latakoo, a leading developer of software solutions for the broadcast and production industries, has witnessed a phenomenal increase in usage from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic by its broadcast customers. Customers that include Nexstar Media Group and many other large broadcasters, television stations and production companies use latakoo’s patented technology combined with smart automation to streamline their workflows.

According to a recent global survey of broadcasters, 82% believe that cellular networks like 5G will eventually replace traditional broadcast distribution like DTT/DTV and satellite as the preferred way to access TV content, with over a third (37%) of these respondents expecting this to begin happening within 1 to 2 years. The survey, conducted on behalf of Nevion, the architects of virtualized media production, discovered that 10% still anticipate that it will take more than three years for 5G to overtake traditional services but the vast majority (94%) of broadcasters agree that 5G will likely increase the consumption of content.

TAG Video Systems, the world leader in 100% SW, 100% IP, 100% COTS, Probing, Monitoring and Multiviewing solutions, for all four of the major broadcast applications (Live Production, Playout, Delivery and OTT),  has announced that its MCM-9000 software platform can now run on  the Microsoft Azure Cloud in addition to its existing support for Amazon Web Services (AWS).  Gal Waldman, chief product officer for TAG, explains, “In order to reduce costs and provide flexible workflows the media industry is continuing its migration from on-premises legacy infrastructure to the cloud. As a 100-percent IP-based platform, TAG has been deploying our solutions on Commercial off The Shelf (COTS) hardware for over 13 years which made it a lot easier for us to move to the cloud. We’re now pleased to expand  our cloud deployments by supporting  Microsoft Azure in addition to AWS. The support also underscores our Zer0 Friction business strategy by providing customers with operational agility to manage the software across applications and locations, and maximize asset utilization”

The event – which has currently fundraised £4000 for technical entertainment charity Backup – was the brainchild of Gordon Torrington from Hampshire-based rental company Liteup. The idea was spawned from a conversation he had with Liteup’s MD Marc Callaghan and freelance LD Warren Hutchison about the great work of the charity in supporting many industry peers including a friend and colleague of all at Liteup, lighting director and programmer Jonathan Rouse who passed away recently in May … and is much missed. Techs on the Decks was viewed by 37,000 people creating a massive buzz around the industry and giving those directly involved a chance to do what they are so passionate about … as the industry remains closed since mid-march, still without a real practical roadmap on the table for when things might re-open.

Systems integrator KST Moschkau started out as a small shop specializing in broadcast, media and security systems in Kreuzau, Germany more than 30 years ago. The company has since expanded, becoming a leading solutions developer for European companies in these markets and beyond. Its portfolio of solutions, such as the CamBot robotic camera system, combines off-the-shelf tools with proprietary software to support production professionals in the field. Built to streamline and automate control over key studio components from video routing to camera control, ingest and playout, graphics and more, CamBot is modular and tailored to each client’s needs. Each system includes a customized combination of AJA Corvid and KONA desktop audio and video I/O cards to enable video capture and preview for its robotic control module, while AJA KUMO SDI routers facilitate automated video routing.

Mo-Sys, a world leader in precision camera tracking solutions for virtual studios and augmented reality, has brought virtual studio production within reach of everyone with StarTracker Studio, the world’s first pre-assembled production package. The system is scalable to any size production, and can support 4K Ultra HD.

ChyronHego’s TRACAB team in Sweden has achieved another important milestone in its latest developments towards a semi-automated offside technology, based upon the Emmy^® Award-winning TRACAB Gen5 optical tracking system. At a June 22 video conference hosted by ChyronHego and attended by FIFA and its Working Group for Innovation Excellence, the TRACAB team presented a demonstration of powerful new capabilities in TRACAB OCT (Offside Calling Technology) (Story on FIFA Website). Exploiting its AI-driven ball tracking for automated ball pass detection, combined with limb tracking and skeletal modeling derived from video feeds, the technology is showing great promise to support referees in the future to make fast and highly accurate offside calling decisions.

