Newsletter from 31/03/2020
SPORTS IN THE TIMES OF CORONA
Daredevil Mason embraces Beirut backdrop for scenic slackline
Nerves of Steel for Lafferty in Seven Cups wakeboard adventure
Kamaz truck takes flight in extreme Russian winter conditions
Llorens realises a lifetime dream of flying like a bird
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MOBILE PRODUCTION
Antenna Hungária service is provided with HD and 4K ready production trucks of 100% Hungarian design and manufacture. New vehicles are added to our fleet in accordance with market requirements. Due to decades of experience in outside broadcasting, comfortable and ergonomic workstations inside our production trucks have been designed by our engineers taking the highest technical requirements into consideration.Our equipment is continuously improved and state-of-the-art television equipment and technologies are employed in order to deliver high-quality outside broadcasts ordered by clients.
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Live PAM Solution for Newsrooms and Multi-Site Sports Production
The EVS Live PAM (Production Asset Management) solution leverages the power of EVS VIA platform and the new XS-NEO software defined server to meet the evolving needs of modern newsrooms and multi-site sports productions. It provides central ingest and file import, media asset management, workflow orchestration, shared storage and playout for quick and flexible content turnaround. The end-to-end solution offers dynamic, multi-channel format ingest and import with SDR to HDR conversion, hybrid SDI/IP connectivity for flexible and collaborative operations and new built-in functionalities such as digital publishing. It also seamlessly integrates with third party NRCS systems as well as Adobe Premiere Pro for more advanced control and faster speed to air. And by using the PMZ hypervisor, the EVS solution also helps media companies to transition from fixed hardware to virtualized infrastructure and license models.
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TV3 uses TVU Anywhere to bring a unique fan perspective for its coverage of Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona football game
TVU Networks, a global technology and innovation leader in live IP solutions, announced that Televisió de Catalunya's (TV3) ‘Minut a Minut’ sports television program successfully relied on TVU's mobile transmitter app TVU Anywhere to simultaneously host more than 25 football fans globally in a virtual talk show during a two hour live broadcast on their channel Esport3. The program's panelists were able to engage in live video exchanges with fans in full HD picture quality and with minimal delay. This connection was made possible with TVU Anywhere’s intuitive token-based user management, fans were simply provided with a QR code to pair their mobile device to a remote TVU Server. TVU Anywhere is a smartphone app that aggregates cellular data, with H.265 encoding and patented IS+ transmission algorithm. It allows anyone to transmit high-quality live video footage to broadcasters and TV studios, securing high and reliable bandwidth by aggregating both cellular and home internet connection.
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REMOTE / STUDIO PRODUCTION
Riedel MediorNet and Artist Provide Signal Routing and Comms Backbone for RTL Croatia’s Studio Upgrade to HD
Launched in 2004, RTL Croatia is a division of RTL Group, a Luxembourg-based digital media company with interests in 61 television and 30 radio stations in 10 countries. Working with Riedel’s local distributor and consultant, AVC Zagreb, RTL Croatia has just finished a four-year project to upgrade its production facilities to deliver its eight channels in HD. The latest HD channel, RTL Adria, went live in January. When RTL Croatia presented their requirements for a comprehensive networking and routing solution for the studio upgrade, we had no hesitation in recommending Riedel Communications,” said Juraj Novina, Sales Manager at AVC Zagreb. “We were completely confident that MediorNet could provide the seamless, reliable, and high-quality signal transport and communications needed for RTL’s new HD service. Plus, MediorNet also gives RTL the guarantee of a smooth transition to IP in the future, with the proven track record of a market-tested solution.”
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Encore SFX invests in MDG for BBC1’s The Greatest Dancer
When forming special effects company, Encore SFX, George Baker and Anthony Earles, both of whom have many years’ experience in senior roles in the SFX business, decided to invest in the highest quality special effect products available, and knew exactly which company and products they wanted to partner with. “We needed great products from a reliable company who could offer not just the quality but the essential support required, and immediately thought of MDG,” says Baker. The company purchased 4 MDG ICE FOG Q HP low fog generators with DMX interfaces, and 4 pneumatic Round Floor Pockets with remote control boxes. The ICE FOG Q HP is the quietest low fog generator on the market which it produces a thick, low-lying fog with zero residue. The award-winning Round Floor Pocket is DMX/RDM operated and can be embedded in the stage floor or set wall to conceal a fog output and deliver low fog or fog to precise locations.
