EVS has announced the launch of Choreon, a next-generation robotics controller for media production that is part of its T-Motion solution.

Making its debut at the 2026 NAB Show, Choreon introduces a unified orchestration layer that brings various robotic systems together under a single intelligent platform, supporting setups that range from compact, single-operator workflows to complex, large-scale environments with multiple robots and operators.

“Choreon represents a significant step forward in how robotic systems are deployed and managed in live production,” said Benoit Dentan, vice president of T-Motion Robotics Solution at EVS. “We are moving beyond controlling individual devices to truly choreographing motion across an entire production. This makes it easier for teams to expand their use of robotics while preserving the human creative control that remains essential in live storytelling.”

EVS said that Choreon represents a major shift in how indoor and outdoor multi-robot environments are managed.

Where operators previously relied on separate interfaces for each device, the platform enables simultaneous control of multiple robotic systems within a single workflow. This unlocks new creative possibilities, enabling smooth, complex camera movements that are difficult to achieve with traditional, isolated systems. At the same time, it reduces operational complexity, lowers the risk of human error, and improves both speed and overall production quality.

The platform supports T-Motion’s full robotics portfolio, including PTZ cameras, robotic heads, tracks, elevators, rovers, jibs, gyro systems, and the Cablecam for smooth on-air movements, as well as third-party devices for off-air positioning. These can be freely combined within a single environment, eliminating compatibility constraints and streamlining production workflows. Choreon also enables collaborative operation, allowing multiple users to work within the same setup to meet the scale and demands of any production.

Built on a human-led orchestration model, Choreon keeps operators fully in charge of the creative process. AI-assisted features, such as automated framing, path planning, and dynamic motion profiling, enhance precision and consistency while easing the operator’s workload in high-pressure live environments, all without compromising editorial intent.

Key operational parameters, such as speed, acceleration, motion curves, and fine-tuning, are standardized across all connected devices. This allows operators to adjust sensitivity once and maintain the same control “feel” across every system, eliminating discrepancies when switching between devices.

Engineered specifically for live production, Choreon features a high-brightness touchscreen, tactile control surface, and enhanced haptic feedback for fast, intuitive operation. Safety is central to the design, with multi-sensor protection, configurable safe zones, and hardware- and software-based stop mechanisms, ensuring safe deployment in environments where robotic systems operate near crew, talent, and audiences.

"The launch of Choreon comes just months after our acquisitions of Telemetrics and XD Motion," said Serge Van Herck, CEO of EVS. “It highlights strong and rapid synergies between our teams, combining decades of media robotics expertise with deep live production knowledge. With T-Motion and Choreon, we are proud to realize our vision of a fully integrated robotics solution within EVS, one that connects seamlessly with our broader live production ecosystem.”

See EVS at booth N1841 during the 2026 NAB Show April 18 to 22.

SAN JOSE, Calif.—Netgear has announced a global technology partnership with EVS Broadcast Equipment to deliver certified, interoperable AV–over–IP solutions for broadcast and live production teams. The companies have validated EVS live production systems on Netgear AV switching platforms, giving customers a pretested network foundation for IP–based workflows.

The partnership focuses on open, standards–based deployments that help customers adopt SMPTE ST 2110 and related IP workflows with less integration effort and more predictable results in real–world productions, the companies said.

“When productions shift to IP, the network can’t be an afterthought,” said Dieter Backx, Vice President of Control and Orchestration at EVS. “We’ve validated our media infrastructure solutions on Netgear’s AV switches so customers can spend less time tuning infrastructure and more time running shows. It’s a practical and efficient path to SMPTE ST 2110 workflows, or any other IP transport mechanism such as NDI or Dante, whether on site, remote, or distributed environments.”

Netgear and EVS jointly tested EVS technologies—including Cerebrum, Neuron and Strada—across Netgear M4350 and M4250 series switches. Netgear also provides supported configuration guidance and Netgear Engage Controller profiles, backed by AV–focused technical support services, so teams can bring validated configurations online faster.

The validated approach supports fully IP–based live production workflows and improves day–to–day deployment consistency. Customers can use out–of–the–box configurations designed to shorten setup and reduce risk. The result is more predictable behavior across key network requirements such as broadcast–grade timing, QoS, and bandwidth handling, the companies said.

Beyond lab testing, the partnership includes joint work on customer deployments, training, and global technical support. Netgear and EVS are focused on helping broadcast teams build interoperable AV–over–IP environments that scale as production needs evolve. The partnership is global in scope, with no geographic limitations, and becomes effective upon the joint announcement.

“As live production continues its transition to IP, customers want proven solutions they can deploy with confidence,” said Richard Jonker, Vice President of Commercial Business Development at Netgear. “By validating EVS live media infrastructure solutions on our AV switches, we’re providing a reliable, standards–based network foundation that simplifies deployment while delivering the timing accuracy and performance required in mission–critical broadcast environments.”

CARLISLE, Pa.—In the run-up to the 2026 NAB Show, Wave Central, a Domo Broadcast Company and EVS have announced that they are working together on SMPTE ST 2110 interoperability testing and validation.

The interoperability test and validation involves the Wave Central Sapphire RXD5 wireless receiver with ST2110 and EVS Cerebrum Broadcast Control & Orchestration (NMOS routing), as well as EVS Neuron modular glue for all SDI and ST2110 processing workflows.

During the show, Wave Central will be exhibiting at Booth C.2820 and EVS will be at Booth N.1841 between April 19 and 22 at the show.

In announcing the collaboration the two companies said that technical collaboration among equipment providers is essential in today’s broadcast AV over IP environments for proving interoperability, removing risk for mutual customers and building trust when using multiple vendors are involved in same video production.

As the migration continues from traditional SDI to hybrid or full AV over IP based AV networks, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that various solutions work in synchronization before deployment. This simplifies commissioning and leaves more time and energy for creative planning and work on improving productions.

“We are excited to announce the ST 2110 capabilities of our Sapphire RXD5 receivers bringing remote wireless camera sources to ST 2110 broadcast workflows seamlessly,” said John Payne, GM at Wave Central. “and when it comes to ST 2110, systems engineers expect orchestration validation to happen before going out to the event sites, venues and studios.”

“Interoperability is fundamental to making SMPTE ST 2110 truly operational for live production,” said Dieter Backx, Vice President Control & Orchestration at EVS. “Validating Wave Central’s RXD5 receivers with EVS Cerebrum and Neuron ensures broadcasters can confidently integrate wireless camera sources into IP-based workflows, with the orchestration, timing, and reliability required for live events.”

For more information about EVS Cerebrum and EVS Neuron is available at https://evs.com/na

For more information about Wave Central, a Domo Broadcast Company and their products are available at https://www.wavecentralrf.com and https://www.domobroadcast.com.

At the 2026 NAB Show, April 18-22 in Las Vegas, EVS will introduce T-Motion, a new media production robotics solution based on the integration of Telemetrics and XD Motion. EVS acquired both companies last summer.

EVS's NAB showcase will feature the full T-Motion lineup: Arcam six-axis camera arm, OmniGlide roving platform, Telescope robotic jib, TeleGlide track system, Televator elevating pedestal, and XFly cablecam system.

Additionally, EVS will introduce a unified orchestration layer designed to integrate T-Motion systems seamlessly into its broader live production ecosystem. The approach combines creative flexibility with operational consistency while placing safety at the core of robotic system design and deployment.

At the show, EVS will also demonstrate its LSM-VIA live replay and highlights system, showing how a deeper integration with its Cerebrum broadcast control and monitoring system brings shortcut-based controls and integrated intercom management with push-to-talk functionality directly into the LSM-VIA operator interface. Support for the AMP protocol further sharpens responsiveness in fast-paced environments, the company said.

Creative tools such as XtraMotion leverage GenAI to produce super slow-motion, deblurred, and cinematic replays from standard feeds, while LSM-VIA Zoom enables operators to reframe wide-angle 4K feeds in real time, track action using AI-based object recognition, and quickly generate vertical formats for social and digital platforms.

For officiating and review, EVS will demonstrate how its Xeebra AI-driven field calibration, Virtual Offside Line and remote review capabilities can be further enhanced by XtraMotion's AI deblurring to ensure precise analysis of critical moments. Its mobile companion, Xeebra INSIGHT, extends these tools to coaches, medical staff, and pitchside supervisors, enabling live review, clip creation, and real-time sharing without any reliance on the control room.

A focus on stadiums and venues will highlight how unified control and scalable infrastructure within stadium and venue environments reduces reliance on multiple standalone systems, simplifies operations, and minimizes operational risk, ultimately improving content delivery for fans and sponsors alike.

EVS will also spotlight the VIA MAP Media Asset Platform, enabling seamless end-to-end workflows across on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments. Supporting fast-turnaround workflows from live ingest to near-instant distribution, VIA MAP is ideally suited to large-scale sports productions, as demonstrated at major international events this year across North America, Milan, and Dakar. It leverages AI-enriched metadata, advanced logging, and seamless integration of third-party data feeds to accelerate content search and retrieval while enhancing archive monetization.

For news operations, VIA MAP unifies ingest, AI metadata enrichment, asset management, editing, playout and multi-platform distribution from a single interface. Deep integration with newsroom computer systems and NLEs, combined with AI-assisted tools, and flexible cloud deployments, facilitate efficient collaboration and content reuse across broadcast, digital, and social channels.

The MOVE product line will also be on display, offering cost-effective, all-in-a-box ingest, playback, and transcoding, ideal for entertainment, worship, and corporate production environments. MOVE I/O delivers customizable ingest and playback with extensive format support and extended EVS asset management and Avid environments integration. MOVE UP adds file-based ingest, transcoding, automated workflows, and a REST API for third-party control.

For broadcasters transitioning to IP, EVS will demonstrate how Cerebrum delivers a unified control layer across both SDI and IP environments, consolidating broadcast and router control, IP orchestration, and SDN into a single system. Pre-built UI packages, designed around common broadcast use cases and familiar operator terminology, mean teams can be productive from day one. For Neuron, new live preview capabilities allow engineers to monitor the processed video in the user interfaces of Bridge and Convert in real time.

The Strada routing system adds three new SDI-router replacement packages (160, 256, and 512 SDI I/O), enabling organizations to replace end-of-life routers today while preserving the ability to integrate into IP workflows when ready, all at a competitive price.

Also for the first time at NAB, EVS will showcase its Flexible Control Room solution, featuring Tactiq, a modular, software‑defined interface that decouples operator workflows from infrastructure, enabling role‑agnostic operations, scalable teams, and open or hybrid environments aligned with real production needs.

And lastly, the company will demonstrate how its EVS balanced computing model allows organizations to choose the optimal mix of CPU, GPU, FPGA, edge, or cloud resources for each workload. The new EVS eShop enables progressive system scaling, on-demand capability upgrades, and technology investment that adapts as production needs evolve. EVS specialists will be available at the booth to discuss how software-defined, flexible deployment and commercial models can be tailored to individual infrastructure and business needs.

EVS will be in Booth N1841 in the North Hall of the LVCC.

Live video production technology provider EVS has officially launched EVS eShop, an online platform enabling broadcasters, service providers, and production engineers to instantly purchase, configure, and manage On-Demand Activation (ODA) licenses.

With the eShop, EVS customers can now scale their production infrastructure autonomously as requirements change - increasing agility, optimizing resource utilization, and maintaining cost efficiency without compromising performance.

“The EVS eShop gives our customers the ability to respond instantly to changing production needs, whether that means adding replay channels at short notice, upgrading to UHD for a flagship broadcast, or enabling advanced tools for a special project”, said Jean-Charles Drappier, senior vice president of portfolio and business innovation at EVS. “Broadcasters and media companies today need to do more with less, and the eShop directly supports that reality. It removes the need for upfront investments in features that aren’t used continuously, delivering both operational flexibility and smarter budget control.”

Accessible through a centralized interface, the EVS eShop provides a secure, intuitive workspace where users can activate temporary licenses and monitor usage across their infrastructure. Built-in management features including role-based permissions and approval workflows help technical and finance teams stay aligned while maintaining full control and traceability.

At launch, the eShop supports several key EVS products:

• XT-VIA and XS-VIA live production servers: extend channel counts, upgrade output resolution to UHD, and activate packages that include Super Motion, Advanced Super Motion, and Split Screen options.
• VIA XSquare and XFile3: add transcoding destinations, enable SDR/HDR conversion, or adjust frame rate settings to meet multi-format delivery requirements.
• Xeebra multi-review (VAR) system: activate AI assisted offside tools or Xeebra Insight user licenses for medical and performance analysis teams.

Several customers who used the product during a trial phase, praised its capabilities.

“With the eShop, our teams can handle scaling completely on their own” said François-Xavier Van Leeuw, manager support operations, events, and transmission at RTBF. “With just a few clicks we select the licenses we need exactly when we need them. It’s made our entire production workflow more agile and predictable.”

Julien Périlleux, CEO at Fréquence, also praised EShop, commenting that “Thanks to the EVS eShop, we have gained real flexibility. We can now optimize our setup by fully utilizing the potential of each server on demand and respond quickly to last minute requests.”

As for EVS’s trusted channel partners, the eShop enables them to easily provision licenses for customers, while maintaining full visibility across the accounts they support. This approach strengthens partner–customer relationships, and ensures a seamless experience for end users, the company reported.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, EVS said it will evolve the platform with additional products and features, shaping the future of on-demand scalability and enabling broadcasters and media companies to stay agile in a constantly changing media landscape.

