THATCHAM, U.K.—Outside broadcast (OB) expert TVN Live Production has purchased multiple Leader and Phabrix test and measurement units for TVN-OB8, its latest live production truck designed for ultra HD (UHD), high dynamic range (HDR) and immersive audio.

The vehicle joins the company’s European fleet, which now numbers 11 OB vans and 13 SNG units.

“At the beginning of the UHD era, we were looking for measuring devices that could recognize the new standard and display it properly,” TVN Chief Technology Officer Christoph Moll said. “Working closely with our partner Logic Media Solutions, we chose Leader and Phabrix technology due to their products’ user configurability and full operational flexibility. Leader/Phabrix products have been supplied and proven indispensable to all of our live production units, which are deployed at a huge number of live production events, including festivals and UEFA tournaments such as the Champions League.”

The OB company’s desire for a flexible T&M device was mainly why TVN Live Production purchased seven Leader LV5600 waveform monitors. The devices are compatible with SDI and IP signals for use with TVN-OB8, the company said.

TVN Live Production needed a T&M solution that could measure IP streams, 12G/3G/HD SDI, HDR/SDR color space and audio. After comparing its options, the OB company decided on a solution from Leader. TVN also purchased two Phabrix QxP portable waveform monitors, which are 25G ST 2110 and 12G-SDI capable and will be used for all measurements outside the new truck, it said.

The units’ reliability, ease of use, clear signal display, variable measurement options and ability to access firmware upgrades with new features were among TVN’s reasons for returning to Leader and Phabrix brands over the years, it said.

“We are happy to fulfill the highest requirements and special requests of our clients in order to achieve the best possible production results at all times,” Moll said. “We also achieve production quality and convenience with the corresponding high end equipment of our mobile units, using the best video and audio technology available. We therefore rely on suppliers like Leader and PHABRIX who share our high standards for the most innovative solutions.”

More information is available on the company’s website.

All media companies are exploring new ways to maximize the value of their live and on-demand content. In a complex landscape where broadcasters, sports, entertainment and technology players compete for market share, capturing and retaining global and hyperlocal audiences across multiple platforms is a vital challenge. Leveraging the right ad strategies to monetize content of all flavors is mission-critical for business growth.

The New Broadcast Advertising Landscape
Before connected TV devices, smartphones and the streaming media revolution, the linear television world relied on traditional broadcast advertising strategies targeting wide audiences across shared household TVs. In the absence of more targeted advertising capabilities, brands leveraged broader demographic data and panel-based audience measurement to determine whether ads would reach the right audiences. We’ve come a long way from the days when measurement was hard to come by and return on investment difficult to quantify.

The digital world has changed everything. Consumers can watch their preferred content anytime, anywhere and on any platform. Brands and digital advertisers have a whole host of advertising strategies at their disposal to target specific consumers based on their content consumption patterns—and they can shape their ad-buying decisions accordingly.

The value of traditional broadcast advertising is being questioned, with WARC research finding that 39% of marketers plan to reduce spending on linear channels. Consumers are increasingly favoring event-based viewing and on-demand streaming content experiences instead of traditional linear TV consumption, contributing to significant declines in pay-TV revenue, which will sink to $15 billion annually by 2027, according to PwC. Media consumption is changing and the linear methodologies many people are accustomed to simply don’t translate in the digital advertising arena. New thinking is needed to bridge diverse broadcast and digital environments.

Increase ROI With Strategic Targeting
Media organizations are looking to expand their reach by delivering market-relevant and localized content that resonates with viewers and boosts engagement. This opens the door for brands and advertisers to explore new ways to tap into these audiences in a more targeted and precise way—and make the most of their investment.

Digital advertising is driven by data that sheds light on consumers and their viewing habits. Brands and digital advertisers now have the consumer insights they need to make informed decisions about their advertising real estate.

This is particularly useful for brands that target narrow audiences with hyper-targeted regionalization, tailored messaging and coordination to increase their chances of getting their messages to resonate with target buyers. Although this type of strategic targeting comes with a premium price tag, it should be seen as a worthwhile investment.

A Digital Mindset for Linear Channels
Media companies can uplevel their broadcast advertising strategies by adopting a digital advertising mindset for their linear channels. Customization and hyperlocalization can be critical competitive advantages that enable broadcast advertising to transition to the digital world and bring back much-needed investment. Content distributors with the infrastructure in place to support digital ad sales can apply their digital framework to their linear channels, creating compelling offerings that deliver similar value to digital ad packages.

This mindset requires a shift in approach from selling air time to impressions, which is commonplace in digital advertising. By seamlessly implementing impression-based broadcast advertising and digital models within the same hybrid ecosystem, they can offer brands and advertisers ad packages across digital and linear channels — optimizing content monetization and streamlining siloed ad processes.

