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July 2014 l 33
broadcast
“For major broadcasting events such as the Commonwealth Games there are many challenges when it comes to audio,” says Sunset+Vine’s Mark Dennis, host broadcast senior coordinating venue technical manager. “The biggest is satisfying the rights-holding broadcasters (RHBs) and [accommodating] the many varied ways they wish for their signals to be delivered. In this digital age, it is interesting that the vision has migrated easily and without any rebuke – however, some are still caught up in their analogue ways and reluctant to make a complete switchover to digital.”
He explains that this is partly because of the equipment already owned by broadcasters, but also due to the fact that analogue can be easily tested and distributed. “The 2014 Commonwealth Games are the digital games, and all services from the host broadcaster will be delivered as digital,” Dennis adds.
Alongside broadcast audio for the television coverage, SVGTV will offer radio sound as standard, although specific radio services are requested on a case-by-case basis. “There is limited equipment provided by the host broadcaster to radio rights-holders,” states Dennis. “This is not because the HB doesn’t provide this service, but rather that radio RHBs have their own kit with which they and their presenters are familiar. Although the radio RHBs for the Commonwealth Games receive the best seats in the house and a similar position to the television rights-holders, I believe they are familiar with being self-sufficient.”
SIMILAR FEEDS For SVGTV, all radio and television rights-holders are essentially the same. The radio RHBs can book a stereo split from the HB production truck in the broadcast compound, then monitor and mix this in to their broadcast if required. This not only assists the radio RHB in making the live broadcast more immediate, but also creates a stereo space for their broadcast without the radio RHB having to set up and position a stereo microphone (or a pair). Back at the International Broadcast
“Our technical guidelines [including speech/music reinforcement in a non-reverberant manner] allowed contractors to propose what they considered the best technical and
operational solution”
Centre (IBC), the HB will be supplying the radio RHBs with a feed of the host’s clean English commentary, as well as the stereo international radio sound, for each venue. From the IBC, SVGTV is offering a Commonwealth Games channel feed, which will cover events and highlight packages for the day. There will be a multi-channel service consisting of six broadcast channels for the RHBs to feed to their networks. Christopher Farmer, SVGTV’s host broadcast audio, commentary and CSC manager, explains: “We have appointed sound supervisors at each venue – audio technicians are the responsibility of the OB providers. This ensures we have a good mix of people knowing the sport they are covering [and who are] familiar with the facilities.” Each feed will have an
international commentary track. All commentary will come live from site, and will either be one, two or three voices.
SVGTV is using Glensound GDC 6432 commentary units with Audio-Technica BPHS1 Headsets. These will feed in to a Riedel Artist matrix, where the signals will be routed and sent off to the telco over WorldCast Systems IP codecs. At the IBC, the codecs will feed into NTP Technology’s Penta 725 routers and then the main digital NTP 625 router, where SVGTV will have total control and can route these signals via the purpose- built NTP graphical user interface for monitoring and testing – and also to their final destination, the RHB. DirectOut Andiamo and M1K2 digital MADI routers will be used for sending signals to and from the broadcast compound which, in most instances, will be hundreds of metres away from the commentary control room. “We will have bookable EVS Clean Edit suites available at the IBC, should any RHB
Rob Hunt, general manager, Venue Technology Services (holding the Queen’s Baton!)
require editing,” Farmer adds. “The majority of RHBs like to supply their own facilities, which will be what they are familiar with, and – equally as importantly – what works within their media workflow.”
According to Dennis, the biggest challenge is delivering a state-of the art, reliable system that will meet the host broadcaster’s obligations and RHBs’ expectations – all on a fraction of the budget used for,
say, the Olympics or World Cup. He concludes: “SVGTV aims to provide something new and innovative that will make these Commonwealth Games the best to date and push some boundaries so as to drive the broadcast forward.”
www.glasgow2014.com www.avesco.com www.dbaudio.com
www.eu.audio-technica.com www.glensound.co.uk www.globaltv.com.au www.ntp.dk www.riedel.net
www.sunsetvine.co.uk www.svgtvhostbroadcaster.tv www.yamahacommercialaudio. com
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