The eShop is available now at https://viaportal.evs.com, where existing customers can log in using their current accounts to explore the catalog and begin managing licenses immediately.

EVS says it has completed two of its most recent acquisitions and, as a result, has created a new division in the company focused on robotics.

The acquisition of Telemetrics, a US-based company specializing in indoor Media Production Robotics, was announced in August while the acquisition of XD Motion, a French company that is renowned for its innovative control systems that enable secure outdoor Media Production Robotic experiences and provides reliable control of indoor robotic arms, was announced at the opening of the IBC Show last month.

EVS is combining both companies into one a division named “T-Motion.” Robotics represents a new market for EVS, which says T-Motion will offer “a comprehensive range of Media Production Robotics, both indoor and outdoor. This solution will allow EVS to capture the most powerful live video images and emotions.”

As of Oct. 1, all team members of both Telemetrics and XD Motion have officially joined the EVS group.

EVS says both acquisitions will deliver strategic benefits, such as:

• A comprehensive and future-ready portfolio of media production robotics, enabling a new total addressable market scope for EVS;
• Integration within the EVS ecosystem, by positioning T-Motion next to LiveCeption, MediaCeption and MediaInfra, and
• A new generation of AI based – leveraging EVS own AI technologies - integrated tools designed to help customers consistently capture the most compelling live video images whether in the studio or on the field.

Following its acquisition of Telemetrics, EVS continues its push into robotics with an announcement at IBC2025 that it is acquiring XD motion.

The deal, EVS reported, means that it can now offer its customers and channel partners a comprehensive range of media production robotics — both indoor and outdoor — to capture the most powerful live video images and emotions.

XD motion is a French company known for its innovative control systems that enable secure outdoor media production robotics experiences and provide reliable control of indoor robotic arms. The transaction is scheduled to close on October 1st, 2025, contributing to group results starting in Q4 2025.

EVS reported that the transaction “an enterprise value of EUR 3+ million [more than $3.5 million] plus potential earnout.”

As a result of the deal, EVS is now offering a new solution named T-Motion, integrating Telemetrics and XD motion.

"At EVS, our mission has always been to empower our customers to deliver the most compelling live experiences. With the acquisition of both Telemetrics and XD motion and the creation of T-Motion, we’re expanding the boundaries of what’s possible in live production in studios and in stadiums, for sports and any type of live events,” explained Serge Van Herck, CEO of EVS. “By integrating the cutting-edge robotics expertise of Telemetrics and XD motion into our ecosystem, we’re giving our customers and channel partners access to smarter, more flexible, and more immersive storytelling tools. Whether it’s capturing the perfect live video images with precision robotics or enhancing production workflows with AI-driven automation, T-Motion will help our customers elevate their content while optimizing operational reliability and efficiency. "

Positioned alongside LiveCeption, MediaCeption, and MediaInfra within the EVS ecosystem, EVS also reported that T-Motion introduces a new category of intelligent, integrated tools designed to help customers consistently capture the most compelling live video images whether in the studio or on the field. This strategic move significantly strengthens EVS’s capabilities and reinforces its commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology that enhances live storytelling and operational reliability and efficiency.

Founded in 2011, XD motion has carved out a unique position in the broadcast and cinematography industries with its expertise in aerial filming and multi-dimensional tracking. From helicopters and planes to cable cams, robotic arms, and drones, the company has delivered breathtaking live video images for some of the world’s most prestigious events including the Olympics.

In recent years, XD motion has evolved beyond service delivery, launching innovative products like ARCAM IO.BOT to bring its gyro-stabilized technology to a broader market. This transformation from a service-centric model to a product-driven approach reflected the company’s commitment to scalable innovation. XD motion generates an annual revenue of approximately EUR 4 million.

As part of EVS T-Motion, XD motion’s services will continue to support major live events already covered by EVS. At the same time, EVS plans that T-Motion will increasingly be adopted by users. Several live service providers have already expressed strong interest in adopting these solutions to enhance their event operations and diversify their service portfolios, EVS said.

" XD motion has already begun its transformation from a service-based company to a product-driven innovator, as demonstrated by key deployments across the U.S. and Western Europe,” explained Benoit Dentan, CEO and founder of XD motion. “Joining forces with EVS and merging with Telemetrics under the T-Motion banner is a natural next step in our journey. I’m thrilled to be part of this new chapter, where we combine our strengths to create a global leader in live broadcast robotics. Together, we’ll deliver smarter, more dynamic solutions that empower customers to elevate their productions and unlock new creative possibilities. "

EVS also stressed that the creation of T-Motion will be a catalyst for innovation across the entire EVS portfolio. By combining the deep media production robotics expertise of Telemetrics and XD motion with EVS’s proven strengths in live production, EVS said it will be "new possibilities for our customers and channel partners."

EVS also reported that it will continue to invest in R&D to seamlessly integrate T-Motion solutions with our existing platforms, including Cerebrum, the Flexible Control Room concept and other solutions. This integration will empower customers to elevate their productions with smarter automation, enhanced precision, and greater creative freedom, all while optimizing costs.

LIÈGE, Belgium—The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has selected EVS’s Xeebra video review system to power its new centralized VAR (Video Assistant Referee) Center.

The facility, located at the RBFA’s headquarters, will be fully equipped by Euro Media Group (EMG) ahead of the upcoming Jupiler Pro League season kicking off in July.

The new VAR Center will feature six state-of-the-art booths, each outfitted with EVS’s Xeebra system—a FIFA- and FIBA-certified multi-camera review solution that is used across 13 sports worldwide. Xeebra enables officials to review action from multiple angles in perfect synchronization, with touchscreen controls that allow for precise zooming and slow-motion playback.

“This investment represents a significant leap forward in our commitment to innovation and fairness in football,” explained Peter Willems, CEO of the RBFA. “By centralizing our VAR operations with EVS’s Xeebra technology, we are equipping our referees with the most advanced tools available — ensuring more accurate decisions and reinforcing Belgian football’s position as a leader in integrity and technological excellence.”

“We’re proud to see Xeebra at the heart of Belgian football,” added Nicolas Bourdon, chief commercial officer at EVS. "This collaboration with the RBFA and EMG is a testament to our shared vision of delivering the highest standards in officiating through cutting-edge technology. And with access to the VAR Center for training and demonstrations, we’re excited to make Tubize a hub for VAR excellence in Europe."

Game Creek Video has selected EVS’s Neuron View multiviewers to equip three of its trucks: Webby, 9 4, and Discovery. These multiviewers will replace older systems in the trucks, which are used for high-profile national and regional sports productions.

Facing the need to modernize its multiviewer infrastructure while maintaining cost efficiency, Game Creek Video said it was looking for a solution that would allow continued SDI operations while providing a seamless path to IP. EVS’s Neuron View was chosen for its ultra-fast processing, ease of configuration, and ability to function in both SDI and IP environments—ensuring Game Creek Video can transition at its own pace.

"Choosing EVS's Neuron View was a strategic decision for us," said Jason Taubman, senior vice president of technology at Game Creek Video. "Its performance, flexibility, and ease of use align with our current workflows while keeping us ready for future IP transitions. Given our longstanding collaboration with EVS, we trust in their expertise and reliability."

Neuron View is designed to meet the high demands of live production environments, offering ultra-low latency, high operational efficiency, and seamless IP stream monitoring. The deployment of EVS’s multiviewers in these three trucks expands the company’s existing partnership with EVS, whose LiveCeption replay and highlights solution is already a key component of Game Creek Video’s fleet, EVS reported.

"We’re honored that Game Creek Video has chosen EVS for this important technology upgrade," said Nestor Amaya, senior vice president of customer development, media infrastructure at EVS. "This collaboration highlights our growing role as a trusted provider of not just replay solutions, but also media infrastructure technology that helps broadcasters navigate the transition to IP."

EVS made the announcement at the 2025 NAB Show, where it is exhibiting at booth #SL3316.

LAS VEGAS—EVS has announced a major deal Al Jazeera Media Network to deploy its live content management solution at five bureaus run by the international news organization in Doha, London, Washington D.C., New York, and Sarajevo.

“We are pleased to work with EVS to bring MediaCeption into our news production ecosystem,” explained Ahmad Al Fahad, executive director of technology & network operations at Al Jazeera Media Network. “EVS’s proven track record of delivering fast and reliable solutions, combined with their global technical support presence, gives us the confidence to meet the challenges of modern news delivery. The deployment of MediaCeption will not only enhance our operational efficiency but also bolster our ability to deliver high-quality, timely content to our viewers around the world.”

As part of the agreement, MediaCeption will provide Al Jazeera with a unified workflow designed to efficiently manage and edit live and near-live news content. Each bureau will have the capability to ingest multiple live feeds, browse, edit, and share news packages from a centralized storage system, and seamlessly playout news as events unfold, EVS reported.

The solution is scheduled to be installed in Q2, with Al Jazeera planning to go on air with the new system in Q3 2025.

The comprehensive solution from EVS includes XS-VIA servers, the new media asset platform VIA MAP, and the high-performance storage system XStore.

The deployment of MediaCeption will enable faster content turnaround, reliable and stress-free operations, multi-site collaboration, and certified integration with tools from leading technology partners, including Avid Media Composer and Media Central, as well as Viz Mosart, EVS said.

“We are honored to have been selected by Al Jazeera as their trusted partner for this transformative project,” Serge Van Herck, CEO of EVS, added. “Al Jazeera is a longstanding and valued customer, and we are excited to deliver a solution that aligns perfectly with the demands of today’s fast-paced news production environment. This partnership highlights our commitment to innovation, reliability, and customer success, and we look forward to supporting Al Jazeera as they continue to set the standard in global news broadcasting."

TV TECH: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2024 NAB Show New York?

SÉBASTIEN VERLAINE: I anticipate AI to be one of the most talked about trends in the industry. At EVS we’re increasingly integrating Generative AI features, developed in-house, into our products and solutions with the aim of speeding up workflows and giving storytellers the ability to be more creative. AI is not just about automating; it’s about helping production teams to be more efficient and more focused on the quality of the program. At NAB Show New York, we will present XtraMotion, our AI-based service, which allows you to transform any live footage into super slow-motion replays.

What may be less of a trend, but just as important is the growing number of end-of-life and end-of-service SDI products. At NAB Show New York, we will present a comprehensive range of SDI products designed to address immediate needs while ensuring smooth transition to IP.

TVT: What will be your most important product news?

VERLAINE: In line with our “This is not a replay” campaign, we will continue to challenge the perception that EVS is limited to replay technology by presenting our cutting-edge solutions designed to enhance every stage of content creation—from live ingest to content management and distribution, as well as media processing, routing and multiviewing. For instance, we will demonstrate VIA MAP, our media asset platform that enables EVS’s vision of a premium live ecosystem where all our solutions converge and tightly integrate with each other to streamline operations and maximize the value of content.

TVT: How is your new product different from what’s available on the market?

VERLAINE: EVS is celebrating 30 years in the industry this year, and over that period of time we have managed to maintain our industry-leading position, building on our solid and reliable technological know-how and widening our product portfolio along the way. We want to stay ahead of the curve by providing smart, scalable solutions that help our customers to produce the best live stories.

TVT: What is it about NAB Show New York that brings you back every year?

VERLAINE: NAB Show New York has always been a good event to catch up with customers from the Tri-State area. We have a much bigger booth at the NAB Show in April, as well as an office in New Jersey, where we can easily invite customers to discover our latest solutions, but the event’s atmosphere is special, very local, and easy for customers in the city to drop by for a couple of hours.  

Missed any of our recent product news? Here is TV Tech's weekly wrap-up of new products, services and deployments we published in our newsletter between August 5 to August 9. The stories are listed from the newest on Friday August 2, day by day back to our stories from Monday August 5. 

Telemundo Takes VR Studio Tech from Miami to the Paris Olympics

Telemundo's virtual reality studio in Miami uses Unreal Engine and Chyron to provide a "photo-realistic look" that shows small details of the Paris landscape like the "wind in the trees".

Haivision To Feature Live Video Contribution at IBC 2024 

The company will show the latest developments in its live contribution ecosystem.

Imaginario AI To Demo Video Indexing, Search, Curation At IBC 2024

The company will show its multimodal artificial intelligence solution in the AI Tech Zone.

AI: The Unsung Hero of Olympic Sports

Can AI sustain Olympic revenue during and between Games?

A New Take on Reflectors: Cine Reflect Lighting Systems

The need for better tools has inspired lighting innovation.

Disney+ Launches Nat Geo Immersive Environment for Apple Vision Pro

Disney+ has announced that subscribers to the streaming service can now experience a new immersive environment from National Geographic with the Disney+ app on Apple Vision Pro.

Wheatstone to Showcase Blade 4 at IBC 2024

The expanded capabilities of the 4th generation AoIP Blade 4 include high speed transport protocol to routable audio codecs, audio processing, scripting, and studio control in 1RU.

Telos Alliance To Feature Next Generation AERO DTV Audio Processors At IBC Show

The AERO.20, AERO.200 and AERO.2400 include new features like AoIP support via AES67.

Finding The ‘Boun-dairies’ For AI In Media

TV channels are using AI-generated presenters to read the news. The question is, will we trust them?

M&E’s Embrace of AI Dampens Potential for Damage Mitigation

Amid the hype, industry struggles to establish guidance and guardrails.

