Newsletter from 03/03/2020
Get ready! The Olympic Torch Relay kicks off 26 March in Fukushima
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has unveiled the Olympic Torch Relay route. Follow every step of the Olympic flame's 121-day journey across the 47 prefectures of Japan. he Torch Relay will commence on 26 March 2020 in Fukushima Prefecture and start its journey southwards. In early April, it will traverse the inland prefectures of central Japan, coinciding with the bloom of Japan's famous cherry blossoms.
The Torch Relay will then proceed southwest until it reaches the islands of Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, in early May. From there, it will make its way back up to the north of the country, passing through Kyoto in late May and travelling on to Hokkaido, where it will arrive in mid-June. The Torch Relay will then turn southwards again and complete its long journey in Tokyo after spending three days in each of the four prefectures outside of the capital that are hosting events during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The flame will traverse Japan for a total of 121 days. In addition to building excitement across the country ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games and promoting Olympic values, the Torch Relay aims to show solidarity with the regions still recovering from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami with the overall concept of “Hope Lights Our Way.”
Olympic Channel builds momentum ahead of 2020 Games in Tokyo
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MOBILE PRODUCTION
China Digital Culture Group
12-camera 4K OB truck with Sony cameras, Sony Vision switcher, and Sony monitors the Multiviewers are from Axon and Evertz. Digital glue is from Axon while the Video Matrix is from Evertz. Vtrs are from AJA and the SloMo machines are the PWS-4500 from Sony. The sound mixer is branded Soundcraft and the intercom system is a a Zeus from RTS.
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Guizhou Radio and Television Station
Guizhou radio and television network HD interactive platform was established at the first half of 2011 by Coship, it was started to commercial use on Dec 13, 2011, The platform supports a variety of interactive services based on the NGOD protocol. Program content not only covers the forefront of fashion, high-tech info, but also covers program segments of a variety of life service. In particular, multi screen service could make the mobile intelligent terminal changed into pocket TV, to achieve “Just show the world via radio and television network, the world will be displayed in one screen". The 4K OB truck is base on mainly Sony products and the system integration work was carried out by Sony China.
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Yunnan Media Group
Yunnan Broadcasting Media Group Co., Ltd is located in Kunming, Yunnan, China and is part of the Television Broadcasting Industry. Yunnan Broadcasting Media Group Co., Ltd has 869 total employees across all of its locations. The 4K OB truck is based on Sony cameras and two Sony vision switchers. Axon Glue and multi-viewers a Studer sound desk and a Clear-Com Eclipse Intercom System and measurement equipment from Tektronix and an Axon Cerebrum Controller is also on board.
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Video Progetti Complete a UHD/HDR Flyaway Production System for RAI
Italian broadcast systems distributor and integrator Video Progetti has recently completed a UHD/HDR mobile production system for Italian Broadcaster RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana). As the national public broadcasting company for Italy, RAI operates as one of Italy’s largest broadcasters, with productions that are distributed internationally. Video Progetti have an already established working relationship with RAI, having provided a range of turnkey implementations for them previously – including a range of Ka-Sat SNGs in 2017 and the infrastructure for many production and post-production systems.
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STUDIO PRODUCTION
Audioguy Studios goes immersive with Genelec
The main recording space at Audioguy differs from others in the country since it consists of one large room which accommodates multiple artists together –rather than a series of isolated recording booths. By adopting this approach, the studio has been able to take advantage of the unique acoustic qualities of its recording room. “Typically, studios make the reverberation time as short as possible in order to record mostly the direct sound from the source, whereas Audioguy has a longer reverberation time of 2.7 seconds, more like a concert hall,” explains Jung-Hoon Choi, founder of Audioguy Studios. “We are able to record not only the direct sound from the source to the mic, but also a lot of reflected sound from the walls, ceiling and the floor. Our intention here is to produce music with a unique and colourful sound.”
