ASM Global Acquires Majority Stake of Anthony James Partners for AV Tech Support
Pioneer Group and Bundeling Announce Strategic Partnership
Pioneer Group, world leaders in stadia LED and lighting solutions, has forged a new and exciting collaboration with Bundeling to improve fan engagement and provide a seamless opportunity for sports clubs and sporting arenas to enhance collaboration with fans, partners, local communities and staff.
Head of Growth at Pioneer Group, Gerry Fredericks, stated: “More and more of our customers want to create a total immersive stadium experience. In addition, clubs want to reach more of their fans, sponsors and local communities faster with accurate and timely information – in this digital world; it just makes sense for us at Pioneer Group to work with Bundeling to provide this enhanced level of interaction – reducing wastage through paperless ticket ordering and eliminate multiple separate communications platforms – it must be synchronised. We're excited to be partnering with Bundeling – they have already completed some incredible projects into Sports Stadia across the globe, and we're delighted to be including this as part of our innovation agenda".
The match day experience is changing due to the fan demographic. Fan engagement is critical and has become an essential part of delivering an experience that creates memories. As a result, leading sports venues are seeking new digital ways to improve interaction and collaboration with everyone that touches the club.
The match day experience and journey starts with engagement at home, from purchasing a ticket, travelling to the stadium, being in the ground through to after the game. Digital is key to delivering this seamless experience.
Bundeling is a Dutch tech company that develops intelligent communication platforms for more than 600 sports clubs, companies, associations, governments, and communities in 15 countries. It allows organisations to digitally connect, interact, and inform multiple groups of stakeholders to ensure satisfaction on every level. Sports clubs use Bundeling to connect and build their business network and companies to optimise all communication flows and processes.
International Business Developer, Gard Valckx, commented: "We are delighted to announce that we have started working with such a forward-thinking company as Pioneer Group. They already have an impressive portfolio of customisable solutions, customers, projects, top-class employees, and ambitious growth plans. Through this new strategic partnership, we are confident that the value and performance of our two companies will be greater when working closely together. We already kicked our partnership off with the first project, and we hope for many more to come!”
https://pioneergroup.co.uk/
https://bundeling.com/en/
Digital Cinema Collective Thrives with MultiDyne SilverBack Fiber Camera Adapters
The entertainment professionals at Digital Cinema Collective say they create exceptional productions with a smile. Those smiles have broadened since adding SilverBack-V fiber camera adapters from MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Solutions to its live production model.
The creative professionals responsible for diverse productions such as the Democratic National Convention Digital Production and ABC holiday specials have utilized several MultiDyne SilverBack models, and simplified how they bring digital cinema cameras into broadcast TV productions.
“We specialize in multi-camera TV shows that capture a cinematic feel,” said Aaron Cooke, CEO, Digital Cinema Collective (DCC). “That means using digital cinema cameras from Sony, ARRI, Panasonic and others with a variety of cinema lensing to enhance any broadcast production with a film aesthetic. The SilverBack systems help us incorporate these cameras into the broadcast workflow, which has not historically been easy to accomplish.”
The SilverBack-V and SilverBack-4K5 both convert digital cinema cameras into SMPTE studio cameras for live multi-camera productions. Adaptable to any digital cinema or broadcast camera, both systems multiplex video, audio and data signals for multicamera 4K/UHD productions onto a single tactical or SMPTE hybrid fiber cable – with robust connectivity and remote powering.
James Coker, Technical Engineer, who has used the SilverBack-4K5 on many large multi-camera shows including the widely seen live broadcast of last year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, said: “We have pushed the envelope with the 4K5 in 110-degree heat, and they held up incredibly well in extreme heat and direct sunlight. It’s amazing to think that with all the added processing power of the SilverBack-V, they somehow stay even cooler in the outdoor heat.”
Beyond being camera-agnostic, Coker points to two SilverBack benefits as particularly helpful: quick-set up, and network connectivity. “We do live-to-air and live-to-tape events, which have different yet challenging timeline demands,” he said. “I can now get a 10-camera production up and running in four-to-six hours, compared to what used to take up to two days. The SilverBack-V has a more direct mounting interface that makes camera adaption even faster. From there it’s just pulling all the feeds from the I/O of the cameras, including SDI 12G, 6G, and 3G signals, as well as sync, timecode, power, audio, intercom and other important elements for the editors.”