Google TV Streamer Launches at $99.99

The new Google TV Streamer offers an AI-powered, personalized 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision Dolby Atmos and a smart home experience.

2024 IBC Show to Focus on AI, Business and Tech Innovation

IBC President Michael Crimp previews the upcoming gathering.

Mediaproxy To Show AI-Powered Captioning, Transcription for LogServer At IBC 2024

LogServer now supports AI-Media Technologies LEXI Recorded and Skyline Communications DataMiner.

Kramer Buys ZeeVee To Expand AVoIP Portfolio

ZeeVee’s expertise in AVoIP will expand Kramer’s product lineup and accelerate growth.

EVS Invests in TinkerList

EVS becomes a shareholder in the broadcast software provider as part of its strategy of offering simplified live production solutions.

XR Extreme Reach, Roku Expand Streaming Ad Partnership

The expanded collaboration allows advertisers to link all ads on the Roku platform to performance outcomes.

Arkona, Manifold Partner To Show EASY-IP At IBC 2024

EASY-IP combines arkona’s BLADE//runner and manifold’s CLOUD routing, processing and multiview tool.

Live video production tech provider EVS has made an investment in TinkerList, a Belgian company that offers solutions for making live broadcasting more intuitive, reliable, and productive.

As part of the deal, TinkerList's SaaS products will be integrated into EVS's asset management and flexible control room solutions, broadening the scope of EVS’s offering to customers worldwide.

EVS reported that the transaction value, including capital increase and loans, represents a total investment of below EUR 3 million ($3.28 million).

The deal follows a deal by EVS to acquire MOG Technologies, which expand EVS’ market reach and further support the extension of EVS’ MediaCeption workflows. 

TinkerList developed Cuez, which it bills as the world’s first first cloud-based rundown management system. Cuez is a web application and automation system designed to connect seamlessly with a wide variety of production devices in ways that improve production efficiency. 

"This investment will allow us to further extend the scope of our application to increase its relevance across a wider set of productions, while maintaining the same level of simplicity in usage,” explained Erik Hauters, CEO of TinkerList. “The strengthened partnership will help us to expand globally, thanks to EVS’s direct and indirect worldwide footprint. Moreover, this investment from a solid broadcast leader demonstrates the sustainability of our company." 

"We are very proud to become a shareholder in such a promising and innovative company that re-invents the way to produce live content,” added Serge Van Herck, CEO of EVS. “EVS now owns an important minority stake in Tinkerlist, allowing the team to remain independent and autonomous while supporting their growth and ambitions." 

TinkerList's SaaS products will be integrated into EVS's asset management and flexible control room solutions, broadening the scope of EVS’s offering to customers worldwide.

Missed any of our recent product news? Here is TV Tech's weekly wrap-up of new products, services and deployments we published in our newsletter between July 29 to August 2. The stories are listed from the newest on Friday August 2, day by day back to our stories from Monday July 29

JVC Begins Shipping New KM-IP12S8 Series vMix 4K Video Switchers

The latest JVC Solutions are designed for multi-camera productions of live sports and events.

Vivo Taps Harmonic to Power Caliente TV Sports Channel

Harmonic's VOS360 Media SaaS-based Solution is being used to simplify media processing, playout and primary distribution for a new sports channel in Mexico.

EVS Acquires MOG Technologies

The deal will expand its market reach and further support the extension of EVS’ MediaCeption workflows.

Ateliere Launches Its New `Connect AI’ Offering

At IBC 2024 Atelier will be showing what it is billing as the industry’s first end-to-end GenAI media supply chain solution.

VITAC To Demo Latest AI Captioning, Translation Advancements at IBC 2024

The company’s AI-powered Captivate captioning solution lowers the cost of captioning.

Sony Ships M2L-X Live Production Switcher

The switcher leverages hybrid procession and operations for on-premises and cloud production.

Comcast, Comscore Expand Cross-Platform Measurement Efforts

Enhanced partnership will allow Comscore clients to tap into Comcast Advertising’s Signal Authentication solution to increase fidelity of measurement and attribution.

Rohde & Schwarz To Showcase Latest Updates To Gallium, StreamMaster, PRISMON At IBC Show

Its Gallium and StreamMaster playout environment now runs on the latest Windows and Linus releases.

Dolby Acquires THEO Technologies

The deal will help Dolby expand its solutions for live sports and entertainment that enable viewers to interact with content while watching on different screens.

Atomos Unveils Shinobi II HDR Monitor

The new high-brightness HDR monitor is designed for vloggers, creatives and photographers.

iSpot Launches Cross-Platform Measurement Offering for TikTok

The solution enables brands to verify the audience overlap and incremental reach TikTok delivers against linear TV.

CommScope Launches STARLINE ESD 1.8 GHz Amplifiers

The ESD amplifiers offer substantial upgrades for DOCSIS 3.1 networks and an incremental path to DOCSIS 4.0.

Bahrain TV Launches Middle East’s First IP Playout System

State broadcaster tapped Grass Valley for the upgrade.

Critical Connection: Automotive ATSC 3.0

Experts discuss ATSC 3.0's role in automotive connectivity.

Comscore Introduces Comprehensive Cross-Platform YouTube Audience Measurement

Comscore measurement and video insights are now available for YouTube traffic on desktop, mobile and CTV.

Wohler Announces 3G-SDI To 12G-SDI Upgrade Path

The new module, OPT-RMOC-12G, makes it possible to migrate a 3G-SDI capable monitor to a 12G-SDI (4K) capable monitor.

Wooden Camera Introduces Accessory System for Canon EOS C400

The system integrates with a wide range of Wooden Camera, Canon and third-party accessories.

Avid Unveils Latest Version Of Media Composer

The release adds a new transcript tool, deeper Pro Tools compatibility and enhanced collaboration.

Vegas Creative Software Launches Vegas Pro 22

Improvements to the video engine enable new AI-assisted features, text-based editing and enhanced audio tools.

Dot Group Showcases AI-Driven Solutions for M&E at IBC 2024

Dot will sponsor the AI Tech Zone networking area, highlighting innovative data management solutions.

PMVG Launches NextGen TV Station in Cookeville, Tenn.

The Public Media Venture Group (PMVG), a business development consortium of 32 public stations, has launched NextGen broadcasting service on W35DZ-D, its low-power station in Cookeville, Tennessee.

ADMC Riyadh Deploys Ikegami HDK-99 HDR Camera Systems

Each system comprises an HDK-99 camera head, FA-97A fiber interface, BSX-100H base station, VFL-P700A viewfinder and OCP-300 operation control unit.

Leader Electronics of Europe to Feature New ZEN-W Series Advanced Analyzers at IBC Show

Test and measurement specialist Leader Electronics of Europe will make the European debut of its ZEN-W Series of advanced analyzers at IBC 2024, Sept. 13-16, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center.

V-Nova, Amlogic to Support MPEG-5 LCEVC on Amlogic SoCs

V-Nova and Amlogic have announced a partnership to support MPEG-5 LCEVC on Amlogic SoCs.

Pliant to Showcase New Compact Crewcom Radio Pack at IBC2024

Professional intercoms provider Pliant Technologies will highlight its new CRP-C12 Compact Radio Pack at IBC2024, Sept. 13-17 at the RAI Amsterdam.

Disney, NBC and NFL Among IBC2024 Innovation Awards Finalists

IBC has announced the finalists for this year’s IBC Innovation Awards, taking place on Sunday, Sept. 15 during IBC2024 in the RAI Amsterdam.

Live video production tech supplier EVS has announced the acquisition of Portugal-based MOG Technologies in a deal that EVS said will enhance its portfolio with state-of-the-art file-based and software-defined video solutions. 

This acquisition also enables EVS to immediately broaden its premium live production ecosystem by expanding its file-based ingest and transcoding capabilities. In addition, MOG Technologies's expertise in cloud technology will bolster EVS's Balanced Computing strategy, particularly enhancing its content management and distribution solutions, respectively MediaCeption and MediaHub. 

As part of the deal, a team of close to 50 colleagues based in Porto will provide EVS access to a pool of highly skilled talent, bringing profound expertise in digital media and video technology, beyond traditional broadcasting. 

"I am excited to welcome the MOG Technologies team into the EVS family. The integration of MOG Technologies is a logical step in EVS’s transformation, moving beyond products to offering comprehensive solutions and forming a premium live production ecosystem where all live stories are produced, managed, and distributed seamlessly," says Serge Van Herck, CEO of EVS. "The product range of MOG Technologies not only complements EVS's existing portfolio, but will also help to quickly integrate software-defined ingest capabilities and introduce new transcoding features, both on-prem or in the cloud,  in line with the Balanced Computing strategy of EVS. This solution is meant to serve the evolving needs of our customers. " 

Luis Miguel Sampaio, CEO of MOG Technologies, added: “Joining forces with EVS is a significant step for MOG Technologies. Our combined expertise will enable us to offer unparalleled solutions to the media and broadcast industry. We are excited about the opportunities this acquisition brings and look forward to contributing to EVS’s success.” 

More specifically, the two companies reported that the acquisition will provide customers with:

• Enhanced product offerings: A broader and more integrated range of solutions to streamline media workflows from ingest to distribution.
• Innovation and development: Enhanced capability of investment in research and development to drive technological advancements and deliver cutting-edge solutions.
• Expanded support and services: Improved customer support and professional services to ensure seamless implementation and optimal use of the combined product portfolio. 

EVS reported that MOG Technologies generates an annual revenue of approximately EUR 4 million. The acquisition represents a value, including an earn-out mechanism, totaling below EUR 5 million. The share purchase agreement was signed on August 2nd, 2024, at the EVS House in Paris. The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, which are expected to be fulfilled by Q4 this year, the companies said. 

VILVOORDE & ANTWERP, Belgium—After 20-plus years at DPG Media, a leading player in the media and broadcast industry in Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark, I currently serve as the head of technology for their news and sport operations in Belgium, where DPG Media owns numerous media brands like VTM (television) as well as radio stations (Qmusic, Joe), online services, magazines and a strong digital media presence with newspapers like HLN, AD and the Volkskrant.

News City, where I work, is the headquarters in Antwerp for our news and sport departments and hosts our biggest news brands in Belgium, including VTM Nieuws, HLN and DeMorgen.

It’s an exciting time of growth for our company. A pivotal moment in this expansion was the recent move from our office in Vilvoorde to our new headquarters in Antwerp, marking a significant transformation in our operational setup. All equipment stayed in our datacenter in Vilvoorde whilst Antwerp became a full remote location.

The Path to All-IP
In order to streamline these operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall efficiency, we are transitioning to an all-IP infrastructure. We teamed up with our technical colleagues from RTL-TVI (a leading channel in French-speaking Belgium that is 50% owned by DPG), to identify a robust and proven IP routing solution that would support a decentralized workflow and meet our needs for flexibility and scalability.

Our implementation goals were clear: minimize development, limit risks, and ensure seamless integration. And with elections and major sporting events on the horizon, we needed a functional solution, not just a roadmap. After extensive research and evaluation, we chose EVS’ Strada routing solution to replace our existing systems and SDI infrastructure.

Connecting our master control rooms—the heart of our operations where all signals converge—the EVS Strada solution lets us work efficiently across various outputs and in conjunction with the galleries used for production. Built on the Neuron Network Attached Processor and Cerebrum broadcast control and monitoring system, it meets all the requirements for efficient and flexible broadcast operations: IP processing for audio and video, IP audio shuffling, JPEG-XS/ST2110-22 compression, and HD/UHD up/down/cross conversion. We’ve also added the new low-latency multiviewer, Neuron View, for monitoring multiple feeds in real-time using different layouts.

Thanks to Strada, our MCR team now has a single control platform to independently manage signals for news, entertainment, sports and digital channels across all locations. The solution integrates smoothly with our existing workflows, maintaining compatibility with our current SDI equipment while leveraging an IP backbone. This hybrid approach minimizes operational disruption and offers the benefits of modern IP technology, providing greater flexibility and scalability compared to traditional broadcast infrastructure.

Customized Panels
The new system has significantly boosted our functionality and efficiency, allowing us to create packages and organize sources logically, providing a better network overview and allowing us to save configurations for future use. This is a huge time-saver.

The customizable panels of Cerebrum are a major advantage, allowing our team to switch sources and manage signals independently, enhancing operational efficiency and user autonomy. Customization was a critical factor in our decision, and EVS was incredibly attentive to our needs. Together, we ensured the system was tailored to our workflows and UI requirements.

Although we are still in the early stages, the potential of this transformation is clear. We are fortunate to rely on such a professional team, guiding us through the biggest transformation our organization has undergone in the past 20 years. We eagerly anticipate the positive outcomes and continued growth that this new IP infrastructure will support. l

Sven Van Vlem is the head of technology for News City at DPG Media. He can be reached at info@dpgmedia.be.

For more information, visit https://evs.com/.

LIÈGE, Belgium—EVS Broadcast Equipment has announced that it has strengthened and extended its leadership team with three new internal promotions. 

The promotions are part of EVS’s efforts to further expand its commercial success in the live video production industry.

“These strategic promotions within our Leadership Team underscore our commitment to fostering talent from within and leveraging their expertise to drive our growth objectives,” said Serge Van Herck, CEO of EVS Broadcast Equipment.  

The executives "bring a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of our industry, which will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand our market presence," he added. 