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SPORT EVENTS
GRAVITY MEDIA DELIVERS KNOCK-OUT COVERAGE OF WILDER vs FURY 2 FOR BT SPORT
Gravity Media, a leading global provider of complex live broadcast facilities and production services to content owners, creators and distributors, has provided BT Sport’s exclusive PPV coverage of the Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury 2 heavyweight title fight. Columbus, Gravity Media’s Los Angeles-based 4K multi-purpose mobile unit, was deployed at Las Vegas’ iconic MGM Grand venue alongside its operational B Unit for the rematch on February 22, which was expected to become the biggest fight this year. This follows the split-decision draw between the Gypsy King (Fury) and Bronze Bomber (Wilder) in December 2018.
Game Creek Video relies on RTS intercoms for broadcast of the big game in Miami
Even the halftime show, which is covered by a separate production supplier, relied on Game Creek’s cameras. According to Taubman, this is one area where RTS intercoms played a critical role. “One of the things we have to do is swing the camera communications back and forth between one production and the other,” he explains. “Making that switch to the halftime production and then swinging everything back to game coverage when it’s over is one trick we do with RTS that’s pretty cool.” Game Creek uses RTS intercoms for its entire fleet of OB trucks, each of which has its own completely integrated comms system. All trucks are then connected to each other using RTS Tribus and Trunking technologies. The primary trucks on site were Encore A, B, and C (a three-truck system) for game coverage; Cleatus A and B for the pregame; and Bravo for the kickoff show, opening night, and as primary backup to Encore. Additional Game Creek support facilities brought the truck total to ten.
Sennheiser Digital 6000 takes the stage at Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
Sennheiser’s Digital 6000 wireless system was the microphone of choice for headline performer Shakira as well as her special guest, Bad Bunny, as the two Latin GRAMMY Award® winning artists sang against a perfect Miami cultural backdrop. ATK Audiotek handled the audio design for the pre-game festivities, referee microphones and the Halftime Show for the 23rd Super Bowl in a row. Just prior to halftime, there was no shortage of excitement in the game as the Kansas City Chiefs staged a dramatic comeback, tying the game at 10-10. Once the clock ran out after the second quarter, the Halftime Show crew had approximately six minutes to dispatch and assemble the entire stage, located nearby the field’s 30-yard line. Antenna systems for the wireless microphones were set up in advance on either sideline prior to the game, along the stadium wall behind the team benches.
Lighting the WEGA Global Games OC in Doha
A super quick turnaround was needed to get from conception to delivery in just 4 weeks! Challenges for Luc’s lighting design included the positioning of the stage in one section down the long end of the stadium, which meant that the whole lighting rig – and all other technical elements – had to be ground supported. An already incredibly tight timescale for creating and producing a complex event was also shortened when the date was brought forward by one day! Integral to the winning pitch were elaborate projections mapped onto the stage floor and holographic images beamed on a special 30-metre-wide by 12-metre-high scrim – currently a trending aesthetic in the world of eSport tournament OCs. These had to be carefully ‘lit around’, combined with several flying and ground-based cast members and performers.
SHOW EVENTS
Britannia Row supplies Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA at the Royal Albert Hall
Britannia Row has supplied every Cirque du Soleil show at the RAH for the last 17-years. The company’s Sales Director Lez Dwight explained: “We were brought in mainly because the touring systems weren’t sufficient to cover the hall. Cirque came to us as we were local and have decades of experience deploying speakers into the RAH. “In the early 2000s we deployed L-Acoustics Arcs and Subs, then moved onto Meyer systems that matched the touring tent PAs. Around four years ago we designed an L-Acoustics PA based around multiple hangs of Kara. This design is now our standard which Cirque have endorsed.”
Proteus meets Hercules in New York’s Central Park
Micoleau had worked on two Shakespeare shows in Central Park earlier in the summer, but it was a very different plot he knew he needed for Hercules. “The musical Hercules, in a theater as large as the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, required (pun intended) very muscular lighting approaches,” he comments. “The Elation Proteus Hybrid provided just that muscle. In 2-degree beam mode, the Proteus fixtures gave me the powerful concentrated beams I needed to create beam architecture above the stage and the five 28-foot Grecian columns of the set. We were bouncing light off of the clouds passing by; it was crazy. We joked that we needed to alert air-traffic control to warn passing helicopters and small planes.” Consequently, Micoleau and Brandt demoed the Proteus Hybrid one mid-summer night in Central Park after one of the Shakespeare productions.