Coker adds that MultiDyne’s 12G throughput and fiber-optic connectivity make it easy to manage cameras across multiple locations for live productions. He points to a recent large corporate event from a global provider of Internet-related services and products as an example of how MultiDyne makes complex shoots efficient.
“We had 12 cameras for the main show and six remote cameras in other states, and we used the SilverBack to send everything over fiber and into the cloud for a three-hour event,” he said. “This is a show that has been done for 10 years and was enormously complex. Now we can provide everything back to the truck over the network with livegrade instead of RCPs. We brought the cinema world to multi-camera along with all the power to do everything with live control.”
Jesse Foster, Director of Product Development and Western Region Sales, confirms that MultiDyne evolved the SilverBack series specifically to support the advanced broadcast cinematic production requirements of 4K resolution, HDR and Wide Color Gamut, as well as 24fps support for film-like motion blur as well as high frame-rate acquisition for slow motion. “We are providing our customers with quick-set up, camera adaptability and flexible networking in ways that help them easily achieve their storytelling goals with greater cinematic emotion.”
Cooke confirms that both SilverBack models will play significant roles in future live and recorded productions. He noted that the SilverBack-V was used for several holiday specials that aired over the 2021 holiday season and would be used for this year’s Super Bowl Halftime show.
“These systems have completely changed the look and feel of these shows, and elevated the overall production quality for our clients,” said Cooke. “This has been a gamechanger for our high-end clients that are seeing something very different than what they were previously used to and commenting that they never thought they could achieve this level of quality.”
Daktronics Upgrades University of Richmond’s Game-Day Experience
Daktronics has continued a long-standing partnership with the University of Richmond to design, manufacture and install a new LED video display at E. Claiborne Robins Stadium in Virginia. Installation was completed this past fall for the Spiders.
“Robins Stadium at the University of Richmond is one of the finest facilities in the country,” Deputy Athletic Director/Chief of Operations David Walsh said. “The new LED video board from Daktronics only added to the facility and enhanced the game-day experience for our Spider faithful. The state-of-the-art display at Robins Stadium had a very positive impact on our facility this past fall.”
The new LED video display at the stadium measures 27.5 feet high by 60 feet wide and is positioned in the east end zone to bring a new view to Richmond Spiders football, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and women’s track and field events. The display features 10-millimeter pixel spacing to bring crisp, clear imagery to fans throughout the stadium.
“We’re excited to once again partner with the University of Richmond to provide our state-of-the-art products to enrich the game-day experience for both student-athletes and fans alike,” said Fran Kulas, Daktronics sales representative. “Robins Stadium is a special venue for a number of Spider athletics programs, along with other special events, and Daktronics is thrilled to play such an integral role in helping to enhance future events at this venue.”
To bring Spiders fans all of the video and information they desire at live events, the LED display is capable of variable content zoning. This allows it to show one large image or multiple zones to share any combination of live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics and results, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.
In addition to the equipment installation, Richmond Spiders Athletics will also receive a content package that will be produced and delivered by Daktronics Creative Services.
LEA Professional Delivers High-Powered Install at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
When East Carolina University stadium experienced debilitating audio issues right in the middle of football season, they turned to PC Sound and LEA Professional to rescue the season and restore the fan experience.
Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium is the on-campus football facility at East Carolina University for the East Carolina Pirates in Greenville, North Carolina. The stadium has a capacity of 50,000, making it the second largest college stadium in North Carolina.
James Braddy, Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) at PC Sound, a local specialist in pro audio, video and lighting installations, got a call on a Monday in September from the Associate Athletics Director at ECU, Greg Pierce. Pierce explained that the previous weekend’s home game had been overshadowed by a series of audio issues.
“At the time, half the sound system didn't sound like it was working,” said Greg. “I knew we needed a solution and we needed it yesterday.”
On the weekend in question, stadium goers and players had complained that they couldn't hear, and the system would cut in and out. According to James, 60% of the stadium’s legacy amplifiers were off and the other ones were going into thermal protection mode.
While PC Sound tried to find a solution fast, they also knew the current supply chain could be an issue.
“I have always been able to get amps from LEA Professional through their rep Mavric and they are my go-to provider,” commented James. “We put the order in on a Tuesday at 7pm and within four minutes I had a reply from Scott Robbins the VP of Sales, with different options. The amplifiers were delivered to us on that Thursday and on Friday we did the install, ready for the weekend’s games.”