The new promotions are: 

• Quentin Grutman has been appointed as chief strategic accounts officer. Previously serving as chief customer officer, Quentin will now lead a newly created team dedicated to focusing on strategic customers. Since 2020, Quentin has been instrumental in driving EVS back into growth mode, leveraging his extensive experience and commitment to customer satisfaction to foster deeper engagements and long-term relationships with key clients.
• Nicolas Bourdon has been appointed as chief commercial officer. Formerly the chief marketing officer, Nicolas will now oversee the worldwide sales and marketing team. As CMO, Nicolas not only led marketing efforts but was also in charge of product management. His innovative approach and leadership have been crucial since 2020 in enhancing EVS's brand presence and steering the company back to growth. Nicolas is now poised to lead the company’s global sales and marketing efforts to new heights.
• Oscar Teran has been appointed executive vice president markets & solutions. In his previous role as senior vice president of SaaS offering & digital channels, Oscar was pivotal in advancing EVS’s digital transformation and expanding EVS's market reach. In his new position, he will oversee the management of the company's global product and solution portfolio, market intelligence, business alliances, and global learning initiatives, ensuring that EVS remains at the forefront of industry innovation.

EVS has announced the appointment of Richard Katz as senior vice president of operations for the North and Latin American (NALA) region. This appointment is part of EVS’ broader strategy to further invest in the NALA region. 

"The NALA region is a strategically important area of growth for EVS and Richard’s proven track record and commitment to excellence make him the ideal candidate to lead our operations in the region,” said Xavier Orri, chief experience officer at EVS. “We are confident that under his leadership, EVS will continue to accelerate growth and reinforce its market position in North and Latin America.” 

The company said that Katz will be focused on strengthening the structure of the region’s operations team, improving service levels to world-class standards, and reinforcing collaboration with the sales force.

In the new role, he will oversee all daily operations and ensure the delivery of EVS’ professional services, including customer support and project management. Additionally, Richard will manage technical and support escalations to guarantee customer satisfaction. These efforts aim to foster sustainable growth in this strategic region.

Katz brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in broadcasting technology and 2110 networks to EVS. Known for optimizing workflows, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and strategic resource allocation, he possesses a deep understanding of the wider video delivery chain from production all the way through to CDN and OTT. Prior to his arrival at EVS, Richard was vice president of technology and engineering at Pac-12 Networks, overseeing the production of hundreds of live broadcast events annually, consistently achieving seamless operations. He has also held significant roles at IFIT, CSI Sports, and NBCUniversal, demonstrating his operational leadership, and strategic capabilities.

Vizrt is expanding its partnership with EVS, the companies announced today. 

The two companies—which have partnered on their production solutions for a number of years via Vizrt’s Viz Mosart studio automation solution support for EVS XT and XS-series servers—have now extended that support to EVS’s XS-NEO software defined server. 

This new collaboration integrates Vizrt’s expertise in automated production tools with EVS’s renowned capabilities in live broadcast technology, aiming to  deliver an out of the box solution for both ingest and automation-based playout, the companies said.  

EVS’s new XS-NEO server allows broadcasters to natively play multiple formats, including XDCam, and supports play from local high-performance RAID disks or directly from a facility's central storage, streamlining workflows for maximum efficiency, according to Vizrt. 

"Viz Mosart never stops evolving and remains at the cutting edge of automated multi-format live production,” said Andy Newton, Senior Product Manager at Vizrt. “With the integration of XS-NEO, we’re improving our expertise in the software-defined newsroom, with unrivalled flexibility for our customers’ workflows."

"With the replacement of legacy “End of Life” Ingest and Playout systems remaining a key challenge for newsrooms today, having our software defined XS-NEO fully validated for Viz Mosart control brings smooth multi-format playout – including support for native XDCam - directly to the News operation,” said Christophe Wittevrongel, Senior Solutions Manager at EVS. “Our goal is to deliver a fully supported, hyper-reliable ingest and playout solution that directly addresses one of the most important facets of Newsroom operation with no disruption to the present operation.” 

The two companies will discuss the integration at their booths: Vizrt (SL5061) and EVS (SU4015), at the NAB Show, April 14-17 in Las Vegas.

EVS and Videocraft have announced a deal that will see the Australian supplier of video production equipment and broadcast facilities deploying EVS' newest live production solution, LiveCeption. 

The investment, which is part of Videocraft’s ambitious upgrade initiative, was announced during a ceremonial signing jointly organized by the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency and the regional Wallonia Foreign Trade & Investment Agency at the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto as part of the Belgian Economic Mission to Australia. 

As part of an effort to enhancing its live production offering, EVS’ longstanding customer Videocraft will deploy EVS' LiveCeption solution and seamlessly transition from XT3 servers to the next-generation XT-VIA live production servers. 

The comprehensive solution will also include LSM-VIA remote control units that will be used for crafting engaging live replays and highlights. The integration of XFile3 will further simplify file transfer and archive management during live events. Furthermore, to address content management needs, Videocraft will leverage the power of EVS' IPDirector production asset management (PAM) suite.

The companies reported that the deployment of EVS' state-of-the-art technology underscores Videocraft's commitment to improving content quality and production efficiency. “Videocraft has had a long relationship with EVS, and when we looked to the next generation of production technology solutions, we found EVS’ market leading solutions and support to be the best choice in enabling our clients to deliver the most immersive viewer experiences,” James Taylor, Director at Videocraft emphasized. 

Quentin Grutman, chief customer officer at EVS added that "This partnership exemplifies   the synergies between EVS and Videocraft in pushing the boundaries of live video production. Together, we are committed to delivering state-of-the-art solutions that transform the industry and captivate audiences."

COLLEGE STATION, Texas—I have been a broadcast engineer for Texas A&M Athletics’ 12th Man Productions since July 2017. With a full-time staff of 17 and more than 100 paid student workers, we are responsible for producing the majority of home ESPN broadcasts as well as all in-venue videoboard shows.

We produce approximately 120 events a year from simple three-camera shoots all the way to national-level broadcasts for ESPN. We often will have multiple events a week and sometimes multiple events a day. Because of this workload, we have to have a comprehensive broadcast control system.

2110 Routing
I am constantly seeking ways to enhance operational efficiency and streamline workflows. In my quest for an ST 2110 routing solution, I came across Cerebrum from EVS. I started evaluating the system in December 2021 and was pleasantly surprised by its extensive capabilities and extremely customizable interface. 

One of the standout features of Cerebrum is its ability to provide whole system management from a single client application. This means that I no longer need to rely on multiple control applications for various functions, as nearly everything is conveniently accessible within Cerebrum. It simplifies the management of complex operations, making it easier for me to navigate and control different aspects of the production workflow.

During the evaluation period, I was particularly impressed with the system’s ability to quickly stand up an NMOS router. In just a matter of days, I was able to configure and integrate the router seamlessly into my existing infrastructure. This rapid implementation immediately had me hooked as we were beginning to integrate more and more ST 2110-native components, which was going to be crucial to our upcoming workflows.

Real-Time Monitoring
Another significant advantage of Cerebrum is its comprehensive device monitoring and reporting capabilities. The system enables me to keep a close eye on the health and performance of all connected devices in real time. By providing detailed insights into device statuses, errors, and alarms, Cerebrum allows me to identify and resolve issues promptly, minimizing downtime and maximizing operational efficiency. With the customization capabilities inherent in Cerebrum, I can build complex dashboards and event email alerting for specific thresholds and device metrics.

Cerebrum is highly customizable, allowing me to tailor it to my specific requirements. From the layout of the control interface to the selection and arrangement of controls, I can personalize the system to match my workflow preferences. This level of customization ensures that I have quick and easy access to the functionalities that matter most to me, boosting productivity and ease of use for our engineering staff.

Additionally, Cerebrum offers advanced scheduling capabilities, including the ability to create salvos. In addition to routing, salvos enable me to group and execute multiple device commands simultaneously, saving time and effort. Whether it’s triggering a series of actions for live production or automating routine tasks, the scheduling feature within Cerebrum is incredibly powerful and versatile.

My experience with Cerebrum has been overwhelmingly positive and I have found it to be an invaluable tool for streamlining my broadcasting operations. It is truly a system where your time and imagination are the limits. We were able to include some custom programming time in our initial purchase which allowed us to stand up an extremely functional and powerful foundation. Since then, we have expanded and developed our own interfaces, creating even greater efficiencies and capacity. I am truly excited to continue to grow our use and make our lives easier along the way.  

For more information about EVS’ solutions visit https://evs.com/.

According to a panel of CEOs, the media industry needs to work together to address issues around sustainability and deal with any workflow conflicts through innovation.

Speaking at last week’s Media Tech Sustainability Summit, Ian McDonough, CEO of Blackbird, encouraged media technology vendors to measure their carbon data and share it with the wider industry, so that “everyone can get on the same page and get a better picture”.

“Any conflicts that occur around workflow can be addressed through innovation,” he added. “If you can innovate with the philosophy that it is carbon efficient, that’s a massive step forward.”

McDonough encouraged fellow vendors to work with like-minded companies in order to “create a movement and create serious change.”

“Change is coming, but it doesn’t come on its own, it needs to be given a real hard push,” he added.

EVS CMO Nicolas Bourdon agreed with McDonough’s sentiment, telling the audience that the company has begun evolving its products, putting in place tools that facilitate monitoring power consumption, as well as educating its customers on how to use its products.

“All aspects of remote operations have been accelerated with the pandemic,” added Bourdon. “More and more of our customers are using our products and solutions in a fully remote environment. We have a dedicated team working on educating and training our customers to work in those kinds of environments.

“That means that progressively there is an evolution in the global offering of the company from production and solution to services, and accompanying our customers in this transformation. I like to say we are a little bit like a transforming partner,” he added, “our customers have challenges, but also they are looking at reducing their impact and reducing their consumption in terms of electricity and we have to help them in evolving the way they work.”

Working with customers is also a focus for Broadpeak. Jacques Le Mancq, president and CEO of Broadpeak. He warned the audience: “Time is flying,” he said. “There is an urgency to this and so we’re really focused on that.”

Finally, Erik Hauters, founder of automation platform Tinkerlist, encouraged companies to invest in the right people as they move forward with their sustainability goals. “Investing in the type of people you want to hire, people who have the right mentality, and letting them work from wherever they want is really important,” he said.

This article originally appeared on TV Tech sister brand TVBEurope. 

THATCHAM, U.K.—Broadcast test & measurement tech provider Phabrix, has announced that EVS has purchased two of its 25G IP ST 2110 QxL rasterizers. EVS will use the rasterizers to analyze video generated by its products during quality control (QC) tests.

With a distinguished track-record in sports, news and entertainment, EVS’ solutions enable content creators to deliver live content to billions of viewers every day. The new rasterizers will help EVS ensure that its live production, media asset management and media infrastructure solutions offer both high quality and reliability, the companies said. 

Several factors contributed to EVS’ recent decision to update its video analysis inventory with a pair of QxL rasterizers from Phabrix, including: the need to analyze both SDI and IP ST 2110 signal quality (the existing rasterizer was SDI-only); and the increased requirement for the analysis of HDR (High Dynamic Range).

The deal for the two rasterizers was arranged via Phabrix reseller and distribution partner Tevios. The QxLs are now in use at EVS’ quality control facilities and are being deployed to undertake a wide range of analytical tasks in QC.

“We are mostly using the QxLs with different test patterns to feed our servers and then analyze what’s going out from our playout,” explained EVS broadcast equipment software test supervisor Benjamin Coulée. “They are also being employed to generate audio frequencies. Primarily we are using analyzer waveforms and vectorscope, although with the recent purchase of an HDR license we are also analyzing HDR using the CIE Chart. We’ve found the units to be extremely capable for analyzing both SDI and ST 2110 signal quality, and measuring delay as determined by the ST 2022-7 standard.”

“EVS remains a watchword for live video quality around the world, so naturally we are delighted that they have chosen to invest in two of our acclaimed QxL rasterizers,” added Phillip Adams, CEO, Phabrix. “With the need to accommodate more formats and workflows seamlessly, the need for a flexible UHD-25G rasterizer that can address the requirements of broadcast media IP networks, as well as SDI, is evident to see. That’s why the QxL has been in constant demand since we launched it in April 2020, and it’s great to know that EVS is now using the product during its vital QC processes.”

TV TECH: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2023 NAB Show?

NICOLAS BOURDON: Broadcasters and media production companies are accelerating their adoption of new technologies, such as IP, AI, virtualization and the cloud, to deliver a wider range of stories, faster, and across multiple platforms. But integrating and managing these technologies can be challenging and complex for teams so there is a real demand for tools that can simplify daily operations. To address this, we anticipate the development of solutions that streamline workflows, such as resource management systems that can dynamically allocate resources in any production environment. AI-based tools that reduce cumbersome and time-consuming processes and enhance creative focus are also expected to become more prevalent. For example, this year's show will mark the debut of our XtraMotion service version 2.0. The latest version of our super slow-motion generator is a game-changer for the industry as it can now be deployed in an edge computing environment, leading to significantly faster turnaround times.

TVT: What will be your most important product news?

BOURDON: At EVS, our goal is to make it as easy as possible for production teams to create content quickly and efficiently, no matter what environment they’re working in. At this year's event, we are excited to showcase IPD-VIA Create, a web-based editing tool that seamlessly integrates with our end-to-end live PAM solution, MediaCeption Signature, and which enables the swift selection and creation of content for live news or sports highlights.

