News
NBCOlympics.com sets all-time record for Olympics page views
Feb 24, 2006 2:37 PM
With five days remaining before the end of the Torino Olympics, NBCOlympics.com, the network’s online home for the games, set a record for page views with 261.1 million, surpassing the 251.4 million for the Athens Olympics.
NBCOlympics.com recorded 145 million page views for the 2002 Salt Lake Games. On Feb. 21, with more than 29 million page views, NBCOlympics.com totaled its second ever most heavily trafficked day to move past the Athens Games. All of the top five page view days in the 10-year history of NBCOlympics.com have occurred during the Torino Games.
The Web site has served over 6.4 million video streams, which equates to more than 72,000 hours of video watched on NBCOlympics.com through Tuesday and doubles the number of streams served over the entire Athens Games.
Race fans get eyeful with FanView
Feb 24, 2006 2:46 PM
 NASCAR NEXTEL FanView combines the race telecast and up to seven in-car camera channels and direct audio feeds. |
Sprint Nextel, NASCAR and Kangaroo.TV rolled out NASCAR NEXTEL FanView, the latest wireless handheld scanner delivering a multimedia experience.
NASCAR NEXTEL FanView combines the race telecast and up to seven in-car camera channels, direct audio feeds allowing the user to listen to live driver and team conversations, as well as the radio broadcast and an exclusive audio-replay feature.
The device and service also tap directly into NASCAR's timing and scoring system, providing fans with real-time race data and statistics at the touch of a button. The device, featuring technology licensed by Kangaroo.TV, will be available for rent during all NASCAR NEXTEL Cup SeriesTM weekends. All data, audio and video are transmitted over the 2.5GHz wireless broadcast spectrum.
For more information, visit: www.nextel.com/nextelcup.
Sports technology expo moves to Las Vegas Convention Center
Feb 24, 2006 2:52 PM
The inaugural C4-Sports Technology Conference and Exposition, to be held July 17-19 in Las Vegas, has moved from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).
The conference and expo were moved to the convention center to accommodate the meeting room space and technology requirements of an increasing number of exhibitors and promotions partners. The C4-Sports Technology Conference and Exposition will be housed in the upper level of the South Building at the LVCC.
C4-Sports, the only technology conference and exposition dedicated to sports technology, will feature keynote speaker Duke University and Olympics Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Sports Media and Technology Conference, produced by Future Media Concepts.
For more information or to register online, please visit www.c4-sports.com.
YES Network to offer fans interactive control via DIRECTV
Feb 24, 2006 3:16 PM
New York Yankees fans who watch games on DIRECTV this season will be able to check box scores, view up-to-the-minute statistics and even switch to a “StarCam” view thanks to multi-year agreement announced this week involving YES Network, DIRECTV and MLB.com.
Slated to begin in July, the collaboration is Major League Baseball’s first foray into interactive television. It also makes the YES Network the first regional sports network in the country to offer its viewers single-screen interactive content. The service, available only via DIRECTV living in the YES Network footprint, will be available at no additional cost to customers.
MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, will provide the interactive application's constantly updated statistics, scores, records and other data feeds.
Viewers may also choose to the “StarCam” feed from a camera focusing on a particular star each inning.
For more information, visit www.yesnetwork.com.
Teleproduction
Crew-Cam, Squash-Cam help NBC sports capture Daytona 500
Feb 24, 2006 3:21 PM
NBC Sports’ high-definition production of the 2006 Daytona 500, Feb. 19, relied on 76 cameras positioned and used in a variety of unique ways to capture race action.
Among the 76 cameras were 10 car cameras with three-camera in-car rigs, Crew-Cam and Squash-Cam.
Crew-Cam consisted of a helmet worn by a jack-man working in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew during pit stops. Squash-Cam was a lipstick-sized camera buried in the grass of the tri-oval to give viewers the feeling of being squashed by the cars as they sped by.
StroMotion, SimulCam among effects NBC Olympics using in Torino
Feb 24, 2006 3:31 PM
Sportvision is providing unique graphic effects for NBC Olympics broadcasts of ski jumping, freestyle and downhill skiing, speed skating and snowboarding competitions throughout the games.