The MEDIAPRO Group and the Johan Cruyff Institute join forces to present the eSports industry and its business opportunities to companies and professionals. Their first joint project is the launch of the massive open online course (MOOC) "The eSports Industry", an online training for professionals in the fields of marketing, communication, consulting, managers and executives from all sectors which utilizes gamified learning to provide training in the growing business behind the eSports sector. Both partners will work to incorporate eSports as part of the agenda for other academic programs.

A graduate of Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology in Ontario, Kevin began his television broadcasting career in 1996 with CTV News. In 1998 he began working with CTV Sportsnet (now Rogers Sportsnet) in Toronto, one of Canada’s leading sports television broadcasting networks. He worked at Sportsnet for thirteen years as a Technical Director/Studio Director, while also freelancing for many other networks and production companies in the Toronto area. Kevin began freelancing with Ross Video in 2006 as a Demonstration Artist & Trainer and then joined full-time in 2011 as a Business Development Manager, working extensively with professional sports teams for game day productions as well as high profile entertainment productions.

Lawo, the German manufacturer of IP-based audio and video products, has just released new software with additional options, functionality and security features for its line of radio mixing consoles, RAVENNA / AES67 mixing engines, and VisTool GUI Builder software. “The business of radio continues to evolve, and Lawo is committed to upgrading and improving our tools to match industry needs,” says Johan Boqvist, Senior Product Manager, Radio. “This upgrade gives users new tools to tailor their Lawo radio equipment to meet their unique on-air and production workflows. And they will benefit not only radio clients, but TV production and audio infrastructure users as well.”

LYNX Technik, provider of modular signal processing interfaces, announces that HDR Evie+ is now available for its greenMachine® platform.
LYNX Technik’s HDR Suite of Processing Solutions (HDR Evie+, HDR Evie, HDR Static) for the greenMachine® platform addresses the challenge that broadcasters and content creators are facing when there is a need to broadcast or archive content in both SDR and HDR. The simple solution is to have two independent production routes for SDR and HDR, but this is costly and falls short of delivering full HDR content to the customer and ultimately the subscriber / viewer.

Atech Flash Technology (AFT), a leading manufacturer of industrial and professional media card readers and storage solutions, today announced the Blackjet^™ VX-1P AJA Pak Media Reader, a new media reader compatible with AJA’s durable, high capacity Pak Media. Encased in a protective metal housing, AJA Pak Media Solid State Drives (SSDs) offer video professionals flexible storage options with capacities ranging from 256GB to 2TB and are built to withstand repeated use in the field.

Clear-Com® is excited to announce FreeSpeak Edge™ is now shipping, following extensive field tests and final engineering testing to ensure the most robust and capable product possible. The latest addition to the industry leading FreeSpeak™ family of digital wireless intercom solutions, FreeSpeak Edge is the most advanced wireless intercom system, delivering the best audio quality and enhanced performance in some of the most exacting live performance environments. The system gives users more control and configuration options, thanks to advanced frequency coordination capabilities and intuitive design features in the system’s transceivers and beltpacks.

Freaks 4U Gaming GmbH, a full-service marketing agency specialized in targeting PC and console gamers worldwide, has produced some of the most vital and vibrant gaming and eSports events in the industry. With the demand for gaming productions rapidly increasing, Freaks 4U recently expanded its complex, building an additional three 4K studios and three control rooms. The company was looking to integrate control solutions that could both improve production quality and simplify operator workflow. With these needs in mind, Qvest Media, the project’s main technology and product supplier for 4K slow motion operation, audio and video routing, IP KVM systems, studio lighting and grip equipment, introduced Freaks 4U to TSL Products. The company integrated three units of TSL’s TallyMan TM1+ Broadcast Control and four licenses of its Flashboard Technical Display systems into Freaks 4U’s new facility.

As the live entertainment industry looks for new ways to engage people in a post COVID-19 world, Bandit Lites, the global leader in concert lighting, Moo TV and Clair Global joined forces to offer a safe and controlled venue to artists at the Steel Mill, complete with a full production turnkey studio. Clients will have the world’s best in lighting, video, sound and space to record or broadcast their music to the masses, all without compromising quality or safety.