For James, most of this was possible because of the simple set up feature on the Connect Series amplifiers.
“One of my favorite things about these amplifiers is just the speed of setup”, said James. “Being able to push a button and connect to it with my phone or iPad tablet, without downloading an app or registering an account is fantastic.”
The PC Sound team installed eight 704D Dante Connect Series amplifiers from LEA Professional.
“The new amps, combined with a new mixer we added, ensured the stadium sounded much cleaner and clearer than it had ever sounded before, even though we were still dealing with some blown speakers at the time,'' continued James.
The following game sounded even better according to the team at PC Sound, and the stadium was ready for homecoming the following week, which included a performance by a live band.
James continues to choose LEA amplifiers for all installs he conducts. “These amps have built in DSP processing and tons of flexibility with the ability to double the power on one channel without having to compromise on losing a channel. Not only that, they look and sound great!”
In order to monitor the system, PC Sound utilises the LEA Professional Web UI. The Web App UI is LEA Professional’s browser-based interface which allows local monitoring of every amplifier connected to the network from any phone, tablet, or PC. In addition, it allows users to view the status of every channel on any given amp. This alongside the remote control LEA Cloud platform, ensures the integrator is in full control of the system at all times.
PC Sound is considering adding this remote monitoring service as an additional feature to their service contracts. “That's something that we are looking forward to starting soon.” said James.
Currently the system at ECU runs on analog connections, but the plan in the immediate future is to switch it over to a Dante audio network. This provides the stadium with another safety feature, if the Dante network goes down for any reason, it will automatically switch to analog.
For Greg, the new system is exactly what they needed: “It was everything we needed and some. I couldn’t have asked for better and we’re just so grateful to have a superior sound system in the stadium for our players and fans alike.”
Turner Sports Delivers Innovative Hybrid NHL Studio Powered by disguise
On the opening day of the 2021 NHL Season on its new home on TNT, Turner Sports unveiled its brand new broadcast studio for the hockey league for the next three years, all powered by disguise. To welcome the start of the season, a quartet of disguise vx 2 media servers and five rx II render nodes will now drive over 270º of wrap around visual content in the new studio which was built in just under two months at the end of summer with the help of disguise Certified Solution Provider and Atlanta-based creative studio MEPTIK.
disguise’s ability to seamlessly combine LED and projection to create the massive canvas helped the team deliver the elements in the short timeframe. The disguise solution combined nine projectors, two LED walls and multiple cameras into a single end-to-end workflow that helped deliver the project smoothly from concept to go-live.
“This is a full broadcast studio completely driven by disguise,” said Gideon Ferber, disguise’s Director of Product for Broadcast who oversaw the development of the studio. “Turner Sports opted for the full disguise solution for its ease of use and efficiency of delivery.”
The studio’s set ties into TNT’s signature style and the branding theme of its design system known as “Black Ice”, and channels the look of modern arenas with their huge displays and lighting effects. Subtle hockey-style elements include the oval shape of the set, which mirrors that of an ice rink, and the anchor desk’s ice shards base and hockey stick-shaped surround.
The set’s immersive displays are a unique combination of LEDs and projection with curved custom built LED panels on two sides of the oval and projection screens filling the rest of the visual canvas. Video, images and data are mapped onto the displays via disguise. A full height diagonal LED panel display and two large tracking monitors in the foreground of the studio further blend the LED and projection displays and offer additional flexibility for shots and presenter positions.
Another disguise advantage was the ability to create a pixel-accurate 3D project and play it out before stepping into the studio. “It was absolutely crucial to be able to previsualise the studio because they didn’t have time to do rehearsals or block shots in advance during the build,” Ferber explained. “The studio was actually up and running a week before the go-live date, so the ability to previs the whole setup and how the content would look, then build in animations and graphics, was imperative.”
disguise and MEPTIK also trained Turner Sports’ in-house production team on the use of the disguise workflow for broadcast. The team designed different curricula for each key set of skills, from producers and creatives to engineers and operators, training up a number of super users across each skill. Using disguise’s online training community, the aim was to have the team gain knowledge over time.
“We provided Turner Sports with a blank canvas for creatives to tell their best stories and engage the audience. We were so proud of being able to turn around this project in such a short timeframe and have it be such a success,” says Phil Ventre, Vice President of Broadcast at disguise.
Turner Sports will run with this installation for the next three years, exclusively for the NHL.