In using virtual imaging, which is an adaptation of the technology used to create Sportvision’s yellow first-and-10 line in football, Sportvision places virtual lines and distance markers on the jumping hill to represent specific data points throughout the production of ski jumping events.
Throughout the long track speed skating events, Sportvision is providing its object tracking technology, designed to track the skaters in real time. These graphic effects are presented via on-screen displays that highlight the positioning of each athlete, represented by their country’s flag.
The information includes such details as skater lanes, positions on the track, lane change locations, skater speeds, lap number, skater ahead/behind time and time in relation to leaders. Virtual imaging technology also is being incorporated via virtual flags placed on the speed skating track to represent each athlete’s home country. The flags appear to be painted on the track, under the ice, and are placed on the front stretch of the track.
Additionally, the SimulCam and StroMotion technologies, both powered by Dartfish, are being used throughout the telecast of freestyle skiing, snowboarding and alpine skiing. SimulCam works by superimposing images of one athlete over another, which creates a ghost athlete effect and reveals two skiers simultaneously as they travel down a run. This allows viewers to see the lines taken by the skiers through the gates, comparing their relative performances.
StroMotion is an evolution of SimulCam technology that relies on video processing technology to analyze rapid movements so that a moving object is perceived as a series of static images along the object’s trajectory. This provides viewers with the precise path taken by the athlete for a particular run or jump.
For more information, visit www.sportvision.com.
Fastbreak
The latest happenings from around the world of sports
Feb 24, 2006 3:38 PM
NBC grants ESPN programming, promotional rights
ESPN has acquired programming and promotional rights from NBC, including:
- Telecast rights to the live Friday coverage of four Ryder Cups (2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014), together with ancillary programming rights, the right to re-air NBC coverage, and extended highlights rights.
- Expanded video highlights for ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS for the Winter Olympics in Torino through the 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Through 2011, NBC will air a video promotion for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” game each week during its Sunday night football telecasts.
- Through 2011, expanded highlight rights for NBC Sports properties including Notre Dame football, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
Insight Sports launches three networks with BroadView
Insight Sports has launched three new cable networks using BroadView Software. Casino and Gaming Television Canada (CGTV), Gol TV Canada and the World Fishing Network are all using the software to streamline their multichannel programming and traffic needs.
For more information, visit www.insightsports.com and www.broadviewsoftware.com.
Caldwell joins FOX Sports
Chris Caldwell has joined FOX Sports as vice president of client marketing.
He will focus on marketing programs specific to FOX Sports’ coverage of the Bowl Championship Series and identifying new sponsorship revenue streams.
CBS SportLine announces Fantasy Baseball lineup
Internet sports media organization CBS SportsLine announced its suite of games for the 2006 Fantasy Baseball season. In addition to Fantasy Baseball Commissioner and Premium Single games, CBS SportsLine offered Free Fantasy Baseball Basic in conjunction with MLB Advanced Media's "Opening Day" for the 2006 Fantasy Baseball season.
For more information, visit www.sportsline.com.
Technology in Torino
TOBO turns to Panasonic for Winter Games
Feb 24, 2006 3:49 PM
The host broadcaster of the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games, Torino Olympic Broadcasting Organization (TOBO), is using an extensive array of Panasonic equipment for the International Broadcast Center and venues.
Together with contracted broadcasting companies covering the games the complement includes 200 DVCPRO VTRs, 100 cameras and camcorders and 600 LCD monitors. Panasonic’s DVCPRO P2 solid-state memory and DVCPRO HD and DVCPRO50 recording equipment are being used as well. TOBO’s official video recording format for the games is the Panasonic DVCPRO 50.
This year’s Olympics are the first to be completely digital, and the DVCPRO P2 solid-state memory system, which has no moving parts, is particularly well suited for the Winter Games because of the potential for harsh weather conditions.
Panasonic is providing 25 Astrovision giant outdoor video screens at various Olympic venues, including the Stadio Olympico, where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies are being held. The company also is providing 25 RAMSA audio systems, featuring line-array speakers that have been developed to cope with extreme conditions and minimize sound leakage. The line array speakers are being used for the first time at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
In addition, Panasonic is providing 8,800 color televisions and monitors, including 200 plasma TVs for the Main Press Center, the International Broadcast Center, the Media and Olympic Villages.