Hitting Linear and Digital Advertising Targets
Today, media organizations are finding ways to grow their digital businesses while protecting and maximizing ROI on high-value linear channels and live events. Broadcasters with hybrid digital and linear offerings need to maximize the value of their content libraries by increasing reach and monetization potential. Innovation in IP video distribution and content versioning enables media organizations to produce highly regionalized content that targets multiple linear and digital markets simultaneously — without heavy costs or additional resources.

By intelligently creating and inserting multiple versions of SCTE-35 markers, it’s also easier than ever for media companies to enrich the downstream ad experience for any region, audience, or platform.

Broadcast advertising is not going anywhere — it is evolving. By harnessing the targeting capabilities typically associated with on-demand streaming, new broadcast advertising models can increase ROI and drive growth for broadcasters. As the volume of high-value content produced, delivered, and consumed through the event-based model increases, the new phase of digitally-inspired broadcast advertising will begin to deliver measurable results.

HANNOVER, Germany—TVN Live Production is using a variety of solutions and technologies from Lawo in its new TVN-Ü8UHD OB truck, which it unveiled at this year’s IBC Show.

Equipped with cutting-edge Lawo AoIP (audio-over-IP) technology, the TVN-Ü8UHD is designed to meet the demands of the most complex Ultra High Definition (UHD)/High Dynamic Range (HDR) and 3D audio live productions.

“The TVN-Ü8UHD represents a new milestone in outside broadcasting,“ TVN Live Production CEO Markus Osthaus said. “Thanks to our partnership with Lawo, we can offer a solution that delivers unparalleled flexibility and scalability while maintaining the highest standards in UHD/HDR video and 3D audio production. For audio, Lawo’s IP technology is at the heart of this capability, enabling us to meet the growing demands of complex, large-scale productions.”

Central to the TVN-Ü8UHD is Lawo’s IP infrastructure, including VSM (Virtual Studio Manager), Lawo’s IP Broadcast Control and Workflow Solution. The OB van’s audio capabilities are anchored by two Lawo mc² mixing consoles: the Lawo mc²56 MkIII with a redundantly designed A__UHD core audio engine, and the Lawo mc²36 MkII All-in-One console with internal A__UHD core technology, guaranteeing seamless and fail-safe operation even during the most demanding productions.

The two companies said includingLawo’s mc²56 MkIII and mc²36 MkII consoles allows for precise and flexible handling of 3D audio, Dolby Atmos and other advanced audio formats. This capability is vital for large-scale sports and entertainment events where the highest audio quality is required. The mc²56 MkIII, with its fully redundant A__UHD core, provides an unmatched processing power of 1,024 DSP (digital signal processor) channels, offering reliable, ultra-low latency signal routing and real-time monitoring. Combined with the mc²36 MkII’s compact-yet-powerful design, the TVN-Ü8UHD delivers exceptional audio mixing flexibility and quality, from pre-production to the final broadcast.

The Lawo IP infrastructure offers complete networked audio solutions, ensuring that multiple independent signals can be processed simultaneously. This is crucial for events requiring diverse parallel workflows, enabling HD and UHD production in tandem. Additionally, Lawo’s IP technology allows for full redundancy, providing the reliability essential for live broadcasting environments, Lawo said.

Designed for flexibility, the TVN-Ü8UHD also features an innovative multifunctional workspace. With 39 workstations across 120 m², the OB van is fully equipped to handle the complexities of today’s most challenging broadcasts. The integration of Lawo’s networked systems ensures every broadcast workflow, from signal acquisition to distribution, is efficient, scalable and tailored to the production’s specific needs. The vendor-agnostic Lawo VSM broadcast-control system integrates with the OB truck’s broadcast equipment and can orchestrate and control the entire production network, simplifying workflows and minimizing setup time.

The TVN-Ü8UHD has also been designed to meet the heightened standards needed for more immersive audio experiences, the two companies said. Lawo’s mc²56 MkIII is optimized for Dolby Atmos and 3D audio workflows, providing full support for the 5.1.4 monitoring setup used in the truck. With acoustically calibrated audio spaces and Lawo’s state-of-the-art processing, TVN’s production teams can deliver the most immersive audio experiences to audiences worldwide, whether for sports, concerts or large-scale live events, Lawo said.

BURLINGTON, Ont.—TVN Live Production, a division of TVN Group Holding, will be showcasing its latest Outside Broadcast vehicle at IBC 2024 and onboard is an Evertz NEXX processing and routing platform that is one of the largest the company says it has ever built.