Gloucester Rugby Goes Live with Landways’ Digital Audio
Gloucester Rugby and Landways are delighted to announce that Landways’ new digital audio system has gone live at Kingsholm Stadium.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the club decided that, with fans absent from the stadium, it was a good time to replace the old analogue audio system that had been installed over 14 years ago and which had reached the end of its useful life.
Landways had already installed its market-leading digital infrastructure at the ground to deliver the existing high-performance Wi-Fi (2018) and surveillance camera systems (2019). It was a natural step to discuss a move to digital audio – a new service that Landways’ engineers had been developing during the pandemic.
Landways also offered, at a time of financial constraints for the club, to take on the risks of designing, funding and installing the new audio system. In return, a service contract has been signed with specified performance levels guaranteed for the whole term. The club felt that Landways’ “Infrastructure as a Service” model, with continued system assurance and built-in hardware upgrades, made them the right partner to deliver their new audio solution.
With the welcome return of fans to Kingsholm Stadium, all visitors can now enjoy the new, concert-quality digital audio system alongside the club’s high-performance Wi-Fi and improved safety and security systems, all supported by Landways’ long-life digital and power infrastructure.
The new digital solution distributes streamed audio to 384 speakers, connected by a series of amplifiers located at the edge of Landways’ existing optical fibre network to provide a crystal-clear, high-quality audio experience throughout the stadium. A fully IP-based Praesensa public address and voice alarm system by Bosch has been incorporated, providing a fully compliant emergency evacuation system.
The new digital audio system replaces the club’s old analogue PA system. With the majority of the analogue system components and cabling being over 14 years old, there were problems with intelligibility and ‘dead spots’ around the stadium, leading to numerous complaints from fans. Some of the existing speaker cables installed on long runs between the equipment rooms and loudspeakers were showing signs of damage and some of the old cable terminations installed at exposed loudspeaker positions had been corroded, which all contributed to signal degradation and power loss.
Landways’ digital audio system removes the previous long cable runs, delivering the audio signal from amplifiers contained within the existing distribution points to loudspeakers which are typically located no more than five metres away. This highly distributed design eliminates signal degradation and power loss.
The IP-based, low audio signal latency, routing and mixing functionalities provide millisecond timing control for high quality speech and music delivery, eliminating volume and delay challenges which can be heard as echo, muffled sound, volume variations and ‘dead spots’ – all common issues with the old analogue system. The highly distributed system coupled with extensive audio control enables Landways to offer the club a performance guarantee for the lifetime of the contract, defined by specific parameters for both music and speech delivery, covering sound pressure levels for volume measurements, frequency response for quality measurement and intelligibility for clarity measurements.
Hospitality and event spaces will benefit from an enhanced user experience, with TPC-1 touch panel controllers providing a simple user interface and offering multiple inputs and easy integration with video sources. This will give private guests the ability to customise their entertainment experience on match days and for private events.
Landways’ new public address system has played a key role in an agreement between the RFU, Premiership Rugby and BT Sport to trial broadcasting referee decisions to fans. During the Bath Rugby match on the 12th of November, the trial gave fans access to a greater understanding of the decisions referees make when a TMO review is requested. Once the referee is ready to announce their decision, the referee microphone will be broadcast over the PA system, delivering crucial decision details to fans to bring home viewing benefits to stadium crowds.
The audio installation further extends the use of Landways’ unique infrastructure, adding another 168km of optical fibre to the 192km previously installed in 2018 to support the club’s high-performance Wi-Fi system and subsequent CCTV installation. The new audio system also brings Landways’ patent-pending Induct system (application number: GB2592955 (A)) to the site.
The installation of Induct has enabled Landways to install an energy-efficient DC microgrid to power the new digital audio system throughout the stadium, and other systems in the future. This revolutionary new power solution reduces the amount of power equipment by 25% and uses 15% less energy than conventional AC systems – a major benefit to reduce power costs and create energy efficiencies to reduce the carbon footprint. Kingsholm’s DC microgrid is one of the first to be installed in a sports venue in Europe.
Gloucester Rugby Chief Executive Officer, Lance Bradley said: “We are excited to share this project with the Gloucester Rugby fans and the wider Gloucester and rugby union community. Through the COVID-19 pandemic we worked hard to ensure that when fans could return, their safety and match day enjoyment had been improved. Our previous sound system needed to be upgraded for some time, so I wanted to make this upgrade a priority.