Robe T1s for Amelie Production
The T1 Profiles – used in addition to the touring lighting rigs at each venue on the tour – are being supplied by leading theatrical rental company White Light, investing in their first T1s for this production as they were essential for Elliot’s lighting plot. They are used as front light and usually positioned on the front-of-circle bar. In most venues, this meant they would be right above and in close proximity to the audience, so silent running was essential. “I needed a fully-featured moving light, quiet enough to be amongst the audience and imperceptible,” explained Elliot. The show is sung through with some prolonged periods of complete silence in the action that are integral to the narrative, “so basically I wanted a light that was high-quality, had all the features ... and didn’t sound like a tank!”
PRODUCTS
Bolero Sets the Bar for Wireless Intercom Usability and Comfort for California-Based DP Craig Kief
Craig’s previous comms solution comprised walkie-talkies and a legacy wireless system that operated in the crowded 2.4 GHz range, delivering less-than-ideal audio quality and suffering from interference, short range, and poor battery life. Bolero has changed all of that, first by eliminating walkie-talkies completely, and next by allowing a more natural way of speaking: giving multiple users full duplex communications instead of forcing them to wait for a walkie channel to be clear before speaking. In addition, audio quality is superb — resulting in far less ear fatigue – and the system’s multiple party lines give each crew member the ability to choose and change who they need to monitor throughout the day.
Norwegian Eurovision Qualifications 2020
The Norwegian service provider Empire Media has supplied telescopic camera cranes to Norwegian broadcast events for many years and with this worked with many stabilized camera heads that are common on cranes. In 2017, they started using a NEWTON stabilized head on Dactylcam cable cam and soon also supplied their Movebird 52ft telescopic crane with NEWTON. For this high profile TV show, these camera platforms were equipped with SONY P1 cameras and Canon HJ14 lenses. Empire Media also supplied an Egripment G-track rail system, moving along the stage with a telescopic pedestal. On top was a NEWTON S2 Fiber controlling a SONY P50 4K camera with Canon HJ14 lens. This solution gave the broadcast a clean HD feed and the operator another HD feed with zoom and focus data overlay.
Grass Valley’s GV Alyve is the Clear Winner for Miss Germany Competition
Using GV Alyve, the AKK TV production team was able to quickly and easily create digital broadcasts from within a web browser, switching seamlessly between live streams to create the final feed. Integrating seamlessly with AKK TV’s existing Grass Valley workflow, GV Alyve also allows graphics to be added to the live stream and provides a straightforward interface for managing social interactions across multiple platforms. The system was supplied by Grass Valley’s German reseller, LOGIC media solutions. John Sturm, Managing Director of AKK TV commented: “We looked at a number of different solutions on the market and GV Alyve exceeded our expectations both on functionality and ease of use. We’ve worked with the Grass Valley and LOGIC teams in the past and they really understand our requirements. The added capability GV Alyve brings to our workflow allows us to grow the live streaming area of our business without adding complexity to our OB set-up.”
4K / 8K ARISING
4K 4Charity Run Series Upscales at NAB Show with New 8K Course Option
The 4K 4Charity organizers announced that registration is open for the official run of the 2020 National Association Broadcasters (NAB) Show. In addition to the popular 4K (2.49-mile) route, this year’s run includes a new 8K (4.97-mile) course option. The run provides a healthy, fun activity for NAB attendees, supports non-profits focused on increased diversity and inclusion in the technology and media industries, and celebrates advancements in video technology, such as Ultra High Definition (UHD) 4K and 8K video. The 4K 4Charity kicks off at 7:00 a.m. US Pacific Daylight Time on Tuesday, April 21 in Sunset Park, Las Vegas. Supporters can register here to participate or select the “Choose 2 Snooze” option to donate from anywhere.