We have also been hard at work developing new content visualization tools that we are proud to introduce at NAB Show. These tools include Neuron VIEW, a flexible, high-quality scaling and low latency multiviewer, as well as LSM-VIA MultiReview, a software browsing interface integrated into the LSM-VIA replay system. With the ability to display 16 synchronous camera angles from the network in a single, customizable layout, operators can quickly perform content selection tasks. 

TVT: How is your new product different from what's available on the market?

BOURDON: At the heart of our success is the creation of an ecosystem that encompasses every aspect of live production, centered around our VIA platform. Over the years, we have consistently broadened and enhanced the EVS VIA ecosystem, bringing together EVS products, services and third-party integrations to create best-of-breed solutions for our customers.

We have recently improved the performance of our XNet-VIA network and introduced advanced content creation tools that seamlessly integrate with our solutions. Consequently, our clients can benefit from a fast, seamless and efficient live production experience, all within a single system.

TVT: NAB is celebrating its centennial this year. How many NAB Shows have you been to and do you have any particular standout memories of past shows?

BOURDON: Attending NAB Show for the 15th time has certainly given me lots of memories to cherish! But what strikes me every time is the positive energy and strong sense of camaraderie present throughout the event despite the accumulated fatigue. The return of the show in 2022 after the pandemic was a particularly special moment, as it enhanced this feeling even more. Witnessing everyone come together once again was energizing and emphasized just how important human interaction is. I also find it fascinating to observe how the show evolves each year, introducing new players, technologies and ideas that set the tone for the entire market.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Fox Sports will deploy XtraMotion, its super slow-motion interpolation technology co-developed with EVS, on prem for the first time during a NASCAR race Sunday, Feb. 19 for its coverage of the Daytona 500.

(Coverage of the Daytona 500, aka "The Great American Race," begins on Fox and Fox Deportes at 2:30 p.m. EST. Coverage is also available on the Fox Sports app, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and fuboTV.)

First deployed for the race in 2021, XtraMotion processing at that time was done offsite in the AWS Cloud where a theoretically limitless number of CPUs and GPUs created new video between frames shot at normal speed to synthesize slow motion. XtraMotion, in essence, turned every camera into a super slow-motion camera.

The downside, however, was depending on the cloud to interpolate the frames remotely. The distance introduced latency that required the broadcaster to be judicious about how it integrated XtraMotion footage into its coverage. 

Stoppages in the race due to crashes, for example, gave Fox Sports the time needed—as much as five minutes—to generate the synthesized super slow-motion footage and have it ready to insert into the production. Having XtraMotion processing available in a rack-mounted device on-site changes that.

“What's cool about having XtraMotion processing on site is that, when something happens, you send video to the XtraMotion processor, and then it turns back up in your EVS playlist as a 3x super motion clip, and it does that in five seconds,” says Michael Davies, senior vice president of field and technical operations, at Fox Sports.

Generating XtraMotion on prem also enables the system to treat incoming source video as a “growing clip,” which means there’s effectively no limit to the length of the super slow-motion interpolated segment.  

“It’s going to be amazing for in-car [cameras] because obviously we can’t do in-cars as super motion,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how often it gets used because of how quick the turnaround is.”

Helmet Cams
The Great American Race will also see the first use of video cameras integrated directly into the helmets of drivers to give viewers a driver’s eye view of the race rather than relying on vizor helmet cameras that were temporarily attached to the head protection, he says.

“Racing Force is the company behind Bell Helmets, and they have the knowledge to execute the integration of the cameras,” says Davies.

Fox Sports, which will shoot the Daytona 500 in 1080p HDR, will rely on an extensive complement of cameras (see Camera Map), including several drone cameras from Beverly Hills Aerials. 

“Beverly Hills Aerials, which we have worked with in the past, brings several different types of airships, each used for a different purpose,” says Davies.

Those include the small, lightweight Hummingbird drone that can fly around people with their permission, the FPV high-speed drone used in NASCAR straightaways due to its speed and a heavy-lift drone.

“The heavy-lift drone is a big, multiple rotor aircraft with a stabilized camera—a real 60- to 70-pound camera,” says Davies. 

Davies draws a distinction between how drones are used in race coverage when compared to other sports. “The interesting thing about racing is that unlike stick-and-ball sports where drones are basically used to generate glorified feature beauty shots, auto racing can actually use drones to as actual coverage cameras,” he says. 

The difference is the size and setup of the raceway, which makes it possible to fly the drones along large, unpopulated corridors to capture race footage without flying over people, says Davies, who adds that every year the industry is achieving more trust among regulators at the FAA by demonstrating drones can be used safely even when thousands of people are nearby in the stands.

Can You Hear Me Now?
Radios in NASCAR that let fans hear the drivers are nothing new, but efforts continue every year to improve the quality of this audio to enhance the experience of viewers, says Davies.

Doing so is a mix of technology and how personnel are allocated. On the technology side, audio compression helps make the conversations on the two-way radios clearer. When it comes to personnel, Fox Sports dedicates one person to a radio submixer whose only job is to “pepper in actual talk,” he says.

“Then we actually have a racing radios editor, who is actually in his home in Georgia. He listens to the radio and actually plays it back, depending on what the content is,” says Davies.

The Fox Sports senior vice president adds that work is underway on a project that sometime this race season aims to add captions to those conversations. “We’re working with Veritone on that project. It’s a difficult challenge. By the nature of radios not being that great of a source when it comes to quality, generating those captions is going to be a feat.”

Distributed Workflow
While there are 30 to 40 Fox Sports production personnel on site, NASCAR production has transitioned over the past few years to a distributed model workflow. The broadcaster will leverage production personnel in the Fox Sports Vault in Los Angeles, others in Pittsburgh and still others at its Charlotte, N.C., NASCAR studio. There is also a video editor as well as the racing radios editor and racing radios mixer who will be working from their homes, says Davies.

“This is the thing about NASCAR, every year for the last four years, I’ve lost an entire truck from our compound,” he says. “What you see today compared to 2018 is four fewer trucks, and we are doing exactly the same show, if not more.”

The main production vehicles on site are Game Creek’s Cleatus A and B units, which will be used by Fox Sports and NBC Sports throughout the NASCAR racing season. While an SDI-based truck, SMPTE ST 2110 is playing a big role on site for distribution although “the core is still good-old SDI,” he says.

What really drew attention to the decline in the number of trucks on site in Davies’ mind was a conversation he had with a younger crew member. “I was talking to one of the kids who hadn’t been here before, and I recounted the days when we had ESPN and DirecTV here—literally 20 trucks in the compound. But it’s not like that anymore.”

“At this point, I’ve kind of hit rock bottom,” Davies adds with a chuckle. “I wasn’t able to lose another truck this year.”

More information on XtraMotion is available on the EVS website.

More information on Bell Helmets is available online.

More information on video production drones is available on the Beverly Hills Aerials website.

More information on Veritone is available online.

EVS’ chief technology officer Alex Redfern has been discussing some of the trends the company expects to see within the broadcast industry in 2023.

Redfern was speaking as part of a media briefing where the company’s leadership looked back over what it had achieved during 2022 and its goals for this year.

Asked what he sees as some of the key trends for 2023, Redfern addressed a number of topics, including IP, Balanced Computing, UHD and cybersecurity.

Transition to IP
Redfern began by discussing IP, stating that while it’s not necessarily the newest topic in the broadcast industry, the current trend is about the pace of transition and how quickly it is accelerating. “We’ve certainly installed a lot more IP-based systems, be they in fixed installations or now increasingly in trucks and mobile solutions,” he said.

He added that the need for multi-vendor support is a key topic for EVS and will continue to be. “When you’re in multi-vendor environments, it’s all about observing standards, it’s about understanding how to be interoperable with each other, and also not just observing the standards but each vendor’s interpretation of the standards,” Redfern added.

Last year EVS joined the Joint Task Force on Networked Media (JT-NM), taking part in the organization’s interoperability which, Redfern says, enables the company to “know that we play well with everyone else”.

“It’s really important for us to know where we sit amongst our peers and how we can build solutions and integrate the solutions,” he added.

“It sort of plays into UHD to a certain extent in that UHD doesn’t necessarily make things more complex,” continued Redfern. “It can make things bigger, obviously there’s much more data but it doesn’t necessarily make things more complex. We see the drive to UHD. Big tech players now are starting to want UHD. For a while in the industry, we saw an interim of 1080P, perhaps 1080P HDR was good enough, it can be up-converted. Now the big tech players are coming in saying it must be native. So that’s a real drive on the UHD side.”

In terms of balanced computing, EVS is seeing a trend towards the cloud and being able to support cloud solutions. said Redfern, However, in certain instances, he sees that balance shifting depending on the area. “XtraMotion Edge is a great example where when we announced the SaaS offering, it was the business model that was interesting to people,” he added. “We deployed it as a SaaS offering in the cloud. And when people start to dig into the needs, what the customer actually needs, speed was the most important thing. In that instance, the cloud didn’t offer the speed that was needed. So it was better to go to the edge than to have it in the cloud.”

Flexible Control Rooms
Flexible control rooms are also an area where EVS is seeing growing interest. In 2022, the company announced a collaboration with Belgian broadcaster RTBF on a new flexible control room solution designed to increase operational flexibility, creativity and productivity across its TV, radio, and digital platforms. “It’s a trend that we see evolving through the broadcast industry, the need for a much more flexible production space,” said Redfern.

“It’s really about decoupling the user experience of pressing buttons and interacting with hardware. The idea is that it can start with a single user doing a single-person show and expand perhaps to add on the graphics operator or audio operator and keep expanding dynamically as the show expands.”

Redfern adds that this is something EVS is working on currently, with proof-of-concept testing ongoing. “It’s very much driven by Cerebrum [EVS’s broadcast control and monitoring system] and it’s totally in line with our blueprint, the idea of picking up on things that perhaps we don’t have yet but we want to build. It’s a really fascinating project to see how that’s going to evolve over the next couple of years.”

The final topic Redfern discussed was cybersecurity, which he believes is something that the broadcast industry is becoming increasingly aware of following attacks on a number of broadcasters in recent years. 

“A couple of years ago we took a stance and said, what can we do about this? The first thing we did was actually look for the people we could onboard and acquire some knowledge and start offering services around audit, detect, protect and learn,” he added. “It was a kind of learning process of how we can investigate what our customers and our clients do and offer them services. That turned into a product, EV Shield, which was a TVBEurope Best of Show winner at IBC. It’s something that I think in 2023 will be a real trend.

“With cybersecurity it feels like it’s not a matter of if but when and not just for broadcasters but for all of us, including EVS,” he concluded.

 LIÈGE, Belgium—EVS has launched IPD-VIA Create, a new web application that allows users of EVS’ end-to-end live production asset management (PAM) solution—MediaCeption Signature —to access a non-linear editing (NLE) tool within the same platform for faster and more efficient operations.

With MediaCeption Signature, users can perform all the content management and media workflow functions from ingest to playout, EVS explained. 

IPD-VIA Create, is the latest application to join the IPD-VIA web-based PAM platform that is at the core of the solution.

The application was designed in collaboration with Blackbird, developer of market-leading cloud native video editing platform, and is fully integrated into EVS’ ecosystem, providing instant access to all content through an easy to navigate browser-based interface. As a result, users can work with their assets from anywhere in the world and immediately view and push edited content to craft editors or directly distribute it in broadcast quality to multiple channels, the companies said. 

“Every single component of our MediaCeption Signature solution has been built on EVS’ deep expertise and experience in live production,” explained Nicolas Bourdon, chief marketing officer at EVS. “And since the edit-while-capture concept is at the heart of everything we do, this is a huge time saver for MediaCeption Signature users who can begin working on their projects while feeds are still being recorded and ingested. IPD-VIA Create is an exciting addition to our end-to-end live PAM workflow, as it enables faster and more efficient editing in live production, which ultimately will help production teams reach the finish line faster.”

Blackbird CEO, Ian McDonough, added that “IPD-VIA Create affords end users with a full editing suite embedded in the EVS PAM. The suite has all the same speed, efficiency, and carbon reduction benefits that Blackbird customers enjoy. As part of a seamless end to end workflow, this state-of-the-art solution can rapidly deliver time and cost reduction efficiencies as well as enhancing end user performance through advanced functionality and Blackbird’s highly responsive patented codec. The profound knowledge, experience and skills of both companies' teams have combined to deliver a product we are incredibly proud of and has the potential to unlock huge value for the global media industry for years to come.”

The companies noted that IPD-VIA Create provides an easy-to-use 9x16 video framing effect, a powerful color correction feature, and the choice between Thumbnail and Timeline displays. It is also designed to be a perfect toolset for storyboard editing, enabling journalists and producers to begin drafting the first cut of their stories while the action is happening.

More information is available here. 

LIÈGE, Belgium—ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE has acquired EVS solutions to equip its new broadcasting and production studios with the latest generation MediaCeption Signature solution for end-to-end asset management and LiveCeption Signature solution for live production, replays and highlights, EVS reported. 

The new broadcasting studio will be part of the new campus, consisting of three buildings designed to accommodate approximately 1,700 employees from mid-2023 onwards, the companies said.  

The future EVS-driven setup will allow ProSiebenSat.1’s production and editorial teams to benefit from flexible and new collaborative workflows for creating fast-turnaround content for the broadcaster’s live sports and entertainment formats.

“The move to our new campus is an opportunity for us to completely revamp our day-to-day operations” said Holger Schwenk, vice president playout & production solutions at ProSiebenSat.1 Tech Solutions, the tech department of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. “We were looking for a rock solid, fail-safe solution that would help us maximize our live production workflow with the ability to easily scale up to support our future growth.”

