Newsletter from 27/10/2020
Implement the Universal Basic Income to keep the Live Events Industry alive
The live music industry is indefinitely on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic as concert halls and similar venues are closed, and this has led to the suffering of thousands of artists and crew members around the world.
In the UK alone 170,000 jobs are lost in live music industry before end of 2020 as revenue falls by 80%
There are over 30 million people across the globe who work in live events; the majority of which have not worked since the Corona outbreak and remain unsure as to when their work will return. Following previously successful Days of Actions from the #WeMakeEvents team, the Global Action Day sought to bring together the global industry and highlight the impact that its effective shutdown is having throughout the world.
The last www action day on 30September started in New Zealand and Australia, where key landmarks such as the Auckland Sky Tower, The Domain in Sydney and Perth’s Matagarup Bridge were illuminated. The red wave then moved through other countries including India, the Philippines, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Germany, Austria, Norway, USA and South Africa, to name but a few.
For over 100 years, when the world needs help, who do they turn to? The Live Event Industry. Whether it be for making the world aware of a need or to raise money, the Live Event Industry has always jumped to the forefront and delivered.
George Harrisons Concert for Bangladesh - Farm Aid – Live Aid - “We Are The World” - “Do they Know that it’s Christmas” – A Concert for Life - The Tibetan Freedom Concert - The Concert For New York - America: A Tribute to Heroes - 4664 – Nelson Mandela Tribute - Tsunami Aid: A Concert For Hope - Katrina- A Concert For Hurricane Relief - Shelter From The Storm-A Concert For The Gulf Coast - Live Earth-Combat Climate Change - Stand Up For Cancer - Hope For Haiti Now - The Concert For Sandy Relief - One Love Manchester.
There have been many, many more great events, but these are the most well-known. The Live Event Industry has always been there in times of need. Not unlike the Red Cross, the Live Event Industry shows up every time we are asked to provide artists, stages, lights, sound, video, lasers, pyro, crew, venues, catering, staging, busses, trucks, and support to raise awareness, money, and love. We mainly work for free to enable all of the money raised benefits those in need. We give greatly of ourselves and our companies each time, no questions asked.
New research published today shows that over 26,000 permanent jobs will be lost in the live music industry before the end of the year if Government support is withdrawn. In addition, 144,000 FTE roles, including self-employed and freelance workers, will have effectively ceased to exist by the end of 2020.
This needs action now: We all should support the implementation of the universal basic income for all these event specialists. All tax offices can easily see what income the self-employed and freelance workers have earned in the past and what tax was paid. Now tall countries should implement the Universal Basic Income to keep the Live Events Industry alive and ready for the times after Corona. Within weeks and days of Corona passing away we are going to experience a culture boom: we will be dancing again together, singing together, sharing plates, holding hands, kissing and running together. And the Live Event Industry needs to be ready for this next culture revolution. Now fight for the Universal Basic Income: Start tomorrow at the #AlarmstufeRot Demonstration in Berlin https://alarmstuferot.org/demos. Planet Earth without events is like the Moon.
advertisement
MOBILE PRODUCTION
Videe FLYPACKS FLYo1,02,03 and MCR01,02
Videe is a true solutions provider, which can count on its reliable modern fleet. It is both managed and organised efficiently by the same team. Systems are put together based on 30 years of experience gained from broadcast services, combining the engineering abilities and knowledge earned in the field using broadcast technologies. Quick and practical in set up; versatile and light to allow easy transport and keep costs down; optimally customised by our technicians, who know how to get the best from our equipment
Get the technical specs of thze FYPACKS here: FLY01, FLY02, FLY03 and MCR01, MCR02
advertisement
L’Opera OBVan 7
Opera Broadcast Video Service is a leading company in the communication technologies sector; for over 35 years it has been operating in the television services sector, shooting outdoor and in theaters with OB VAN HD and 4K. A group of qualified technicians and 4K UHD-HDR technologies allow the creation of television programs of the highest technical and artistic quality able to satisfy every type of request coming from the television world.
advertisement
Broadcast Solutions Group Acquires Lithuanian Systems Integrator TVC
Stefan Breder, CEO of the Broadcast Solutions Group, comments: “TVC’s business strategy with approx. 60% of fixed media installations and 40% of OB vehicle construction perfectly complements and mirrors the development and strategy of the Broadcast Solutions Group. We welcome Ramunas Dirmeikis and the entire TVC team as part of the Broadcast Solutions Group, and we are looking forward to successful cooperation.” Ramunas Dirmeikis, CEO of TVC, adds: “We are very pleased to be part of the Broadcast Solutions Group and to support the Broadcast Solutions team with our experience.” Tomas Andriuškevičius, a partner at Practica Capital, one out of five selling shareholders of TVC, relates: “We are very happy how TVC has developed over the years and now has become a worthwhile part of such an industry leader as Broadcast Solutions Group.”