TVN-OB8 is fully UHD/HDR-capable and equipped with cutting-edge broadcast technology and corresponding back-up systems. With two galleries and 32 UHD cameras, OB8 was built for the UEFA EURO 2024 football championship where it captured games taking place in Berlin, including the closing ceremony at the finale in Berlin.

Based in Germany, TVN approached Evertz at the 2023 NAB Show and asked if the company could build a large-scale 704 x 704 12G-SDI UHD routing platform, which was significantly larger than any router available on the market at the time. This needed to be ready, installed and fully operational in time for the UEFA EURO 2024 championships, which kicked off in June 2024.

The final go-ahead for the project wasn’t signed off until the end of 2023, but Evertz was able to deliver a fully operational large-format router in time for TVN’s deadline.

“With its distributed floating backplane technology for hybrid audio/video routing, frame syncing, multiviewers and conversion, Evertz’ NEXX routing platform was a very compelling option,” says Christoph Moll, TVN Live Production’s Technical Manager for Outside Broadcast. “In fact, at NAB 2023 it was the only solution that seemed close enough to be delivered in time for the EURO 2024 championship. The company’s engineering team and product managers were convinced that they could make it happen, and we are delighted to say that they did.”

For such a large and complex routing challenge, an IP solution using SMPTE ST 2110 would be the primary choice for the UHD routing core. However, TVN insisted that their router be SDI-based, as the OB van’s use is aimed at large events where it is necessary to exchange a high number of SDI signals from 1080i to UHD 12G directly at the OB van patch panel with other broadcasters. In addition, SDI is faster than IP and is therefore perfect for the instant playback of live content on large LED screens at festivals without any visual delay. Also, switching between the live camera signals on an SDI basis is still the most efficient and convenient solution for the technician when shading on the reference monitor according to Evertz.

As the NEXX processing and routing platform offered optional SMPTE ST 2110 gateway capabilities, the choice of a NEXX router has made it easy for TVN to transition to IP in the future because all they need to do is change out the modules, giving customers the perfect hybrid solution that allows them to be future-proofed.

Designed to provide broadcast facilities, OB trucks, venues and stadia with the building blocks for 3G/12G-SDI, Evertz NEXX next generation processing and routing solution has a compact modular frame with a main interface/backplane. The router supports SD/HD/3G/6G/12G data rates, thus providing a clear pathway to transition to SMPTE ST 2110 and adopt more remote services as part of their workflow.

For TVN Live Production’s OB8, Evertz built a NEXX router with 704 x 704 12G-SDI I/O, 16 x 3G and 8 x UHD HDR conversion paths, and 48 standard and 14 advanced UHD multiviewer heads in 17 RU. This compact routing and processing platform also includes flexible modules for conversion, processing, and non-SDI interfaces.

“This was a massive engineering challenge because nothing of this size had ever been done before,” says Sebastian Ruchti, Sales Engineer for Evertz in Germany. “What we built was certainly a first for the broadcast industry – the largest 12G UHD single link router anyone had ever made.”

“The density of the router Evertz has built for us is phenomenal,” Christoph Moll adds. “It’s 960 x 960 UHD with Frame syncs, Embedders/De-Embedders, Multiviewers and Up/Down/Cross Conversion – and all in a non-blocking architecture, which makes it very reliable and easy to use.”

Moll also highlights the help the Evertz engineering team provided during this critical project, especially during the final days of commissioning prior to the start of EURO 2024.

“They listened to my concerns and got fixes and new features developed very quickly and in a highly professional manner,” he says. “The router was the core component of this project and a cutting-edge development. Having direct access to Evertz’ engineering team was very valuable for us, and we continue to feedback ideas for improvements that they are happy to work on.”

TVN Live Production’s OB8 will be showcased at IBC 2024 in the Outside Broadcast Area (0.A17). Evertz will also be highlighting the latest addition to its NEXX router platform at IBC 2024 and these can be seen on booth 2.B51.

THATCHAM, U.K.—Test and measurement provider Phabrix, a Leader Company, has announced that its distributor, Logic Media Solutions, has sold multiple Phabrix Qx rasterizers, Leader LV5600 waveform monitors and LV7600 rasterizers to TVN Live Production. 

Headquartered in Hanover, Germany, TVN is one of Europe’s leading providers of mobile television services, working on high-profile productions including soccer tournaments and music festivals for more than 35 years. The company is also in demand as a supplier and partner in the development and introduction of innovative technical solutions.

The adoption of Ultra-High Definition (HDR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) production workflows provided the impetus for TVN’s latest investment in T&M and monitoring equipment, the companies said. 

“With the beginning of the era of UHD and HDR, it was an easy decision to choose Phabrix instruments for our technical positions, and Leader instruments for our operator positions” said TVN CEO Markus Osthaus, adding that the two brands’ products fulfilled the company’s requirements for “user-friendly and flexible measurement devices for professional broadcast use”.