Powering the entire workflow, EVS’ XT-VIA and XS-VIA production servers, which allow the production team to reliably ingest multiple live feeds in various video formats, including UHD/4K, 1080p, and HDR. Adding to the overall flexibility, the EVS servers also offer 1080p to UHD-4K upscaling. At the same time, the EVS setup allows for an easy transition path to IP, thanks to the servers’ enhanced live IP support of industry standards like ST 2110 and NMOS, EVS reported. 

For the live PAM, ProSiebenSat.1 has chosen to rely on EVS’ end-to-end MediaCeption Signature solution, designed to enable users to perform all the different media workflow functions in live or near-live productions from intuitive web-based interfaces. It leverages EVS’ industry-leading live production servers, media workflow management tools, a storage system, and offers advanced interoperability with other 3rd party technologies, including Avid MediaCentral for powerful edit-while-capture workflows for live sports and entertainment.

Central to the LiveCeption Signature solution, LSM-VIA systems will offer advanced functionalities for replay operators and provide instant access to content for efficient, and creative replay and highlight operations. Replay operators will also benefit from faster transfers of content thanks to the XNet-VIA 10-Gbps bidirectional Ethernet-based network, EVS said. 

“With our comprehensive solutions, ProSiebenSat.1 will benefit from a simplified production architecture that will help them increase the speed and flexibility of their operations as well as ramp up the value of their productions as it begins its new phase of growth and development," concluded Nicolas Bourdon, chief marketing officer at EVS.

PARIS—EVS has announced that the Canal+ Group has deployed an IP-based infrastructure built on EVS end-to-end solutions in its new Canal+ ONE headquarters, in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris. 

The installation concentrates Canal+ Group’s master control room (MCR), playout and production workflows into one building as part of an effort to streamline its operations, reduce redundancies and increase automation. 

“Our relocation into the new HQ gave us the opportunity to rethink the way we work and completely transform our workflows,” said Pierre Maillat, head of technical studies & architecture at Canal+ Group. “The idea was to accelerate our SDI to IP transition, limit as much as possible the use of hardware and move towards more software-defined and cloud-based solutions, which offer the scalability and flexibility needed to optimize our operations while benefitting from future-ready workflows.”

To deliver on this vision, EVS teamed up with global media services company Red Bee Media to build a new IP-enabled production infrastructure based on EVS’ LiveCeption, MediaCeption and MediaInfra solutions. 

The setup consists of several XT-VIA servers for multi-source ingesting and delivering fast turn-around productions in any format and resolution. Supporting a high-speed, 100GbE live IP fabric connectivity, the servers work in 1080p with the ability to easily switch to UHD in the future if needed, EVS reported. 

This LiveCeption workflow also integrates the IP-based LSM-VIA replay system, giving operators direct access to all the content on the network and allowing them to focus on delivering compelling live replays and highlights much faster.

The conversion and processing of the signals are performed by EVS’ Neuron Network Attached Processor, which also acts as the main tool for SDI/IP bridging and a firewall. Being able to activate a wide-ranging number of different functionalities from the same hardware, will contribute to helping Canal+ Group reduce rack occupancy and power consumption, the companies said. 

Interfacing with the entire infrastructure of Canal+ Group, the EVS Cerebrum broadcast control and monitoring system offers advanced visual control for production and flexible orchestration of all devices for the engineering teams.

Finally, on the MediaCeption asset management side, users can access remotely a fully virtualized, multi-site IPDirector system to browse, control, edit and playout content from easy-to-use interfaces. With its open, modular architecture, IPDirector can be adapted to any production environment and allows for easy integration and media exchange with any third-party system, EVS said. 

“EVS has worked as a transforming partner with the Canal+ Group for over 25 years, helping them to adapt to new live production realities while supporting their ambitions in terms of program quality,” Nicolas Bourdon, CMO at EVS. “This project combines all layers of EVS’ live video creation frontends, central production platform and resources management based on a highly reliable recording and processing infrastructure. It is a clear example of our EVS Balanced Computing vision that optimally integrates on premises equipment with software-defined and cloud-based solutions.”

“EVS has helped us migrate to new technologies many times in the past and has done it again for our transition into the world of IP,” added Ralph Atlan, CTO, operations and executive production at Canal+ Group. “In a very short amount of time, both EVS and Red Bee have managed to implement a comprehensive IP-based workflow that will allow us to significantly optimize our live operations, transform our workflow capabilities and deliver compelling media experiences our audience expects.”

For more information on EVS and its complete range of live video technology for broadcast and new media productions, visit EVS.com.

LIÈGE, Belgium—The German production services provider Studio Berlin has announced it is upgrading its fleet of OB (Outside Broadcast) trucks and production studios with EVS’ LiveCeption live production, replay and highlights solution. 

The deployed setup will be used to deliver high-end live content for several major sporting events including the Bundesliga, ISTAF, and other international football matches, as well as for several large studio entertainment shows. 

“Thanks to EVS’ LiveCeption solution, we will be able to react more flexibly to all customer requirements and introduce new innovative workflows for our wide range of productions, now and for any time in the future,” said Nick Zimmermann, CEO at Studio Berlin.

Built on EVS’ next-generation XT-VIA live production servers, LiveCeption is designed to support all new formats and protocols from HD to 8K, SDR to HDR, and SDI to IP in a single versatile solution. It is powered by EVS’ new VIA technology platform to deliver evolutive services and capabilities for greater content access and future LSM operations.

“As a technical service provider serving a wide range of formats, from major sporting events to current affairs and large entertainment shows, flexibility was a top priority for us,” added Mathias Alexandru, CTO at Studio Berlin. “By deploying EVS’ LiveCeption solution, there will be no limits for us in slow-motion, recording and streaming for all our current and upcoming projects. And since most freelance operators on the market are familiar with EVS’ replay systems, the solution will ensure we never fall short of industry top talent.”  

LIÈGE, Belgium—Live video tech provider EVS has released the latest version of its broadcast control and monitoring system, Cerebrum v2.3 at the 2022 NAB Show.

Cerebrum version 2.3 introduces a new SDN license called ‘IP Core’, and a new web client, which together bring higher visibility and control to today’s increasingly complex production infrastructures.

As broadcasters worldwide continue their shift to IP, this new IP Core SDN license addresses the need for tighter network management. Integrated within Cerebrum, “it allows for the control of increasingly complex network topologies without adding additional complexity for the operators,” explained Matt Salvidge, solutions manager at EVS. 

“The automatic steering of flows protects against over-subscription, whilst the monitoring capabilities allow simple troubleshooting by the engineering teams,” he added.

Also at the 2022 NAB Show, EVS unveiled Cerebrum’s new web client. 

Users who previously had to install their Cerebrum client application on a Windows-based PC or laptop, can now view their customized control interfaces in a HTML5 web browser. This enables them to monitor and control their customized router panels and other graphical user interfaces in a more flexible way, whether from within control rooms, equipment rooms, or remotely from any device.

LIÈGE, Belgium—Fox Sports has announced a major deal to deploy the MediaInfra Strada Routing and Control solution by EVS. 

The deal was announced by Kevin Callahan, vice president of field operations and engineering at Fox Sports on the EVS booth during the 2022 NAB Show.

The solution will be used by the Fox Sports production team in order to perform critical routing and control operations at various large-scale live events. The MediaInfra Strada solution will be delivered to Qatar in October 2022 ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup that will take place in November 2022. It will then make its way to the USA for the live production of Super Bowl LVII in Arizona in February 2023, to be later deployed across the globe for other prestigious competitions such as the Woman’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 17th edition of the UEFA Euro in Germany.

Commenting on the deal, Kevin Callahan said: “This was a straightforward decision for us since the MediaInfra Strada solution meets all our needs in terms of our orchestration, signal processing and manipulation requirements for events of such scale. EVS presented us with everything we were looking for.”

Peter Schut, senior vice president of media infrastructure at EVS added that “Today’s announcement is a key milestone in the growth of EVS’ Media Infrastructure offering. It further strengthens our position in the U.S. market and is a testimony to the dedication put in by our team to guarantee robust and reliable workflows that can be tailored to any production environment.”

Launched in June 2021, EVS’ MediaInfra Strada solution is designed to solve all routing challenges in any production environment. Built on an IP backbone and leveraging EVS’ field-proven Cerebrum and Neuron product lines, the routing and control solution enables a seamless transition to full IP infrastructures, while continuing to offer SDI support. From a user perspective, the difference between handling SDI sources or IP streams goes unnoticed since all the underlying complexities are completely abstracted by the solution’s user-friendly graphical interfaces, EVS reported. 

The company reported that the MediaInfra Strada installation delivered by EVS is entirely tailored to the requirements of Fox Sports. To ensure the efficient and reliable real-time processing and compression of all video/audio streams, Fox Sports has also chosen to deploy EVS’ Neuron Compress and Convert modules.  

“We were impressed with the flexibility demonstrated by MediaInfra Strada,” Callahan said. “Our team is looking forward to working with a solution that can easily be reconfigured ahead of each event to properly address all our different workflow scenarios that await us. The over-arching control system, Cerebrum, also makes it an incredibly powerful and dynamic solution that we can customize in a way that works best for us.”

EVS’ MediaInfra Strada solution is currently on show at the 2022 NAB Show, in the North Hall, on the EVS booth 2625.

SALT LAKE CITY—Utah Scientific today announced it has partnered with EVS, which will now offer the company’s video routers with the new EVS MediaInfra Strada routing solution to support broadcast productions operating in a native SDI routing infrastructure.

The MediaInfra Strada solutions are available for pure IP, native SDI and turnkey solutions for mixed environments, EVS said.

“Our partnership with Utah Scientific will greatly strengthen our native SDI offering for those customers who are not ready to invest in an IP-based operation,” said Peter Schut, senior vice president of Media Infrastructure at EVS.

The solution packages Utah Scientific’s Utah-400 Series 2, UHD-12G and UDS routers with EVS’ Cerebrum control and monitoring system.

Cerebrum offers a logical routing control system with dynamic tie-line management and has options such as integrated tally management to help customers streamline their workflows. With the exception of Italy, EVS will resell this SDI solution to its worldwide markets, the company said.

“Our partnership with EVS is a strategic milestone for Utah Scientific and will deliver big advantages to broadcast customers of both companies,” said Brett Benson, vice president of sales at Utah Scientific.

“From the customers’ perspective, live broadcasters still active in the SDI world will be able to benefit from a best-of-breed routing and control solution from two best-of-breed companies. And, from a corporate perspective, the collaboration with EVS means Utah Scientific will be able to expand its reach in the live broadcast arena by working with one of the industry’s best known power players,” he said.

More information is available on the Utah Scientific and EVS websites.

LIEGE, Belgium—EVS has announced that OB production giant, Gravity Media, has adopted EVS’ Xeebra multi-camera review system as the core technology for a new integrated video adjudication and communications solution that is designed to help sports officials and referees review evidence in real-time and make the right call. 

“With Xeebra at the heart of our GRS [Gravity Review System] offering, we’re empowering officials to make the right call, keep sports safe and ultimately deliver a premium audience experience for our broadcast clients,” noted Ben Madgwick, director of media services and facilities at Gravity Media. 

The Xeebra-based GRS made its debut earlier this year at a major motor racing fixture in New South Wales, giving officials real-time coverage of the race from all angles to resolve controversial incidents and ensure drivers adhered to strict driving behavior. Since then, the system has been used at Australian Rugby Union’s Super Rugby, Trans Tasman, and international fixtures.

EVS noted that Xeebra is easily integrated into any live production workflow or environment, making it ideal for a broad range of sports and events. Fully networked and scalable, it can be deployed on-board an OB unit or set-up onsite with fiber connection in a convenient compact flight-case configuration. Supporting full HD 1080p and super slow-motion, the system allows Gravity Media to be highly responsive to clients’ production requirements.

Xeebra provides a simple interface with “pinch and zoom” capabilities that enable users to review and share multiple synchronized camera feeds with each other. The action is recorded continuously so nothing is missed. 

“The job of referees and sports officials is a difficult one and their performance is often under as much scrutiny as the players on the field,” said Madgwick. “Using our GRS, there’s less scope for error and debate over crucial decisions which has a huge impact on the flow of a game and the quality of the production.”

LIEGE, Belgium—EVS has released XtraMotion, its on-demand, cloud-based solution that relies on A.I. to transform video into super slow-motion replays.

XtraMotion makes possible super slow-motion from nearly every camera angle by creating the high frame rate needed in the cloud rather than natively in a super slow-motion camera, the company said. Effectively, XtraMotion turns shots from nearly any video camera—even point-of-view cameras—into super slow motion that’s available for replay to enhance storytelling, it said.

EVS developed advanced machine learning algorithms that can work with any production format from 1080i to UHD/HDR and any original frame rate. The M.L. algorithms can transform a 60fps video into a smooth 180fps video or a native 180fps video into a 540fps version. The process works equally well on live, post and archived content, the company said.

XtraMotion tightly integrates with existing EVS replay and post-production environments. EVS operators can seamlessly clip any content from any camera, render it to super slow-motion and play it back in seconds, it said.

No additional hardware is required on site. As a cloud-based service that’s available on-demand, XtraMotion allows producers to begin using it within moments of deciding it’s needed for a given production, EVS said.

