March 2017 DISTRIBUTION 27
IMT enables wireless multi-camera broadcasts
When James Bober , assistant director / chief engineer of RIT Production Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology ( RIT ) in New York , USA , needed a wireless broadcast solution for his multicamera broadcasts for hockey , campus events , graduations and concerts , he turned to the micro- Lite HD system from Integrated Microwave Technologies ( IMT ).
Bober deploys microLite in a variety of ways , including installing it on a camera boom lift during graduation ceremonies , and mounting it on cameras for cutaways during hockey games on the team benches and in the locker room .
One of RIT ’ s biggest uses for microLite is also for the production of RIT hockey through its award-winning SportsZone Live broadcasts . “ RIT is a division one hockey team , and what prompted the purchase of the microLite this year was that we started a new SportsZone Live pre-game show ,” Bober explained .
“ This half-hour show before the game is being broadcast across the North-east through Time Warner Cable and online via Internet streams , so we really needed a reliable wireless broadcast system .”
The microLite HD transmitter is a portable system of wireless camera transmission links for highquality video applications of up to one-mile ( 1.6km ) line-of-sight ( LOS ). Operating in the standard 2K DVB-T COFDM mode , the H . 264 encoder also supports the main profile of the H . 264 standard .
The primary reason for choosing microLite over available systems , Bober further revealed , comes down to its expandability and versatility .
“ IMT has its diversity series of new receivers and antenna array systems . My intent is ultimately to use that same transmitter and receiver , along with additional antennas , to be able to expand beyond a portable set-up and to potentially equip the campus so that a wireless camera can pretty much be used anywhere on campus . IMT has the capabilities that allow me to do just that ,” he concluded .
The Rochester Institute of Technology ( RIT ) is deploying IMT ’ s microLite HD transmitter for wireless multi-camera broadcasts .
HD Broadcast upgrades mobile production truck with Riedel ’ s MediorNet
Three MediorNet Compact Pro frames and six Riedel MicroN high-density media distribution network devices are connected over a 10Gbps optical fibre network to create a fully redundant , decentralised routing matrix for the HD1 mobile production truck .
HD Broadcast , a German provider of live production and outside broadcasting ( OB ) services , has upgraded its HD1 mobile production truck with Riedel Communications ’ MediorNet real-time network .
Three MediorNet Compact Pro frames and six Riedel MicroN high-density media distribution network devices are connected over a 10Gbps optical fibre network to create a fully redundant , decentralised routing matrix .
Working in combination with HD Broadcast ’ s existing Riedel Artist digital matrix intercom system , the highly scalable new MediorNet infrastructure combines fully integrated signal transport , routing and processing with “ pristine communications ”, reported HD Broadcast .
“ We are very impressed with the flexibility and interoperability that MediorNet , MicroN and Artist offer us . With their outstanding quality and reliability , these solutions have set the market standard for future-proof networking ,” said Constantin Novotny , CEO of HD Broadcast .
“ MediorNet ’ s integrated signal management has enabled us to deploy decentralised router capabilities with distributed system intelligence — an ideal foundation on which to move towards an IPbased networking infrastructure and support future 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) productions .”
HD Broadcast completed the networking upgrade of OB HD1 in only three days , thanks to Medior- Net ’ s ease of integration , said Riedel , adding that the new Medior Netbased network infrastructure gives the production truck “ greater flexibility and significantly increased capacity ” through higher bandwidth and additional connectivity options .
The fibre-based network also allows HD Broadcast to minimise cabling , set-up and logistics expenses , resulting in “ significant cost savings ”.
“ MediorNet gives our customers tremendous freedom to build sophisticated media infrastructures . In addition to full video router functionality , MediorNet offers powerful signal transport and integrated processing features such as embedding / de-embedding , frame storage , frame sync , a test pattern generator , and sample rate conversion ,” said Olivier Görts , broadcast sales manager , Riedel Communications . “ With the integration of MediorNet , HD Broadcast has strengthened its commitment to mobile , flexible productions and is well equipped for the future .”
HD Broadcast ’ s OB HD1 truck has covered a wide range of live events , including Bundesliga ( Germany ’ s football league ) games for Sportcast , Sky and ARD , and concert productions such as the performance by Marius Müller- Western hagen for MTV Unplugged .
Telstra delivers ace for Perform Group
Digital sports content and media group Perform has awarded Telstra with a six-year , multi-million-dollar deal for the delivery of a global media network solution for the Women ’ s Tennis Association ( WTA ) series of tournaments .
According to Telstra , the special events agreement is the largest media broadcast deal since Telstra Broadcast Services was established . It also ties in with Perform Group ’ s recently announced 10-year partnership with WTA — which , at US $ 525 million , is the largest in the history of women ’ s sports — to create WTA Media , the tour ’ s dedicated media arm .
Telstra ’ s deal with Perform will span 47 rolling live global WTA events this year , including the Brisbane International ,
St Petersburg Ladies Trophy , Miami Open and WTA Finals in Singapore , and will increase to more than 50 tournaments by 2020 .
Telstra will utilise its network of global submarine fibre cable , satellite teleports , broadcast operations centres in Australia , Asia , Europe and the US , as well as its global field services teams , to transmit live WTA tournament video and audio content across the globe to Perform ’ s diverse points-ofpresence .
The broadcast solution will deploy Telstra ’ s Global Media Network and Special Events offering , which provides simple and efficient delivery of live and file-based video content by combining Telstra ’ s network and broadcast expertise into one solution .
In a first for women ’ s tennis , Telstra will also deliver multiple simultaneous live feeds from concurrent WTA tournaments , enabling audiences to view greater amounts of high-quality live tennis content than in previous tournament years .
Having commenced the year-round WTA 2017 schedule at the Brisbane International in January this year , Telstra will support more than 2,600 hours of live WTA coverage throughout the year , reported David Burns , Telstra ’ s acting group executive for global enterprise and services .
He added : “ Supporting an event of WTA ’ s global scale is a step-change for Telstra Broadcast Services and reaffirms the value of Telstra ’ s global reach and broadcast expertise as a top-tier service provider . Expanding our presence in this market remains a key priority for Telstra ’ s global enterprise and services business , and Telstra is investing heavily to bring the best solutions and technology to market for broadcast customers .”
In addition to the WTA solution , Telstra has also signed a contract with Perform Group for core global network solutions , thus strengthening Telstra ’ s partnership with Perform Group into the future .
The WTA partnership , concluded Dom Wedgwood , Perform Group ’ s director of content operations , enables the delivery of more WTA matches to more clients globally , and also brings “ significant benefits ” as Perform Group continues to grow its Perform Sports Cloud solution .