advertisement
The MEDIAPRO Group, unique in production of 119 football matches worldwide in the same weekend
Currently the Mediapro Group produces 11 national football competitions around the world: Spain, France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Colombia, Mexico and Chile. Only the logistical, technical and professional power of the MEDIAPRO Group allows it to face a challenge of this magnitude that will only increase in difficulty when the Slovenian and Bolivian leagues restart their competitions, suspended for public health reasons, and when the new seasons in the league begin. Both the Canadian and Angolan leagues kick off in April. 10 games were produced this weekend in 4K in the leagues in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy and 109 games in HD quality.
advertisement
TVN Live-Copter – the professional broadcast setup for aerial video
TVN is expanding its competence center for aerial video with a focus on the TVN Live-Copter. In addition to certified personnel, the broadcasting service provider is investing in technical infrastructure and the further development of complex workflows. TVN is optimally positioned to produce aerial shots live and in broadcast quality. The TVN Aerial Solutions department combines professional teams, highly innovative, highperformance technology and well-established work processes. The concept of the TVN Live-Copter is becoming increasingly important. It convinces by the implementation of a stable picture transmission in Full HD broadcast quality. Furthermore, the signal transfer was designed in such a way that the live signal (including Tally, return signal and intercom solution) can be integrated into the production process without any loss of quality. In addition to the signal quality, special attention was paid to the safety, flight duration and balance of the camera systems.
advertisement
REMOTE / STUDIO PRODUCTION
SMT "One Stop to the End" League of Legends S10, Looking Forward to the Finals!
2020 is a special year for China and the world. As the epidemic has caused various levels of competitions to be suspended or postponed to varying degrees, the League of Legends S10 World Championship has become the only world-class event that held in China this year. The success of the event is inseparable from the efforts of our medical workers in the epidemic, and the Shanghai government and the S10 World Championship China team's firm determination and promotion in hosting this event. In this event, the SMT team once again cooperated with the organizer Tengjing Sports and Riot, using the international leading IP remote production technology to provide full remote broadcast technical support.
advertisement
Astera Shines At SUNSTUDIOS
SUNSTUDIOS in Sydney, Australia, is a diverse creative hub for the photographic and motion picture / imaging industries and creatives. Owned by Canon Australia, the Sydney facility offers 5 studio spaces plus camera and lighting rentals, CPS service, a gallery space as well as fine art printing and other specialist services. With the video elements of the business expanding, explained sales manager Zoltan Blazer, they sought more flexible and practical options for lighting, and were hearing good reports about Astera’s wireless battery-operated LED product range from several sources.
advertisement
Synergetic offers professional studio for corporate and music clients complete with full Elation rig
President and CEO at Synergetic, Jason Weldon, says that opening the studio has allowed them to pivot from their usual business of supplying entertainment technology gear for live events in the Mid-Atlantic region. “We’ve been able to offer customers the ability to hold a virtual event in a professional setting,” he says while acknowledging that the redirection to a live streaming and professional recording space has also been an economic lifesaver. “While we’re not 100% or anywhere close to it, it has allowed us to stay in business and offer something unique, easy and useful for our customer base.”
advertisement
SPORT EVENTS
Riedel Bolero, MediorNet, and Artist Power Video and Comms Infrastructure for Australia’s Thoroughbred Racing Productions
Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), a leading provider of production services for the Australian thoroughbred horse racing industry, has migrated its communications and signal routing infrastructure to Riedel Communications’ Artist digital matrix intercom, Bolero wireless intercom, and MediorNet real-time network. The centerpiece of the Riedel installation is TRP’s largest OB vehicle, HDOB1, which has undergone a modernization to Bolero from its previous two-way radio intercom system. Based in Melbourne, TRP covers 525 thoroughbred events throughout the state of Victoria and produces over 3,500 hours of live HD racing broadcasts every year. The new 22-camera, 14.6-meter HDOB1 trailer, designed by TRP and built by Sony, is a mainstay at high-profile Spring Racing Carnival, which includes one of the world’s high-profile races, the Melbourne Cup.
Elation helps take street fighting to a new level in Tulsa
Wanting to stage something unique and spectacular, DAZN and Matchroom placed a ring at the intersection of E. 5th Street and S. Boston Avenue in the heart of Tulsa, with no fans present and strict social distancing and medical protocols in place for the full night of action. In a unique display of high-visibility promotional lighting, Olsen got his hands on some of the first Elation Artiste Mondrian™ moving heads available and used the 51,000-lumen strong LED luminaires to project logos onto the nearby 52-story BOK Tower skyscraper prior to and during the boxing matches.