Fox Sports evaluated the new technology at Super Bowl LIV in February 2020. Standard frame rate clips from specialty cameras were converted into high frame rate video. Following the initial evaluation, XtraMotion was used for the World Series in Arlington, Texas, and more regularly to cover the NFL, NCAA college basketball and NASCAR, it said. 

Following these successful uses, Fox Sports has made XtraMotion an integral part of its productions, EVS said.

“The super slow-motion shots created from the in-car cameras at Daytona 500 this year let us truly appreciate how good the drivers are and gave us a real feeling of how steep the banking really is,” said Kevin Callahan, director of technical operations at Fox Sports. “And the fact that XtraMotion is a cloud-based service means we can deploy it whenever and wherever we want, and easily scale it to the capacity we need on every one of our productions.”

More information is available on the company’s website.

LIÈGE, Belgium—EVS is teaming with Haivision with the goal of providing sports broadcasters a combined solution that enables replay system operators to work remotely during live sports broadcasts.

This collaboration sees EVS using Haivision’s Makito X Series real-time video encoder and decoders to generate low latency, encoded IP video streams from the EVS XT-VIA live production servers in venues to remote LSM-VIA controllers over a managed network or the public internet.

The integration is part of EVS’ LiveCeption Signature system, using SRT network protocol to stream high-quality, full frame rate video to EVS remote operators with ultra-low latency. This allows for replay operators to watch video assets while operating with the LSM-VIA like they are at the same location as the XT-VIA servers.

“When the replay operator cannot be on-site, the Haivision solution completes the EVS replay environment by providing the best interaction possible for remote operators, even over widely available and cost-effective public internet connections,” said Nicolas Bourdon, chief marketing officer, EVS.

For more information, visit www.evs.com.  

LOS ANGELES—A new approach to super slow-motion replay deployed to great effect during Fox Sports’ production of the Daytona 500 in February promises to bring this staple of high-end sports coverage within reach for more productions.

Changing the economic equation of super slow-motion replays is virtualization of the process in the cloud where the high number of frames required is created by interpolating between frames of video shot by conventional cameras at normal rates.

The technique, called “Xtramotion,” is the product of a collaboration between Fox Sports and slow-motion replay specialist EVS. 

“EVS had this in their back room for quite some time,” says Michael Davies, Fox Sports senior vice president, Field Operations. “When we saw EVS was actually interested in doing this, we partnered up and collaborated to make it a product.”

What’s game-changing about Xtramotion is that it enables producers to generate super slow-motion replays from video shot with any camera—not simply high-frame models. For Fox Sports, that means leveraging this innovation using a variety of cameras that never before would have sourced super slow-motion footage, such as in-car cameras for Daytona and pylon-cams and referee cams for football.

For producers covering smaller events with slimmer budgets, Xtramotion can make super slow-motion replay a reality without its typical expense. 

“Combined with replay, super slow-motion is one of the most compelling storytelling aspects of our generation watching live sports,” says Dave Pinkel, vice president, Key Accounts, at EVS. “Today, the value of Xtramotion is in augmenting and adding details to big events. But tomorrow, it could be the tier two and three market where the value [of Xtramotion] could be interesting.” 

“For less than $1,000 a game, you can have this type of technology available to operators,” he adds.

SLOW-MOTION FROM THE CLOUD  

The interpolation to create Xtramotion frames is done in the cloud where multiple CPUs and GPUs can be assigned to run the AI/Machine Learning-powered process. The ability to scale processing power in the cloud makes interpolating frames fly.

“It’s just a matter of how many resources that you want to get from whatever cloud service you end up using—and really it can be any of them,” says Davies. “That’s something you actually have control over.”

More difficult is dealing with the time to transfer video to the cloud for processing and then back for integration into a production. During a NASCAR race like the Daytona 500, there are breaks in the action, such as an accident and a yellow flag, that offer a pause during which Xtramotion processing and transport can occur and footage can be integrated into the production in a natural manner, says Davies.

However, there may be a technology solution on the horizon that could reduce transport time, making it easier to add Xtramotion clips to other sports. “One of the things we’re thinking about is MEC multi-edge computing. Companies are experimenting with this concept of putting the cloud—like a mini data center—closer to consumers to reduce latency,” says Davies.

Davies envisions spinning up Xtramotion in MEC data centers within relatively close geographical proximity to a sports venue to reduce video transport time and ultimately make integrating the synthetic slow-motion into game production easier and timelier.

BETTER WITH AGE 

Applying machine learning to Xtramotion means that interpolation of frames should get better over time as the AI algorithms gain experience creating frames. 

“Think about baseball, for instance. I’m particularly interested in giving this a good go in baseball with some of the POV cameras that aren’t typically super slow-motion,” says Davies.

“The computer is going to be getting better at making the ball crisper in super slow-motion replays over time. That’s the machine learning supplying the artificial intelligence with more information to make a better product.”

While Xtramotion continues to gain experience interpolating frames over the next few years, Davies sees AI beginning to pop up elsewhere in sports production. For example, artificial intelligence could be used to suggest various statistical graphics to a coordinator, who ultimately would decide whether or not to use them.

AI also could assist with analysis of plays and other game action, such as of baseball pitches, to generate new graphical looks. “I know AI can definitely start learning how to be a relevant supplier of contextual information that can then be turned into graphics,” he says.

But for now, Davies looks forward to leveraging Xtramotion to create striking new looks for game coverage. Already, he’s run archived footage from college football referee cams through Xtramotion and likes what he’s seen. 

“Xtramotion makes that video look amazing. I think you’re going to see quite a lot of it this fall.”

LONDON & LIEGE, Belgium—Blackbird and EVS have announced a partnership that will have the two companies working together on launch deployments for international sporting events.

EVS, which focuses on live video technology for broadcast and new media productions, has 16 regional operations located around the world. Blackbird provides a cloud-native video editing and publishing platform.

Blackbird will become a certified partner within EVS’ Technology Partner Program, with the goal of helping EVS to expand its live and near-live content management and distribution offerings by integrating cloud-based video editing, said Nicolas Bourdon, EVS chief marketing officer.

According to Blackbird CEO Ian McDonough, the Blackbird-EVS partnership is already set to be used for two upcoming international sporting events, though no details were provided as to which ones.

For more information, visit www.blackbird.video.  

The rate at which media production workflows and technologies are evolving is unmatched. Driven in part by enforced COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing measures, the emergence of new innovative tools, especially those that enable effective remote and “at home” production, has intensified. 

In fact, 2020 has accelerated several trends within the industry. IP infrastructures and workflows continue to grow in prominence, while remote productions have taken on a newfound importance. Faced with ongoing disruption, broadcasters and content producers have had to quickly adapt, embrace new solutions and rethink the way they produce content. Workflows that are flexible, scalable, reconfigurable and future-ready have never been more essential.

Therefore, production engineers need to look forward and ensure that they’re adequately prepared for what the future will bring. In order to satisfy the demands of content-hungry consumers with simultaneous productions and delivery of content across online, social media and linear TV, it’s vital that they’re equipped with the skills and tools to embrace the new workflows that future live productions will demand. However, there are several key challenges standing in their way.

OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME

In the remote working environment we find ourselves in, ensuring efficient workflow orchestration across multiple sites, including task scheduling and resource management, is a key concern. Productions are becoming increasingly complex, making it harder to ensure coordination between disparate operators back at a broadcast center and the supporting systems. This can lead to inefficiencies that can affect the overall quality of productions. For example, it’s now common for production engineers to have to manage a range of devices and various people using different systems, often resulting in intricate and intensive workflows for processes that could be automated.

Getting a handle on remote facilities, personnel and devices spread over large distances can feel like a losing battle, particularly as operations scale. This is a challenge that has intensified with remote streams and complete remote productions becoming more common due to COVID-19. Remote commentary positions, temporary production setups (using flypacks), live connections coming in from around the world—everything needs to be monitored, configured and controlled no matter where the equipment is located. 

This all must happen seamlessly during operations. However, many existing control systems are simply unable to cope with the level of intricacy involved. Having to switch between various bespoke device applications or change configurations on the fly can be time-consuming and inefficient. Only a system that can be distributed across multiple locations and can integrate with any number of devices will provide the control and visibility now required.

Further adding to the complexity is the growing demand for IP that provides the agility and scalability needed to support higher resolutions such as UHD-4K or HDR and is more responsive than SDI environments. This introduces new ways of working for everyone involved in the production ecosystem. Keeping live video streams in sync with audio over IP networks is tricky, and not all engineers are yet fully accustomed to this new technology. This presents a need to integrate IP streams into their workflows without drastically changing their working processes. As such, new protocols and formats are causing concern—all supplemented by a need to deliver more value and increase productivity.

BORDERLESS PRODUCTION

There are several steps production engineers must take to overcome the challenges they are facing, adapt to new workflows and ensure they are fully prepared for the future. For example, the growing influence of IP infrastructure—whether for a new facility, truck or flypack—isn’t something that can be ignored; while dealing with incoming feeds from the cloud or via remote facilities is fast becoming the norm rather than an exception.

It’s vital that engineers understand how these technologies can alter their workflows during setup and operation. This can be done through online training courses and virtual events. Engineers are at the forefront when it comes to evolving workflow processes, so regular training to continue to develop their skills and expertise is essential.

Most importantly, they should embrace a workflow without barriers—one that incorporates best-of-breed devices, located anywhere, all controlled and monitored by one open system. As well as streamlining workflows regardless of scale and type of connectivity, this will enable them to measure where time is being spent and how efficiency can be improved, providing opportunities for ongoing operational optimization.

To achieve this, they must turn to a control system that can adapt to whatever mix of connectivity and devices is thrown at it. As momentum behind IP-based workflows continues to grow, having such a system in place will enable production engineers to control and configure their traditional routers and devices—as well as being ready for IP media streams—all within one platform.

Ultimately, production engineers must prepare themselves for the new era by rethinking the way they produce shows and live events. The future will require a new level of agility in terms of the equipment they use and how they control devices in live environments. By embracing a world of production without borders and continuing development of their skills, they will be empowered to adopt the workflows of the future with confidence and success.

Ian Hollamby is head of R&D UK at EVS.

RENNES, France—EVS has teamed up with European research lab b<>com to launch the “b<>com Adaptive HDR Converter,” which provides real-time adaptive HDR conversion functionality for EVS’s Neuron IP processing platform, a product it inherited when it acquired Axon in May. 

The converter allows customers to introduce SDR-HDR, HDR-HDR and HDR-SDR conversions in HD and UHD in their production workflow without manual adjustment “at the highest quality ever reached,” the companies said.

b<>com says its algorithm guarantees an optimal conversion regardless of the video content. It does not require the use of metadata and can still provide visually lossless quality. The company adds that the converter offers a small footprint and allows “a seamless integration with partners’ products from playouts and encoding tools to chipsets.”

“The need for an adaptive solution to go from HDR to SDR or vice-versa was obvious from the first test we did with static conversions” said Peter Schut, CTO, Media Infrastructure, at EVS. “b<>com provides such an algorithm and after evaluating the core with some rough shot HDR content and converting it adaptively to SDR, I knew we were heading in the right direction. After a few updates we integrated this in our Neuron Platform and can now serve the industry with better pictures using HDR workflows and still be compatible with your SDR workflows.”

Nicolas Dallery, marketing & sales director at b<>com, characterized the converter as a “real breakthrough for b<>com.”

“This solution has won several innovation prizes and we are proud to have EVS Media Infrastructure adopting it,” he said. “It allows them to offer a dynamic, high-performance tool to their broadcast customers.”  

LIEGE, Belgium—EVS is rolling out its new LSM-VIA IP-based replay and highlights system, which is based on the company’s LSM live slow motion control panel.

LSM-VIA works with the XT-VIA server and relies on EVS’ VIA microservices ecosystem to easily interact with all VIA-based products. It also has native IP connectivity and software-defined technology to make it adaptable for future live production demands.

EVS decoupled the operation of the LSM-VIA from the server managing multiple channels so that flexible deployment models can be supported, including remote and multisite simultaneous production.

The platform also offers a familiar layout, an integrated touchscreen and programmable buttons, shortcuts and tactile control to provide quick access to more functionalities, per EVS.

“When combined with other elements of the VIA platform, LSM-VIA supports new workflows to automate some of the cumbersome tasks operations have traditionally had to deal with, instead letting them focus on creativity,” said Laurent Petit, senior vice president of Products & Solutions. “If offers experienced LSM operators a consistent experience so that they can be productive from day one, while providing new generations of operators with disruptive modes for producing new formats of creative replays.”

For more information, visit www.evs.com.  

SERAING, Belgium—EVS announced it has acquired Axon, a company with a 30-year track record in broadcast and media network infrastructure, for more than $11.5 million and other financial consideration.

“We’re extremely excited about the opportunities this acquisition will provide us and our customers over the coming months and years,” said EVS CEO Serge Van Herck. 

“Axon’s strong broadcast reputation and expertise, combined with our shared customer service-focused philosophy, make this marriage a perfect fit. It will enable us to deliver the most comprehensive media infrastructure solutions on the market,” he said.

Axon employs more than 80 people and has development centers in the Netherlands and the U.K. With an international presence in the live broadcast infrastructure market, including live production trucks and data centers, it offers a product portfolio that’s complementary to EVS’s existing live production products, said EVS.

“This deal offers a major growth opportunity for both businesses, bringing together two innovative and proven product portfolios to form a unique end-to-end offering,” said Axon CEO Michiel Van Duijvendijk.

