriharu Ide, President and Chairman of Sony Professional Solution China, and Mr. Wu Yi, founder of 4K Garden jointly signed the contract and exchanged copies. The signing was also attended by figures including Toshihiko Ohnishi , Senior Vice President of Sony Corporation and Mr. Wei Ning, President of 4K Garden. Sony’s collaboration with 4K Garden in providing them 4K IP outside broadcast trucks has been born out of a strong strategic relationship.
Japan's Express Co, Ltd Builds 4K OB Van With Riedels' MediorNet Compact
"We're very excited about the flexibility that Riedel's MediorNet brings to our new 4K-capable OB van, as well as the versatility and interoperability of the company's Artist and Performer systems," said a representative from Express Co, Ltd. "As we expand our business to address rapidly growing demand for 4K content, we can be confident in the quality and reliability of our signal transport and communications infrastructure. Riedel equipment is known for setting the industry standard, and we plan to take full advantage of it in providing top-notch 4K OB production services." Riedel uses a fiber-based networked approach and tight integration between products to facilitate smooth installation and management of MediorNet, Artist, and Performer systems into both fixed and mobile facilities.
Arena TV 4K OB Van Is Live With VSM Control
The OB Van – named OBX and already being used for live production of English Premier League football – can multicast in SD, HD and UHD. UHD content can be produced in High Dynamic Range (HDR) concurrent with legacy feeds in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR). A second, almost identical truck named OBY is also already in service, and has successfully been deployed. At the beginning of 2017, OBX and OBY will be joined by OBZ. All three vans will use VSM as their overall control system. The VSM system creates a familiar workflow for users, and is the only control system on the market that is able to work in a fully IP-based environment as well as with other third-party equipment.
SPORT EVENTS
'World First' Barclays ATP World Tour Finals to be Pioneered on Playstation VR
In an exciting partnership between ATP, ATP Media, Infosys (the Global Technology Services Partner of the ATP World Tour) and Sony Professional Solutions Europe, visitors to the Fan Zone at The O2 will be able to immerse themselves in matches by stepping into unique interactive pods featuring PlayStation®VR where they will find themselves in a virtual tennis world. Since Sony Interactive Entertainment launched PlayStation®VR for PlayStation®4 (PS4) in October this year, PlayStation®VR has taken gaming to new levels and transported gamers into incredible immersive experiences.
Gearhouse sets up Sky Sports’ remote production at Barclays ATP World Tour Finals
On site at The O2, the Gearhouse Broadcast facility supports the transport of 25 video signals to and from Sky Sports in Osterley, with the vast majority being sent as IP streams from equipment hosted in the Gearhouse MCR racks. Gearhouse worked closely with Sky to integrate the OB Riedel Artist frame with the broadcaster’s own internal Riedel system, providing 20 VoIP communication circuits between the venue and base. “The remote production is working really well and we’re able to cut the programme together from familiar surroundings using our usual workflow and equipment,” said Gordon Roxburgh, technical manager at Sky Sports.
NFTS Selects Blackmagic Design Live Production Workflow for Sports Production Course
Replicating industry standard workflows, the NFTS has designed and implemented a solution featuring Blackmagic’s URSA Mini 4K PL, equipped with the Blackmagic URSA Mini B4 Mount, and ATEM live production hardware. The diploma is delivered in partnership with IMG, one of the world’s largest independent sports producers, and aims to equip students with the editorial skills required to produce state of the art sports and live events coverage as well as highlights content. Steve Holdsworth, NFTS Head Engineer explains that the school launched the dedicated diploma in response to student demand as well as to meet a growing industry requirement.
SHOW EVENTS
A Hit for Yehuda Poliker & Shlomi Shabat
When two of Israel's biggest singing stars - Yehuda Poliker and Shlomi Shabat - get together and play onstage live ... It's a BIG deal and a hugely exciting performance spectacle that’s always well received. Needing a big lightshow with lots of power and presence … that's why lighting designer Eyal Tavory chose a large Robe orientated rig - including 35 x BMFL spots to give the impact that everyone was anticipating at a recent show at the Rishon Lezion Amphitheatre. The two artists played a major tour last summer for which the demand for tickets was so overwhelming they decided to add a series of extra shows this summer. The Robe reporting team caught up with Eyal and the team and asked a few leading questions!
Bandit Brings Light To Widespread Panic´s Halloween Bash
Southern rock band Widespread Panic returned to the road for their annual Halloween extravaganza with a lighting package provided by Bandit Lites. The ten day tour treated the jam band’s diehard fan base with both Widespread Panic’s own psychedelic songs and covers including Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” (complete with a confetti cannon) that hadn’t been played by the band since 1987. Each show, long time lighting designer Paul Hoffman faces the daunting task of creating unique looks for a band whose set list is famously decided at the last minute, while still putting out recognizable looks that jive with the music and theme of the show.
