Bexel Corp., a broadcast equipment rental company, provided a variety of support and services from HD fiber feeds to technical expertise and engineering support for the 2006 Academy Awards Show.

Bexel used a number of HD fiber feeds at the show including the Stratos Lightwave HD Electrical to Optical Media Converters to feed HD to the curved LED stage, the front projector screen, and to the "Cinemascope" rear projector on the show's stage. Fiber was also used to connect the main show mobile unit and the pre-show mobile unit.

The company installed a fiber network that enabled it to cross connect to practically any area of the Hollywood and Highland complex, said Scott Nardelli, director of Bexel's Fiber Optics Division, who oversaw the installation. Fiber demarcations were located throughout the Hollywood and Highland facilities as well as in the Kodak Theater.

In addition, still press photographers received fiber pairs from the Red Carpet, Orchid Court and the Kodak Theater and were equipped with enough bandwidth to connect to their workrooms in the Renaissance Hotel. Bexel also provided audio and video circuits over fiber from the Red Carpet for Domestic and International broadcasters.