Working closely with Christophe Bingemer, managing director of Phabrix/Leader reseller Logic Media Solutions, TVN decided upon an investment comprising Phabrix Qx rasterizers, Leader LV5600 waveform monitors and LV7600 rasterizers. 

The Qx rasterizer brings together all the advanced tools required for transitioning to the next generation of video formats. Designed for HD/3G/6G/12-SDI and IP ST 2110/2022-7/2022-6 environments, as well as 4K/UHD production and advanced HDR analysis, the instrument set includes tools for rapid fault diagnosis, compliance monitoring and product development. 

Also supporting both new and legacy workflows, the Leader LV5600 is a ‘True Hybrid’ waveform monitor compatible with 4K/HD/SD-SDI signals and UHD/HD/SD IP signals, the company said. 

The LV7600 rasterizer offers the same capabilities as the flagship LV5600 but in a low-profile 19 inch 1U form-factor for easy rack or desk mounting. Engineering-related features include test pattern generation, eye pattern display, closed-caption monitoring, CIE chroma chart, HDR measurement, focus assist, customizable screen layout, tally interface and 4K/UHD operation as well as 10G/25G IP input and 12G-SDI interfaces.

Osthaus said that the new Phabrix and Leader equipment has already been deployed during its commitments to multiple tournaments: “TVN applies Phabrix/Leader measurement equipment at all Bundesliga matches, as well as UEFA tournaments such as Champions League, Europa League and Conference League – thus always providing the best picture quality and signal quality for our customers.”

As to the future, further investments in Leader group products are evidently a possibility. “When we plan and set up new studios or OB vans, the Phabrix/Leader products have become part of our standard equipment,” noted Osthaus, adding that the brands have “always been at the cutting edge of technology, and usually ahead of the competition in terms of innovation.”

“It is always gratifying to hear that a company with such a prestigious track-record as TVN Live Production has put its trust in Phabrix and Leader T&M and monitoring equipment for its work on hugely important productions like Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League,” Masayoshi Ishihara, managing director, Leader Europe said. “With expectations rising ever-higher in the era of UHD and HDR production, TVN can depend upon the versatility and robust performance of the Qx rasterizers and LV5600 monitors to ensure that its customers – and their viewers – experience the best possible quality every time.”

HANOVER, Germany—TVN Mobile Production has travelled to St. Petersburg, Russia, with production trucks, equipment and around 65 people to cover seven matches of the European Football Championship UEFA EURO 2020/21, the company announced. 

The first live broadcast for TVN will take place on June 12, the company reported. 

For the productions, TVN  sent four TVN-Ü6 and TVN-Ü3 OB vans and their equipment trucks by land and sea, with the crew of around 65 arriving by direct flight. 

The team includes personnel for the OB trucks, video and sound equipment, setup and operation of the total of 43 cameras. 

Wolfgang Peiss, responsible project manager of TVN, noted that the contract for the production was “actually for several stadiums and countries - then the pandemic came. First, the tournament was postponed for a year and then some matches were additionally moved to St. Petersburg, which required completely new staff planning.”

Due to the pandemic, extensive hygiene and safety protocols have been put in place, including constant daily testing for all TVN employees.

As part of the setup, TVN plugged in about 1000 cable connections between the OB trucks and the Technical Operations Center alone. The 43 cameras have also been moved into position. These cameras include hypermotion cameras, Spidercam and helicopter camera in UHD-HDR, polecams behind the goals and a 180 degree full-format sensor ‘beauty’ camera with Arri optics.

HANNOVER, GERMANY—After a recent tryout during a Bundesliga soccer match, Leader’s LV5490 UHD test instruments have made the cut for TVN Mobile Productions first UHD-HDR mobile truck.

The LV5490 provides 4K, UHD, 3G, HD and SD test and measurement features in a compact portable unit. The unit’s 9-inch LCD monitor with 1920x1080 HD resolution allows for waveform, vector, five-bar and picture display to be viewed simultaneously. A 1920x1080 HD DVI and HD-SDI rasterized output is also provided to feed a larger monitor. Up to four SDI inputs can be viewed at a single time, including overlays. The size and location of individual channels on the display using a USB mouse. Leader also has the LV5490SER07 HDR option that allows the LV5490 to measure both 4K and HD HDR in ITU.BT.2100 Hybrid Log Gamma, Dolby PQ or Sony SLOG-3 protocols.

During the Bundesliga match, TVN said it was able to produce program feeds in UHD-HDR and UHD-SDR, developing and implementing a new HDR/SDR workflow for the OB truck. TVN has plans for four more tests to take place for the LV5490 system before the end of the Bundesliga season.