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Solid State Logic System T Consoles Installed at NBCUniversal Six-Studio Complex in Boston
“It was truly a pleasure working in partnership with SSL to build NBCU Boston’s new media facility,” comments Jason Kornweiss, VP and general manager of Emerging Technology & Solutions, Diversified. “Their product ownership, comprehensive engineering training and support for the customer is impressive and we look forward to opportunities to work together again in the future.” The new NBCU Boston Media Center was built to support newsgathering collaboration between NBC10 Boston, NBC Sports Boston, Telemundo Boston and NECN (New England Cable News), which were previously housed in separate locations around the city. Chris Wayland, general manager of NBC Sports Boston and SVP and station manager of NBC10 Boston, Telemundo Boston and NECN, described the complex in a local news report as “the most spectacular news facility in the world.”
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SPORT EVENTS
Japan’s Levanga Hokkaido Basketball Club Picks Ross XPression for Innovative Facial Recognition Technology
At a recent league game in January, Levanga Hokkaido partnered with Ross Video and Panasonic System Solutions Japan Co. Ltd to introduce a brand-new concept for the game-day production – a game ‘excitement score’ based on facial recognition and Artificial Intelligence. Panasonic’s facial recognition system scanned the crowd during each quarter of the match and, using artificial intelligence, created an excitement score based on the facial expressions of the crowd. Ross Video’s Datalinq then transferred that data into XPression, and the subsequent graphics were shared with the crowd via the in-stadium displays.
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Two freestyle worlds collide in thrilling Follow Me series video
French freestyle motocross rider Tomas Pagès joined forces with acclaimed freestyle drone pilot Tom ‘Tomz’ Panaiva for the visually stunning Follow Me series. Pagès is a multiple Red Bull X-Fighters champion as well as an X Games gold medallist and he brought his full repertoire to a secret location for his latest project. Just 20cm apart from man and flying machine, Pagès unleashed his usual array of flicks, tricks and turns on a man-made course, with compatriot Panaiva’s custom-built drone completely in tandem.
SHOW EVENTS
The Gambler and the Bandit – Michael Strickland Remembers Kenny Rogers
In 1976, Bandit Lites owner Michael T. Strickland saw on stage in Las Vegas a has-been rocker, playing to an almost empty room. It was none other than Kenny Rogers, formerly of The First Edition. In a moment that would forever shape Bandit Lites and the life of Michael Strickland, Kenny struck up a conversation and the two swapped numbers; while Bandit was already a big player in a very small industry, what happened next was a real game changer. Strickland met with promoter Keith Fowler who saw something in Rogers and stated that he believed Rogers could succeed. Kenny took the 1960’s hippie image, refined it, classed it up, and picked songs that were unique. By the end of 1977, Rogers released his self-titled album, and things were starting to happen.
Hippotizer Shimmers for Boston’s Winter Party
The event, themed on the early-2000s, showcased live fashion shoots, dance performances and a set from DJ Fumesco, as well as large-scale visual art installations in support of BCA’s artist residency programs. The artistic content was curated by visual artist and film-maker Ethan Vogt. High Output’s Nick Venti, Video Lead for the event, was responsible for running and shaping the video content for the event, which featured an unusually-shaped vertical projection surface - an 8ft (2.4m) wide x 20ft (6m) tall screen which served as the backdrop to the 38ft (11.6m) long runway ran through the middle of the action in BCA’s iconic Cyclorama venue.
Lighting designer Normand Chasse chooses Robert Juliat Dalis 864 for new Canadian music series, Mix Sonore
Normand Chasse says he was “excited to see” the Dalis 864 fixtures at last year’s LDI and has been kept up to date on the fixtures by ACT Canada’s Alex Monat. The Dalis 864 is a new, 150W colour variation of the original Dalis 862 tuneable white footlight designed for the creation of colourful upstage or downstage lighting. Mix Sonore’s Dalis 864 units were supplied by Jonathan Pichette of SoftBox Integration, Montreal. “I’m a big fan of Robert Juliat products,” says Chasse. “The company makes really good products; I especially like their new LED Fresnels.” Chasse calls the Dalis 864 “amazing” with “a curve that’s so sweet and soft for an LED light, nice colours and really good results when lighting faces. I can control every group of four LEDs and use two different colours in lighting the full body of a singer or musician. The fixture is a good substitute for tungsten lighting.”