Sennheiser Digital 9000 Wireless System Shines CMA 2016
At the 50th Annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 2, Beyoncé gracefully crossed over into the world of country music, delivering the marquee performance of the night while being supported by Sennheiser’s Digital 9000 wireless microphone system. In a harmony-filled performance of ‘Daddy Lessons’ that saw the pop superstar joined onstage alongside Dixie Chicks, Beyoncé once again demonstrated her incredible versatility as an artist before a capacity crowd of approximately 20,000 country music fans and 12.6 million viewers across the country. The occasion marked Beyoncé’s first appearance on the CMA Award stage, featuring flawless audio quality from Sennheiser’s flagship Digital 9000 wireless system.
PRODUCTS
NEP Europe Standardizes on Grass Valley LDX 86N 4K Cameras for All New OBVans
NEP Europe recently announced its commitment to purchase all Grass Valley native 4K cameras for its new trucks that are currently under construction. NEP Europe has been relying on cameras from Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, for years, with more than 600 cameras purchased and used for a wide variety of production projects during that time. When designing the newest trucks that will be joining the fleet over the next six months, leaders at NEP Europe concluded that only the new LDX 86N cameras from Grass Valley will provide the best performance and value for the increasingly popular UHD production its clients are demanding. “We won’t be switching to UHD production overnight, but it’s clear that the market is moving that way,” observed Paul Henriksen, president of NEP Broadcast Services Europe.
BSI's Real Freedom: first RF camera system with internal antenna - and 1080p 50 3G
BSI UK, a specialist provider of wireless cameras and microphones for live broadcast, reveals a ground breaking change in the design of their Real Freedom RF camera system: the system’s antenna is now fully integrated inside the camera back unit, so there is no external antenna protruding to get in the way whilst filming. This is a key upgrade to BSI’s system which already provides 1080p50 3G video output and integrated camera control. The Real Freedom system comprises a camera back transmitter, a receiver unit and up to eight down-converter receive antennas with integrated camera control data.
The LIR Academy Partners with Clear-Com and Tyrell to Augment Theatre Training Program
Clear-Com® and its long term channel partner Tyrell, have joined forces to provide The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art with state-of-the-art production communication solutions and training workshops to educate theatre students to an international standard of excellence. The Lir Academy offers Stage Management and Technical Theatre courses at Trinity College Dublin. Working with Clear-Com and Tyrell, The Lir’s students will receive training using Clear-Com’s Encore™ Partyline System main stations, wired beltpacks and headsets, while Tyrell’s technical team will provide facilitated workshops to The Lir’s students during the coming year.
4K / 8K ARISING
Closing of the Holy Door captured by CTV in Sony 4K Ultra HD and High Dynamic Range
Sony again worked with the Centro Televisivo Vaticano (CTV – Vatican Television Centre) and other technology partners to support the live worldwide production and broadcast in 4K HDR of the Ceremony of the Closing of the Holy Door by his Holiness Pope Francis. This will bring the “Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy” opened on December 8th, 2015 to a close. Thanks to the use of these technologies coupled with the latest generation TV sets, Sony will bring stunning, fully immersive viewing experiences into homes worldwide engaging viewers at an emotional level never seen before. Sony’s technologies were at the heart of the technical infrastructure set up for the broadcast of the two ceremonies.
Globecast partners with Vatican Television
Alessandro Alquati, Managing Director at Globecast Italy, said, “Globecast is pleased to confirm once again its leading role in introducing Ultra HD as the next TV standard. We are excited to be one of the Official Partners of Vatican Television and Radio Vaticana, carrying out the worldwide satellite transmission of the event in UHD.” As part of this official partnernship, Globecast is working closely with Sony and Eutelsat for the production and transmission of these events. Globecast will deploy its most advanced SNG mobile units to trasmit the live HD and UHD satellite feeds that will then be distributed worldwide via Eutelsat’s fleet.
Air to Air Belgium Acquires SHOTOVER F1 LIVE for 4K UHD Broadcasting
Introduced earlier this year, the SHOTOVER F1 LIVE is the broadcaster-optimized variant of the company’s popular SHOTOVER F1 gyro-stabilized camera platform. The system supports all major broadcast cameras, including both 4K and 2K models and comes fully configured and set up from the factory with the customer’s camera and lens system of choice. It also comes equipped with the SHOTOVER Rain Spinner, the industry’s top tool for keeping the lens clear when shooting in wet conditions. An integrated moving map overlay to help broadcasters quickly identify ground locations and addresses during fast moving assignments is also available as an option.
United Keeps The Grand Tour 4K-Aligned with Leader LV5490
Hilversum-based video systems specialist United has chosen Leader's LV5490 as the test and measurement core of a 4K ultra-high-definition flyaway production system for Amazon Prime's new motoring television series, The Grand Tour. The show reunites presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. An initial 36 episodes are being produced for release on Amazon Prime. The LV5490 was purchased via Leader's channel partner Fofic BV, based at Diemen near Amsterdam. "This assignment required a portable high-end solution that is lightweight but also fulfills the requirements of Amazon Prime," explains Bolke Burnaby Lautier, United's manager of special projects.