For more information, visit http://panasonic.jp/olympic.
NBC Olympics production relies on Sony
Feb 24, 2006 3:56 PM
NBC Olympics is using a range of high-definition broadcast and production systems from Sony Electronics for the network’s coverage of the 2006 Winter Games from Torino, Italy.
The equipment includes studio cameras, camcorders, switchers, VTRs, monitors, videoconferencing systems and professional videotape. These products will be used by NBC in an array of applications during the Torino Games, from the International Broadcast Center (IBC) to individual athletic venues.
Sony’s HDC-1000 multiformat 1080/60p portable cameras are being used to capture the action at the Main Broadcast Center as well as several venues, sending signals to Sony’s MVS-8000A and MFS-2000 video production switchers.
The HDCAM HDW-730S camcorder is being used for field acquisition. In NBC’s operations center, several types of Sony VTRs are being used, including the HDCAM HDW-M2000, HDW-D2000 and the SRW-5500 professional models.
NBC also is using 70 of Sony’s BVM-D HD mastering monitors, which display each input signal at its native frequency and resolution with a high degree of color accuracy. Models being used include the BVM-D14H5U, BVM-D20F1U, BVM-D24E1WU and BVM-D32E1WU units.
The network also is employing more than 300 LUMA professional LCD monitors, including Sony’s latest line of two-piece multiformat monitors. More than 150 LUMA LMD-9050 9in multiformat field monitors will be used due to their HD-SDI interface.
For more information, visit www.sony.com/news.
Isilon storage hastens, simplifies Olympic content searches
Feb 24, 2006 4:06 PM
NBC is using an Isilon IQ storage solution during broadcast coverage of the Winter Olympic Games in Torino.
NBC is storing the majority of the content from the coverage of the Olympics on more than 15TB of Isilon clustered storage, which provides NBC producers with the rapid review, identification and selection capabilities necessary to produce and deliver compelling coverage.
NBC is using a complete solution that combines Blue Order’s asset management system with Isilon IQ clustered storage. This solution provides directors and producers with immediate and easily searchable access to all game and background video content, allowing them to search hours of footage quickly and effectively.
For more information, visit www.isilon.com.
FRAME, EBU turn to PESA for Torino Olympics routing solutions
Feb 24, 2006 4:15 PM
A variety of broadcasters are using PESA routing solutions to support international delivery of audio and video from the 2006 Winter Games in Torino.
Operating out of Padua, Italy, FRAME operates a fleet of OB vans for hire in southern Europe. Chief engineer Andrea Gianolli selected the PESA Cheetah SD-HD multirate router for coverage of the Torino Games because of the system's compact size, signal-format capability and router system controller.
The PESA Cheetah 128 x 128 router is capable of simultaneously handling SDI and HDTV signals from the International Broadcast Center as well as the production group's own sources.
The Geneva-based European Broadcast Union (EBU) has been using a PESA Tiger router regularly for major sporting events, upgrading the system routinely so that this year's Olympics coverage is supported by a fully populated Tiger SDI router with a companion audio router and a large quantity of RCP-PVPG control panels, each of which was designed specifically for EBU.
For more information, visit www.pesa.com.
Alfacam, Euro1080 rely on AXON
Feb 24, 2006 4:33 PM
European HD OB specialist Alfacam and Euro1080 are using modular Synapse gear from AXON Digital Design to meet their signal-processing demands for the 2006 Winter Olympics. All AXON equipment is being provided by host broadcaster TOBO.
The AXON equipment includes HD processing modules for up and down conversion, embedding and de-embedding, color correction, frame synchronization and aspect ratio conversion. The cards are complemented with fiber optic backplanes.
For more information, visit www.axon.tv.
NBC tracks, manages Torino IBC feeds with ScheduLINK
Feb 24, 2006 4:38 PM
ScheduALL is providing NBC with broadcast workflow management solutions during the 2006 Winter Olympics.
NBC is using ScheduLINK resource management software to track and manage feeds coming into its facility at the International Broadcast Center (IBC) in Torino from the various Olympic venues. The system is a database that tracks feeds going in and out of the IBC facility from the various Olympics venues.