PRODUCTS
AJA Corvid Developer Cards Powers I/O for WASP3D’s Real-Time Broadcast Graphics
From breaking news, elections and politics, to the latest live coverage of eSports gaming tournaments and sporting events, WASP3D is a leading global provider of end-to-end real-time broadcast graphics solutions for live production workflows. Headquartered in New Delhi with offices located around the world, WASP3D’s technology solutions seamlessly integrate real-time broadcast graphics for livestreaming, OTT, television and professional AV workflows, with hundreds of installations in more than 40 countries globally. Visually enriched elements including augmented reality graphics, virtual sets, touch screen presentations and video wall graphics using design, data integration, management and automation tools are developed for clients via custom installation packages with AJA Corvid 88, Corvid 44, and Corvid 24 I/O cards at the core.
JVC Professional Video Unveils SRT Support for Connected CAM
“Since introducing CONNECTED CAM, we adopted the best-in-class QoS technologies to enable efficient IP-based workflows that are robust and secure,” says Edgar Shane, General Manager, Engineering, JVCKENWOOD USA Corp. “The addition of the SRT streaming protocol offers CONNECTED CAM customers another choice for video over IP transport in addition to our existing Zixi protocol support that’s been in place.” Developed by Haivision, SRT is an open source video transport protocol and technology stack. It is optimized for video streaming across unpredictable networks like the internet. The protocol, which grew out of the desire to sidestep the high costs of satellite and private network contribution, relies on end-to-end 128/256-bit encryption to keep content secure. SRT support for JVC CONNECTED CAM cameras is available as a firmware upgrade from the JVC Professional Video website.
Bryan ’Sol’ Aponte Takes DPA Microphones Back To The ´80s On The Set Of Mixed-ish
Veteran Sound Mixer Bryan “Sol” Aponte relies on DPA Microphones’ 4061 Miniature Omnidirectional Mic to capture the hilarious and witty dialogue of one of the network’s top sitcoms, mixed-ish. Aponte’s 20-year history in the industry features an impressive resume that includes two Emmy nominations and credits on MADtv, Workaholics, American Gangster, The Young and the Restless and Splitting up Together. He recently swapped out his previous lavaliers for the 4061s because of the impressive, natural sound quality these DPA mics provide. “I’ve been using the DPA lavs for a year now and I absolutely love them,” says Aponte. “My audio utility, the legendary Nick Carbone, first introduced me to them—he spoke so highly of DPA microphones in comparison to other manufacturers’ solutions. When I first tested the 4061s, I fell in love with them and immediately replaced my inventory of lavaliers with DPAs. The presence boost on the 4061s not only sounds natural, but you can place them almost anywhere on talent and capture great sound.”
4K / 8K ARISING
LYNX Technik Launches yellobrik 8K Fiber Transmission Solution
The new OTR 1A41 8K fiber transmission solution can also be combined with existing yellobrik bi-directional transceivers to add Ethernet signals or RS232/RS422/RS485 signals to the 8K fiber link. This new yellobrik supports uncompressed video at full 7680x4320 50/59.94/60 Hz resolutions with zero delay and complements LYNX Technik’s existing 4K transmission solutions, the OTR 1442 and OTR 1441. Full audio support makes this 8K transmission set a fully-featured solution. The modules transparently transport all embedded audio, metadata and ancillary data which is present in each of the four independent SDI streams.
Media Links Drives 100 Billion Bits per Second to the Network Edge for Remote Production Applications
The new generation MD8000-100G Edition will allow broadcasters and sports/entertainment producers across the globe to transport more media channels than ever before. Whether its uncompressed or compressed video, audio, and/or data over IP from remote sporting and entertainment venues to distant production studios, the MD8000-100G addresses the ever increasing need for more and more bandwidth at the network edge. Even at 100Gb/s, Media Links‘ solutions can all be hitlessly/seamlessly protected, providing disturbance-free, uninterrupted media (video, audio, data) transport across wide area networks.