The acquisition will make it possible for customers to optimize resource management, enable greater scalability and deploy faster across multiple sites for remote live operations. It also will help EVS customers deploy turnkey solutions that enable migration to IP and remote production workflows, the company said.

The deal is the largest in the history of EVS, the company said. It allows EVS to expand its existing global footprint and gives the company access to Axon’s channel partners.

EVS will absorb the Axon brand over the coming weeks, and its product portfolio will be integrated into the company’s global solution offering. The company plans to integrate Axon’s team and to invest in its technology and market expertise, EVS said.

In 2019, Axon generated revenue of more than $19 million. The acquisition will be paid by cash and debt, EVS said.

More information is available on the EVS website. 

LIEGE, Belgium—EVS has announced that Serge Van Herck will take over as the company’s new CEO, effective immediately. Pierre De Muelenaere, who served as EVS’ CEO ad interim since July 2018, will remain on to assist with the transition until Dec. 31.

Van Herck is the former CEO and president of Newtec and has more than 25 years of experience in management for the broadcast and satellite communications industry. In addition to Newtec, he has spent time with Proximus, Accenture and Eutelsat.

“I’m proud and grateful to be appointed as the new CEO of EVS, which is a company with a great team and an impressive reputation in the market of live broadcast solutions,” said Van Herck. “I’m joining EVS after a successful interim period of Pierre De Muelenaere and I’m very grateful that I will be able to rely on his experience in order to perform a smooth transition.”

Van Herck will report directly to EVS’ board of directors in his new position. De Muelenaere, who is also chairman of the EVS board, said that he will resign from that position at the end of the year to focus on new projects.

LIEGE, Belgium—EVS will launch a new automated multi-camera positioning and framing system at IBC 2019, Sept. 13-17, at the RAI in Amsterdam.

The new autonomous camera system analyzes the images of robotic camera feeds in real time and guides cameras toward live action with the appropriate zoom. The product, which integrates with the company’s X-One unified production system, relies on machine learning enabled by EVS’s AI-driven VIA Mind to mimic the moves of human camera operators, the company said.

The company will also highlight new storytelling functionality for its X-One unified production system that allow a single operator to produce highlights and dynamic live productions.

EVS will feature its new centralized ingest solution that relies on its XS-NEO software-defined server and IPD-VIA ingest app. The solution offers fast, simple ingest with dynamic, concurrent support for multiple formats, codecs and frame rates. Hosted on the EVS PMR processing module and leveraging the benefits of IP connectivity, the ingest solution supports SDI-based productions and uses the company’s loop recording technology. The ingest solution uses an HTML 5 web interface to control and schedule live feeds ingested into the XS-NEO server.

The company will also introduce the latest version of its Dyvi software-defined switcher and unveil the latest XT-VIA and XS-VIA servers.

See EVS at IBC 2019 Stand 8.B90.

To learn more visit the EVS website. 

LIEGE, Belgium—EVS’ latest version of the XT live production servers are now IP certified after passing the Joint Task Force on Networked Media’s JT-NM SMPTE ST 2110 testing. This makes the XT servers a fully-approved product to produced and shipped with full IP interoperability, consistent with the AIMS Alliance roadmap and industry-agreed open standards.

The SMPTE ST 2110 IP network standards specifies the carriage, synchronization and description of separate elementary essence streams over professional IP networks in real-time for live production, playout and other professional media applications.

Key to the newest XT servers is the Multicam 16.2 software engine, which will be publicly released in June. The software supports more of the JT-NM stack of technologies, as well as NMOS IS-04 and NMOS IS-05 updates. Now all EVS servers with the upgraded software engine—which includes the XT, XS-VIA and previous generation XT4K and XS4K—now natively support IP and meet the compliance standards to transition to IP workflows.

EVS claims that the XT servers are the first live production servers to feature IP interoperability.

LAS VEGAS—EVS kicked off its Monday afternoon press conference with a celebration of the 25th anniversary of its founding. The event included a recap of its beginnings and mentions of milestones through the years.

Company executives also announced new products, starting with XNet-VIA, an Ethernet-based network that enables fast sharing of high-resolution content between the company’s XT-VIA and XS-VIA servers. XNet-VIA also permits convenient transcoding between HD and 4K content.

“It’s a new kind of media sharing network that enables you to connect different XT-VIA and XS-VIA servers together, with three times more bandwidth than the legacy network that we had between our servers before,” said Nicolas Bourdon, marketing and communications director for EVS.

The XNet-VIA system can support up to 64 servers, providing the capacity to handle even the largest sporting events.

One recent EVS customer was on hand to discuss its sports program and its partnership with EVS. The University of Miami outfitted its athletic facilities with EVS servers, networking systems and software-defined Dyvi switchers. Thanks to the configurability of the network and Dyvi switcher, the school is able to deliver back-to-back broadcast-quality sports productions with just hours between events.

GRASS VALLEY, CALIF.—Veterans-TV Inc., a newly formed non-profit organization, announced this week that it plans to launch hands-on professional television production training courses for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, law enforcement veterans, and firefighters who have lost their employment due to injury or attrition. VETV is creating a mobile classroom within Denali Gold, a remote production truck donated to the cause by NEP, and will provide courses in cities across the U.S. when integration of donated broadcast equipment is complete.

"We're so grateful for the depth and breadth of generosity we're seeing from companies and individuals across the industry," said VETV President Bob Lefcovich, who has more than 50 years of experience working in broadcast production and postproduction. "Training on the best equipment with some of the industry's best professionals is an incredible opportunity, and I'm proud to be playing a role in bringing this opportunity to those who have served our country."

Led by industry professionals on a volunteer basis, VETV courses are open to all veterans, their spouses, and dependents over 18, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Proposed courses will address roles such as video technician, camera operator, audio technician, technical assistant, editor, technical director, and engineer in charge (EIC) and areas of expertise including Avid Media Composer (NLE), Adobe Premiere Pro (NLE), character generator/art, EVS operator, and information technology (IT). All courses except the EIC course will be 192 hours with eight hours of hands-on tests.

Lefcovich and the VETV advisory board have so far raised more than $2 million in donations of modern, state-of-the-art TV production and postproduction equipment, with NEP and Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, offering extensive support in terms of equipment donations and integration. In fact, all of the equipment being installed in Denali Gold for training purposes has been donated by manufacturers and broadcasters including AJA, Blackmagic, Calrec Audio, Ensemble Design, EVS, Kramer, Renegade Labs, Ross Video, Telestream, and many more. Integration started at the beginning of December.

In its previous career with NEP, Denali Gold was involved in high-profile remote broadcasts including the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, "America's Got Talent," "Entourage," "American Idol," "Shark Tank," "Showtime at the Apollo," Fox network upfronts, presidential inauguration concerts in Washington, D.C., and scores of other broadcasts.

"With all the industry pros involved in getting our mobile classroom ready, we've probably got 180 years of combined experience working on the truck right now," added Lefcovich. "As students are certified within our program, we'll put all that industry expertise and all our connections to work in helping trained veterans find employment. My colleagues and I have enjoyed great careers in TV, and VETV gives us a way of leveraging our experience to give back and to help veterans with their re-entry into society."

Lefcovich was a cameraman for ABC Wide World of Sports in the '70s, edited hundreds of TV shows and commercials in the '80s, trained many hundreds of editors while working as the senior applications specialist for the Grass Valley Group, and served as tech support and trainer for five different Olympics. He also is one of the founders of Editware, a designer and manufacturer of hybrid editing systems.

Further information about VETV and details about donating to the organization are available at www.veterans-tv.org.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—In the ever-changing landscape of sports broadcasting, meeting the technical requirements for state-of-the-art 4K live sports production is a complex challenge to say the least.

At Fox Sports Australia, we wanted to transform our business toward a new 4K digital era so we needed a storage platform that could support a first-of-its-kind 4K live workflow by providing extreme performance and scalability for live video ingest and highlights-editing, stretching from the live venue to our production facility.

SUMMER OF CRICKET IN 4K

In advance of our 4K Live project covering a summer of cricket, we wanted to test the limits of the Isilon all-flash F800 model. We’ve been using Dell EMC Isilon scale-out network-attached-storage (NAS) as our core media production storage for many years, so with our broadcast production partners at NEP Australia, we chose Dell EMC Isilon F800 all-flash storage to support our production of live sports in 4K UHD video resolution.

After integration testing with EVS and Adobe Premiere Pro, we were very happy with the storage performance and consistency.

With our cricket content broadcast on a new dedicated Foxtel 4K channel, this scale-out NAS solution will allow the Foxtel channel to broadcast in 4K resolution at twice the frame rate of Foxtel’s HD channels—making for smooth, high-quality reproduction of fast-moving live sports action as it happens, when it happens.

To do so requires a quadruple-increase in throughput of live-capture video streams, which of course means updates to the existing production storage and network architecture.

PRODUCTION CHAIN

Fox Sports Australia had to significantly boost its 4K live workflow, which called for ultra-high-speed storage capabilities for both the outside-broadcast (OB) and inside our central production facility.

Up to 30 cameras at the sporting venues capture content in 4K and HD, which is produced in the OB vans using EVS live production servers together with Isilon F800 IP-based storage mounted in flyaway cases. Video editors producing highlights and other packages use Adobe Premiere Pro working with 4K and HD clips directly connected to the Isilon F800. Further post-production and content repackaging takes place in real-time back at the Fox Sports Australia HQ. Clips from the OB van are also replicated back to Fox Sports using Isilon’s SyncIQ technology—which takes advantage of the high-bandwidth IP data network provided from the venue by Telstra Broadcast Services.

Clips created in EVS are synchronized from the venue to our production HQ as they are created. All clips are published and available in EVS IPDirector, IPWeb and Adobe Premiere Pro using IPLink. These clips can then be edited into packages for news and studio programs, broadcast on Foxtel and used for OTT delivery to mobile and web platforms.

A big reason for the success of the Isilon F800 all-flash is its ability to absorb both the high throughput and high concurrency associated with the project. This capability, delivered in just 4RU, allowed Isilon F800 systems to be deployed alongside the OB vans supplied by NEP Australia while also substantially reducing the data center rack space, power and cooling needed at Fox Sports headquarters.

Fox Sports has been working with Dell EMC since 2012, with Dell EMC deploying Isilon scale-out NAS storage solutions for its content creation and distribution workflows. The Isilon all-flash storage solution plays an integral role in the framework of the production industry. It’s signaling what’s to come with all- IP 4K content creation and delivery. The next-generation viewing experience is here—and watching live sport will never be the same again.

Robert Oliver is head of technology at Fox Sports Australia, where he has worked for nearly a decade. He can be reached atRobert.Oliver@foxsports.com.au.

For more information, visitwww.dellemc.comor call 866-438-3622.

FAIRFIELD, N.J.—With EVS’ Xeebra video refereeing system, officials or video operators can review camera angles and select the most relevant on the system’s intuitive touchscreen or with a dedicated controller. Users can also zoom into selected images with a touch-and-pinch gesture to review every angle in detail, which the company says is quick, efficient and in complete synchronization.

Xeebra’s client/server architecture offers flexibility and allows users to deploy it wherever it needs to be, whether on the sidelines, in a venue production control room or a remote officiating facility.

The video refereeing system also uses machine learning technology, enabled by VIA Mind, to calibrate the field of play and allow users to overlay an offside line for video assistant referee (VAR) operations in soccer.

X-ONE is an all-in-one live production system for small and mid-sized events. The system allows a single operator to create replays, control audio, cut together a live feed with a built-in video switcher and add graphics to live programming, which is output in broadcast-standard quality.

With its adaptable interface, the company says X-ONE puts all of the capabilities of a control room in the hands of a single operator controlled from an intuitive touchscreen.

To see demonstrations of the Xeebra and X-ONE, visit EVS on the show floor in booth N725.

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LONDON--NEP UK is making this year's Wimbledon the first Championships to be broadcast utilising SMPTE ST 2110 compliant fully redundant IP technology.

The company has installed a distributed routing system, connected by main and back up MTP fibre optic cable, to serve on and off-site domestic and international broadcasters.

NEP UK has been working with Wimbledon for 35 years, and this year is delivering IP technical facilities for its in-house production as part of Wimbledon Broadcast Services

Read: BBC To Stream Wimbledon 2018 Tennis Tournament In 4K/HDR]

Since 2014, NEP UK has provided both host and domestic coverage of the event. This year, it is providing 21 control rooms for the host broadcaster plus three for the Wimbledon Channel to serve the World Feed and archive. To support the broadcast, NEP is employing 118+ camera positions and 41+ EVS servers, plus three major OB units and a large fly-pack core to broadcast the event.

“Both the scale and range of requirements for this project are immense, from distributing directly to rights holders own MCRs, the Central Content Store, the World feed, the Wimbledon Channel and now a transmission, distribution and quality control area, as well as an additional two courts. We have also joined forces with Fletcher to provide coverage for the remaining seven courts, allowing all courts to have full coverage for the first time” said Richard Lancaster, technical project manager, NEP UK.

Paul Davies, head of broadcast and production at the AELTC added, “We have worked with NEP UK for a number of years and their experience, knowledge and expertise has ensured that Wimbledon has remained at the cutting edge of broadcast innovation throughout this partnership. This is the first year Wimbledon Broadcast Services comes into operation and we are delighted to continue to partner with NEP for a further four years and are very excited to be covering Centre Court in 4K HDR”