NBA partners with disguise to give fans a true ‘home game’ experience from their living room
Fuse Technical Group turned to 13 disguise gx 2c media servers with Designer software and Sockpuppet control features to help deliver a home game feel for teams and fans at home, as the NBA resumed its season. The NBA has set up a “bubble” isolation zone at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida to enable professional basketball to resume in the US, while keeping players safe. Although spectators were not permitted in the stands at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex where the games were held, fans have been able to watch televised basketball once again. “This was a totally new experience for the NBA as well as the teams involved,” says Charles Dabezies for Fuse Technical Group. “Our largest challenge was understanding how to adapt 22 different team’s shows for this new environment. Adapting a traditional basketball game to this layout was new for everyone.”
SHOW EVENTS
7 Cinematics Celebrates Epic Weekend at Red Rocks
“Anytime we can film at Red Rocks it is a special experience. We were honored to work with these bands to help put on an incredible show for both those in the audience and fans livestreaming at home,” notes Adam Paul, CEO of 7 Cinematics. “At this point we are well versed on how to implement safety measures for our entire crew, with everyone getting tested regularly, wearing masks, and practicing social distancing. I think we captured the energy of each performance and are proud to have had another great weekend of shows at a legendary venue like Red Rocks.”
Foo Fighters play #SOSFest live stream with Brit Row virtual remote mixing solution
A total of 35 artists - including Miley Cyrus, The Roots, Major Lazer and Leon Bridges - played in multiple venues in cities across the US and joined the Foo Fighters in raising awareness and funds to keep North America’s cherished independent concert venues from closing indefinitely. Named #SOSFest, the three-day virtual music festival was created to support the Save Our Stages initiative and America’s National Independent Venues Association’s (NIVA) Emergency Relief Fund. NIVA’s YouTube hosted the festival, with individual sets also aired on artist channels. Prior to the gig, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl told Forbes why raising awareness is vital: “The smaller music venues are the ones that are really struggling and are not only culturally important, they are emotionally important.”
Robe Dances with the Stars in the USA
The 29th series of the popular TV dance competition “Dancing With The Stars” (DWTS) returned to ABC this month with new host Tyra Banks and 178 x Robe MegaPointes on the lighting plot as part of lighting designer Tom Sutherland’s precision-crafted epic look for the first series performed without a live audience! Tom’s company DX7 Design was initially asked to develop lighting for the 2019 season by executive producer Andrew Llinares. He, Tom, and director Phil Heyes – who has been on DWTS USA for 5 years – have also all previously worked together including a while back on X-Factor in the UK.
iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles “Hearts” DiGiCo
The tenth annual iHeartRadio Music Festival, a two-day virtual streaming, radio and TV broadcast event in late September, featured a lineup of international chart-topping artists performing live in front of a virtual audience, including Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, BTS, Coldplay, Kane Brown with special guests Khalid and Swae Lee, Keith Urban, Migos, Miley Cyrus, Thomas Rhett with Jon Pardi, Usher and others. The festival also marked the debut of the recently introduced DiGiCo Quantum338 digital mixing console, along with a new DiGiCo SD12 mixing console, at the iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles in Burbank, California, where many of the artists recorded their performances in the lead up to the festival’s air date.
PRODUCTS
KVM manufacturer opens high-tech control room
The special thing about it: The ControlCenter-Experience (CCX) is a permanently installed control room. Here, the company shows how different systems and technologies interact, thus giving them the possibility to respond very individually to customer demands during consulting. Unlike conventional showrooms, the CCX is not limited to illuminated glass cabinets showcase in which KVM systems can only be viewed. Instead, you can experience technology live and in action. Now, G&D are able to offer a platform for personal live consulting on a real control room application, independent of time and place. Thanks to the approach of demonstrating KVM also via live stream, it is easier to provide individual advice to customers from other European countries and from overseas.
Release 4.4 out for Lawo’s innovative theWall multiviewer control software
Lawo announced the release 4.4 of Lawo’s innovative theWall multiviewer control software. Beside regular improvements it comprises powerful new features providing an unparalleled multiviewer layout workflow experience. Live Editing in Layout Builder: The operator can now switch to live editing mode by activating the live edit switch and, from that moment, any changes will be immediately applied to the selected monitor. When not in live editing mode, changes can be applied to the selected monitor anytime by pressing the “Publish” button.
AJA FS-HDR v4.0 Introduces New Colorfront Engine TV-Mode, v1.4 BBC HLG LUTs
For professionals looking to take advantage of the latest BBC HLG LUT improvements, FS-HDR v4.0 also includes new v1.4 BBC HLG LUTs and a new LUT 9 for HLG to SDR display-light conversions. Additional enhancements include support for a wider range of camera metadata management schemes to streamline the pass-through of camera and lens metadata through FS-HDR to downstream devices for on-set applications, and the ability to configure the HDR components of the SDI output VPID on a channel-by-channel basis, which has proven vital to workflows that require a consistent VPID.