NBC operators can then determine how to manage where the feed is going, whether it will be live or delayed, and how it will be edited. Feeds are filtered out to the various NBC networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC and Telemundo.
A key benefit of ScheduLINK is that it allows each department at NBC to work independently yet maintain constant awareness of each other’s schedules and transmission activity. This way, important resources such as VTRs and routers can be allocated in the most efficient manner possible.
For more information, visit www.scheduall.com.
NHT Pro delivers Olympics audio monitoring for NBC
Feb 24, 2006 4:42 PM
NHT Pro Audio is providing 76 single-channel M-20 monitor systems to NBC for the network’s coverage of the Olympic Winter Games from Torino. The audio monitors are being used in control room installations.
The M-20 features a newly designed gunmetal gray cabinet that adds additional bracing around the woofer and provides improved cabinet geometry for surround sound fields. A successor to the A-20, the M-20 uses the same drive units, including a long-throw 6.5in woofer and a 1in aluminum dome tweeter, both of which are shielded.
The aluminum dome tweeter relies on a micro fabric surround at the edge termination and ferro-fluid in the voice coil gap for proper damping, removing ringing often associated with metal diaphragm designs. In addition, the tweeter's under-hung motor design reduces voice coil mass to ensure linear high-frequency response and low distortion.
For more information, visit www.nhthifi.com.
Finnish TV, Radio YLEIS use Lawo console, router in Torino
Feb 24, 2006 4:59 PM
Finnish TV and Radio YLEIS are relying on Lawo equipment to provide audio for coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games from Torino.
At the International Broadcast Center, YLEIS is using a 16+8+16-fader Lawo mc˛66 console and one zirkonXL. A Lawo Nova73 HD router system is handling central signal routing for both consoles and distribution of the clean feed.
YLEIS broadcasts in Finnish and Swedish. While the large mc˛66 console runs on-air, the zirkonXL is used for pre-production mixing. Both consoles share the signal pool and external feeds, as well as the studio microphones via the Nova73 HD.
For more information, visit www.lawo.de.
Robotic camera system delivers shots of Olympic Village
Feb 24, 2006 5:24 PM
NBC has positioned Telemetrics’ weatherproof camera robotics pan/tilt systems in the Olympic Village to provide wide angle views and other panoramic shots.
The Telemetrics system includes the PT-LWP-S3 weatherproof pan/tilt system, the LWP-HOU-S3 weatherproof housing and the CP-D3A control panel.
The precision pan/tilt head features provide camera-operator-like camera movements, and the heavy-duty bearings and motors with isolation mounts provide smooth, quiet operation. Up to 255 presets are available and the unit is controlled through serial data using RS-232 or RS-422, or through 10/100 Base-T Ethernet.
The CP-D3A desktop control panel allows the operator to adjust the pan/tilt/zoom functions of the system via the joystick or call up camera selects with the touch of a button.
For more information, visit www.telemetricsinc.com.
Grass Valley assists OB companies, broadcasters with HD Torino coverage
Feb 24, 2006 5:32 PM
A number of leading outside broadcast specialists are using Grass Valley multi-format high-definition (HD) production equipment and systems to bring the 20th Olympic Winter Games viewers worldwide.
The opening ceremony in Torino’s Olympic Stadium Feb. 10 was beamed to the United States in HD by UK-based outside broadcast specialist NEP Visions. With two trucks in Italy for the Olympics -each using numerous Grass Valley LDK 6000 cameras, Grass Valley Kalypso HD Video Production Center switchers, Grass Valley HD routers and Grass Valley HD modular products- NEP Visions has covered figure skating and ice hockey and will be used for the closing ceremonies.
In addition, several Grass Valley Kayak HD video production switchers, some shipped as flyaway kits, are being used by major U.S. and international television networks to supplement their HD coverage of the action.
For more information, visit www.grassvalley.com.
Sports Products
VertigoXmedia partners with STATS
Feb 24, 2006 5:36 PM
VertigoXmedia has partnered with sports information provider STATS to offer customers a seamless system for delivering live sports information to air.
Vertigo's recently launched Xstation channel-in-a-box system includes integrated support for the STATS data feed. When coupled with a subscription to STATS, Xstation allows customers to air real-time sports results in tickers, crawls or other data-driven graphics within minutes.
