Boston, MA, August 20, 2008 – Viewers who glued themselves to their television sets as the Boston Celtics claimed its first World Championship in more 20 years received the best seat in the house as WHDH-TV Channel 7 News broadcasted all of the post game festivities and ticker parade live using Nucomm’s CamPac 2 wireless camera transmitter and Newscaster DR diversity receiver.
Upon taking the Championship against the LA Lakers during the playoffs, Celtics team players were interviewed by WHDH-TV as they entered and exited the locker room for firsthand heartfelt reactions to their victory, a task that Sam James, WHDH-TV Channel News Operation Manager, says could not have been done without using Nucomm’s equipment.
“Since this game was monumental for all of Boston, we needed to get as much coverage of the celebration and as many player interviews as possible,” explains James. “Eliminating that umbilical cord from the truck to the camera is major. Nucomm’s CamPac 2 wireless camera gave us the unique flexibility to shoot from anywhere on the floor, including all the way back into the locker room for players’ reactions. While the other stations were limited due to cabling, we received distinct advantage as the only station on site to report from the locker room, which subsequently allowed viewers to really fell part of the celebration.”
In using Nucomm’s Newcaster DR, James says the pictures were very stable and did not have any break-ups, regardless of what distance WHDH-TV was shooting from within the TD North Garden. “We received terrific range, which made a world of difference,” says James. “We didn’t have to worry about sticking close to the receive site, which gave us greater shot options.”
A few days after the Championship game, WHDH-TV continued its coverage of the Celtics festivities as it led live broadcast of the Celtics victory parade. While the CamPac 2 was instrumental in capturing greater shots because of its portability, it also proved more efficient in terms of safety. “The CamPac 2 gave us the flexibility to roam freely around the parameter while alleviating concerns over having to run cable in the midst of all the action, which can pose a risk when among large crowds of people.”
In keeping up with all of the action taking place throughout the parade, which began at the TD North Garden and ended at Copley Square, WHDH-TV used one of Nucomm’s CamPac 2s to interview players prior to the parade. Another CamPac 2 was stationed at the finish line for crowd interviews. For a play by play along the parade route, a CamPac 2 was used by one of the camera operators who walked alongside the duck boats that featured the players and had the opportunity to interview them via a remote microphone that linked up with the camera.
About Nucomm
Nucomm, Inc. is a worldwide provider of premier digital and analog video microwave systems (including COFDM and VSB) for the broadcasting industry’s portable and fixed link applications. Offering video microwave transmission equipment for the military, law enforcement, telecom and cable television circuits, Nucomm’s products have helped revolutionize live broadcast coverage of major outdoor events including sports, auto racing, marathons and parades. Nucomm, along with RF Central and Microwave Service Company, forms The Vitec Group RF Systems business unit, part of The Vitec Group Broadcast Systems Division. For more information about Nucomm, visit www.nucomm.com.
About The Vitec Group plc
The Vitec Group plc is acknowledged as a global leader in the supply of equipment and services to the broadcasting, entertainment and photographic industries and has established a reputation for technical excellence and superior engineering along with an astute business strategy which has seen it grow by acquisition. Innovation is a cornerstone of the Group’s activities and the organization is committed to a policy of continuous product development. With revenues (2007) of $546m (£274m) and over 2200 employees world-wide, its products are distributed in almost 100 countries, through a strong, fully-resourced distribution network or direct to the end user or corporate customer. More information can be found at www.vitecgroup.com.