Technology for XLIII NFL Championship once again super
Jan 23, 2009 8:41 AM, By Michael Grotticelli
Sony’s HDC1500 1080i HD camera will be everywhere (on pedestals and handheld) inside and outside of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, during the Super Bowl.
This year's Super Bowl telecast Sunday, Feb. 1, on NBC will feature the usual pomp and circumstance, complete with HDTV production values, live streaming to the Internet and even mobile video alerts. Also, as in years past, several mobile production companies will support the telecast with HD-capable trucks on-site at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL, providing more than 75 Sony HD cameras located throughout the stadium.
Pittsburgh-based NEP Supershooters will send four HD trucks to handle the main festivities for NBC Universal, using Sony HDC1500 HD cameras and Canon HD lenses — with this year being the 16th Super Bowl telecast that Canon is serving as the exclusive game coverage lens provider. A total of 34 Canon HD lenses will be employed, from Canon's DIGISUPER 100xs long-zoom HD field lenses to the HJ11ex4.7B IRSE wide-angle lens.
NEP's coverage will include segments for the “Today” show and various NFL highlight shows as well as for the network's Internet and mobile video platforms, while Game Creek Video, located in Hudson, NH, will provide one of its HD trucks for ESPN to produce special Super Bowl-related programming and highlight footage for the all-sports network that will air before and after the game.
NEP's ND3 and ND4 trucks will cover the actual game live (as they have for the entire season of NBC's “Sunday Night Football” telecasts). ND3 features a Sony MVS8000A video production switcher, a Calrec Alpha audio console, more than 25 Sony HD cameras (including HDC 1500s and HDW-F900 XDCAM HD camcorders), three Sony HDC-3300 HD slow-motion cameras, and several EVS LSM servers.
ND4 carries a Grass Valley Kalypso HD video production center switcher, a Calrec Alpha audio console with Blufin audio networking technology, more than 20 Sony HDC1500 and XDCAM cameras and numerous EVS LSM servers.
NEP's SS24HD is comprised of two 53ft double expando trailers, making it one of the largest mobile units in the country. It also features one of the largest control rooms, with 138 color monitors in the wall, a Sony MVS 8000A switcher with internal DVE and an HD Dveous as well. Featuring a large tape room, SS24 can accommodate large productions with up to 10 two-camera networked EVS HD Live recorders and six to eight VTRs.
The rig carries 20 Sony HDC/900/950 cameras capable of operating natively in 1080i. Lenses include the Canon 100:1 telephoto to a variety of wide-angle models. SS24 also features a Calrec Alpha 5.1 digital audio console with a full complement of audio processing.
Finally, NEP's Denali Silver is configured for HD or SD operation with Sony HDC 1000L W2 and Sony HDC 1500 cameras, a Grass Valley Kalypso Duo switcher, Accom Dveous DVE, Grass Valley K2 HD server and a Calrec Q2 audio console.
Game Creek Video will be on hand in Tampa to support ESPN in the days leading up to the game (beginning on Jan. 27) and a day after. The veteran production company is sending its Yankee Clipper truck, compete with Sony HDC-1500 HD cameras and a Grass Valley Kalypso HD switcher. They'll be producing shows like “Pardon the Interruption,” “Sports Center,” “Mike & Mike,” “Countdown Daily,” NFL Live,” “NFL Matchup” and “Outside the Lines” from several on-site studios set up temporarily inside and outside of Raymond James Stadium.
A number of other productions will occur during the week in and around Tampa leading up to the actual game. F&F Productions, located in Clearwater, FL, will help produce “The Best Damn Sports Show” for FOX with the F&F GTX-12 HD truck on-site in Ybor City (near Tampa). The truck will provide FOX with an 88-monitor production wall, a dozen Ikegami HDK-79EC HD cameras, Fujinon HD lenses and a Grass valley Kalypso HD switcher.
In addition to the big game, the commercials will be super as well. Production company 3ality Digital has shot a joint 60-second spot in 3-D for Dreamworks’ “Monsters vs. Aliens” and SoBe Life Water that will air during the game. The Burbank, CA-based 3ality Digital has also produced a 3-D teaser and a full 30-minute episode using its special camera rigs for the new NBC series “Chuck.” The episode in 3-D will air the following day on the network. More than 125 million glasses will be given away at 25,000 locations by game time.
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