“Going to market, we shortlisted suppliers and engaged independent specialist audio consultants to review the technical solutions offered. We wanted to deliver high-quality audio as part of a great entertainment experience at Kingsholm.
“Landways’ technical designs stood out, exceeding our performance requirements. With Landways, we are addressing the fans’ needs while improving our facilities for other events and commercial opportunities.
“We believe we have gained a lasting solution we know fans will enjoy for years to come.”
Chief Executive of Landways, Chris Smedley said, “Our new digital audio system is designed to meet the challenges of delivering high-quality music and intelligible speech across complex stadium environments. Using the same digital and power infrastructure behind our market-leading Wi-Fi and CCTV systems, as well as a host of other future applications, we firmly believe that digital audio is the way forward for any ambitious club looking to upgrade its audio systems.
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Gloucester Rugby and deliver a fantastic new audio system for visitors to Kingsholm to enjoy and to help keep them safe.
Daktronics Delivers Improved Game-Day Experience at Virginia Military Institute
Daktronics has once again partnered with Virginia Military Institute (VMI) to design, manufacture and install a new LED video display at Foster Stadium in Lexington. The display was installed and operational prior to their game on October 30.
“The new LED display was an instant hit with our fans and energised our game-day experience at Foster Stadium,” said Haley Shotwell, VMI associate AD for external relations. “It transformed our ability to deliver high-quality video content and graphics in a versatile and efficient manner.”
The new end zone display features 10-millimeter pixel spacing to bring crisp, clear imagery to fans throughout the stadium. It measures 24 feet high by 48 feet wide and is controlled with Daktronics Show Control system, an industry-leading system that provides a combination of display control software, world-class video processing, data integration and playback hardware that forms a user-friendly production solution.
The display is capable of variable content zoning which allows it to show one large image or multiple zones. These zones can show any combination of live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.
“A Saturday at Foster Stadium watching the Keydets compete on the gridiron is a day filled with all of the traditions you would expect on game-day at the nation’s oldest state military school,” said Fran Kulas, Daktronics sales representative. “We are once again honored to partner with the Virginia Military Institute on another special project where our state-of-the-art technology will enhance the game-day experience for athletes and spectators at this historic venue.”
The addition of the video displayed culminated a banner calendar year of 2021 with the Keydets winning the Southern Conference football title in the spring and Foster Stadium/Alumni Memorial Field celebrating its 100th anniversary as the home venue of VMI football.
In addition to the equipment installation, VMI will also receive a content package that will be produced and delivered by Daktronics Creative Services.
George Washington University Gets Upgrade with Daktronics LED Video Display
Daktronics has partnered with George Washington University (GW) to manufacture and install a new LED video display in left-center field at Barcroft Park in Arlington, Virginia. The installation was completed in 2020 and informed and entertained fans in 2021.
“This top-of-the-line videoboard will provide special excitement for the fans and student-athletes,” said GW Head Coach Gregg Ritchie. “It also allows us to improve in developmental techniques. We had a vision coming here and we have been able to see it realized, providing one of the best experiences in the country at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park.”
The new left-center field video display measures 18 feet high by 32.5 feet wide and features a 13HD pixel layout to bring crisp, clear imagery to fans throughout the ballpark. It also features industry-leading environmental protection to ensure it operates as expected in the outdoor elements.
The display is capable of variable content zoning which allows it to show one large image to be divided into multiple zones. These zones can show any combination of live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.
“We’re excited to once again partner with George Washington University to provide our state-of-the-art products to enhance the experience for both student-athletes and fans alike,” said Fran Kulas, Daktronics sales representative. “Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is a special venue for collegiate baseball and Daktronics is thrilled to play such an integral role in helping to create a big-league feel on game day.”
In addition to the equipment installation, GW will also receive a content package that will be produced and delivered by Daktronics Creative Services.
EVS Announces Broadcast Services Contract with HBS AG for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
EVS, the leading provider of live video technology for broadcast and new media productions, has announced that it has signed a major contract with HBS AG in relation to the FIFA World Cup that will be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022.
As a result, and in accordance with the signed contract, EVS shall deliver a turnkey solution consisting of all broadcast equipment and services required to provide Live Replay facilities across all the venues, including the International Broadcast Center (IBC).
The broadcast equipment to be supplied by EVS includes the live production and replay solution LiveCeption as well as the live production asset management solution MediaCeption.