News Technology & Live Sport
A Predator
Predator multiviewers allow both HDTV
and legacy SDI signals to be used together,
creating an easy transition to HDTV signal
formats. The Predator HD multiviewers also
have a powerful layout editing software that
makes system setup, operation and control
on the streets
very easy. We have the option to edit pre-
loaded basic templates or to use the drag-
and-drop function to quickly create and save
any source in the layout - including across
two displays. This means instant
GABRIEL FEHERVARI, CEO of Alfacam Group, reports.
reconfigurability is always available at the
touch of a button.
eadquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, our customers, it was necessary to expand HD was a key element in our decision-
H
Alfacam is one of the leading TV and upgrade our fleet. Our key goals included making process, so when evaluating what
service providers in Europe and a ensuring that all the equipment selected equipment was needed for the new OB truck,
leader in HDTV broadcasting. As offered mobility and the appropriate internal we wanted to ensure that our investment was
the owner of one of Europe’s largest fleets of capacity and flexibility, as well as support for protected. We required HD-ready
multi-camera OB trucks, Alfacam plays a HD. multiviewers that were able to monitor SD
pivotal role in the transmission of myriad The design of an OB truck inevitably signals - and still provide excellent picture
live sports events to viewers around the raises issues of space, flexibility and quality, high reliability and a broad feature
globe. Over the last few years, we have reliability. So, in addition to being compact, set in a compact design. We also needed to
pursued innovation and hold the distinction all the equipment must be robust and ensure we had the lowest possible frame
of being the first European company to have dependable. To that end, we chose delay, as live event broadcasting, and
invested in the 16:9 digital image format. multiviewers for our OB fleet in lieu of the sporting events in particular, cannot tolerate
More importantly, in the last two years, we traditional banks of monitors and the latency. The Harris multiviewers had the
have significantly grown our OB truck fleet plethora of ancillary equipment. Multiviewers high-quality, future-proof design we were
with a view to support HDTV applications enable a sleek monitoring experience and looking for.
across Europe. Alfacam now has 27 OB make it easier for the production team to Multiviewers are a good choice for OB
trucks, 25 of which support HDTV. One of facilitate the transfer of live feeds back to the applications because, when combined with
these operates up to 30 cameras. studio for onward transmission to the viewer. slim-line LCD monitors, they can provide
Alfacam has attended approximately 3000 After careful consideration of all the savings on wall space, heating and air-
sport events around the world so far, as well available manufacturers, we decided to go conditioning requirements. Furthermore,
as 250 operas, 500 classic concerts, 400 pop, with a product from the Harris multiviewer ancillary equipment is integrated within the
rock and jazz concerts and 200 other events. portfolio. We integrated more than 200 Harris display, and features such as Tallys, clocks
Therefore, we need best-in-class equipment Zandar Predator HD8 multiviewers into 11 of and UMDs are already incorporated. The
to meet all of our logistical and operational our TV trucks. This resulted in the multiviewer design also allows the
challenges. We specialise in very large sports installation of between 14 and 28 Predator production team to monitor feeds from
broadcasting events, such as the Beijing HD8 multiviewers feeding between 40 and 50 numerous live camera sources and make
Games and Euro 2008, but also handle some HD screens in each truck. This expansion is decisions on-the-fly. In essence, the
smaller and more localised events. To one of the largest installations of Harris multiviewers serve as the eyes and ears of the
continue to meet the varying needs of all of multiviewers in Europe. production team inside the truck.
Our newly expanded Alfacam OB fleet has
already established an enviable track record
of covering major live sports broadcasting
events. Some of the recent events supported
by Alfacam include the 2008 Africa Cup of
Nations in Ghana (football), the Tour of
Ireland 2008 (cycling), the A1 Grand Prix
(motor racing) and the Rugby World Cup
2008 in France - plus, of course, the Beijing
Games in August. Alfacam has a particularly
strong history with the Games, having
provided mobile units for the 2002 Winter
Games in Salt Lake City, the 2004 Summer
Games in Athens and the 2006 Winter Games
in Turin. For this year’s games we shipped
our HD OB fleet across the globe to Beijing.
We dispatched 19 TV structures to cover the
22 IBE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
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