STATS provides real-time sports headlines, real-time game scores and player stats, game schedules, standings, and leader boards via its XML data feeds, which are linked directly to Xstation. With a built-in parser for STATS' data, users can create their Xstation channel graphics by either authoring them in Xstudio or dragging and dropping graphics from the customizable library of Xmedia Objects that ships with Xstation.
For more information, visit www.vertigoxmedia.com.
ABC Sports relies on EVS for Super Bowl coverage
Feb 24, 2006 5:39 PM
ABC Sports used 28 high-definition EVS XT servers for its coverage of Super Bowl XL. The network also relied upon EVS' new suite of IP Director video production management software and networked LSM-XT production and playout servers capturing the game.
The IP Director workstations, along with 22 LSM operators, enabled various members of the production staff, including an Avid editor, Final Cut Pro editors, and the pre-game and halftime producers, to browse content captured to the primary XNet network.
Numerous aspects of the production workflow were enhanced including extensive time code searches across all servers in the compound, live playback of material in the record buffers of distant machines and complete archive-offline storage of the game to two XFile removable media solutions.
The truck used to produce the game featured five LSM-XT servers and a SpotBox XT server controlled directly from the production switcher via RS422 protocol. ABC's tape release truck used an additional SpotBox XT to manage all replay switching to the main game truck. Five other locations across the compound housed networked XT servers.
(Click here to see a block diagram of the EVS setup ABC sports used for Super Bowl XL.)
For more information, visit www.evs.tv.
Charter Broadcast monitors sports audio with AMP1-S8MDA monitors
Feb 24, 2006 5:45 PM
 The Wohler AMP1-S8MDA monitors multiple audio channels and formats. |
Charter Broadcast has purchased 30 Wohler AMP1-S8MDA multichannel, HD/SD-SDI multiformat monitors which were used for the broadcast of the Australian Open. They also are being used for monitoring at the Winter Olympics in Torino.
Designed to monitor multiple channels and formats, the AMP1-S8MDA, monitors eight channels, AES/EBU, analog audio, HD-SDI and SD-SDI with demuxing and summing capabilities. The unit combines two HD-SDI or SD-SDI inputs with re-clocked output, four AES/EBU Digital outputs demuxed from two HD/SD-SDI groups, eight analog outputs demuxed from any two SDI groups or converted from AES/EBU digital inputs, and analog output of selected pair or multichannel downmix.
For more information, visit www.wohler.com.
T-Systems provides backhaul for Winter Olympics
Feb 24, 2006 5:50 PM
Japan’s NHK, Canada’s CBC, Swiss SRG SSR, the EBU and German ARD and ZDF are relying on T-Systems' digital fiber and satellite networks for backhaul of the 2006 Winter Games from Torino.
Many are employing fiber-optic-based ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) broadcast services for Torino, according to the company. To provide these data streams, the company has established several high-speed connections between Torino and Frankfurt. From there, T-Systems transmits signals to Japan and Canada via the Telekom Global Net.
T-Systems is also employ three newly equipped mobile SNG units for the EBU. Each offers four different transmission frequencies with 36MHz of bandwidth, via antenna for the signal transfer to the satellite.
For more information, visit www.t-systems.com.
Russian sports center selects Leader Electronics test equipment
Feb 24, 2006 5:56 PM
 An LT428 component digital signal generator and LV5100 waveform monitor are part of the video facilities at the new UMMC Sports Palace in Russia. |
The UMMC Sports Palace provides a wide range of sports facilities and is fully equipped for live broadcasting and video postproduction.
The venue includes a 9,264sq ft main arena with seating for 2000 spectators. It will host Russian and Euroleague basketball championships and provide sports and fitness training.
An LT428 component digital signal generator and LV5100 waveform monitor were supplied via Moscow-based broadcast system integrator Matrix Engineering by elQuip, European Master Distributor for Leader Electronics.
A compact ˝ RU rack size, Leader's LT428 can be genlocked to incoming component video, black burst or composite sync. Features include component serial digital output conforming to SMPTE-259M, analog composite output, dual channel AES digital audio output, analog stereo audio output, and 44.1kHz or 48kHz word clock. Site-specific parameters can be preset via an external PC.
For more information, visit www.elquip.com.
