The BBC’s football programmes are among the most famous programmes in sports broadcasting, and the fact that all games are now broadcast in full HD is thanks in part to the HD broadcast cameras and infrastructure supplied by the Rental Division of Gearhouse Broadcast.

The BBC’s outside broadcast contractors SISLive are charged with arranging comprehensive HD coverage of matches taking place across the country, and Gearhouse Broadcast are the natural partners for anyone looking for that kind of volume of HD camera rental and HD broadcast infrastructure rental.

HD camera rental specialist

Every match day Gearhouse Broadcast’s Rental Division supply the latest HD system cameras and channel technology to ensure that every kick of every game is covered from every possible angle.

Each weekend you’ll find Gearhouse Broadcast Sony HDC 1500 multi-format HD system cameras position around all the grounds to capture the action in full HD as well as HD camcorders to record pitch side interviews and reaction.

These will usually be accompanied by the amazing Sony HDC 3300 Super Slow Motion camera, which allows the programme editor to access slow motion highlights from the game in a matter of seconds.

EVS Hard Disc technology

The boom in demand for HD sports broadcast equipment rental has only been matched by demand for hard drive servers capable of storing and backing up the vastly increased stream of audio and video information generated by HD broadcast cameras.

The undisputed market leaders in this field are EVS, whose EVS XT server and recently launched successor EVS XT2+ are in constant demand among professional sports broadcasters, not surprisingly given their respective 6×300GB and 12×300GB HD standard memory capacities.

Thinking ahead about HD broadcast equipment rentals

Fortunately, Gearhouse Broadcast anticipated some time ago the impact that HD broadcasting would have on the broadcast equipment rental market, and has healthy rental stocks of not only HD cameras and camcorders but has also built up the largest stocks of EVS Hard Discs to be found among any UK broadcast rental company.

Indeed, it is currently in the process of gradually replacing all its 60 plus EVS XTs with the XT2+ version.

HD sports broadcast rental experience

Gearhouse Broadcast has a strong track record in supplying broadcasting equipment for sports events, including football.

Many of the HD cameras and infrastructure equipment supplied to broadcasters at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa is now back in the UK and available for sale and rental, and the company also hire HD system cameras, camcorders and EVS hard disc systems to contractors providing coverage for many high profile channels.

Ben McKeenan, Rentals Account Executive at Gearhouse Broadcast, says: “With the combination of technical expertise and levels of equipment we hold, unlike most broadcast equipment rental companies we can act as a One-Stop Shop for the customer.

“From the cameras, EVS servers to the glue infrastructure, we can supply a fully comprehensive package and can back it up with the expert knowledge of our Project Solutions and System Integration Divisions.”

As one of Europe’s leading providers of broadcast equipment sales, rentals, project solutions and systems integration, Gearhouse Broadcast is proud of the excellent working relationship it has built up with Pinewood in recent years, and to have supplied the cutting edge technology used to realise some of the most popular shows currently appearing on British television screens.

And Gearhouse recently helped Pinewood break new ground by providing tapeless HD format and broadcasting solutions for the production of CBeebies’ latest hit for early years children, ZingZillas, the first time this technology has been employed at the studios.

HD Format Broadcast

The HD format is an important part of the show’s appeal, which is both strongly visual and musical as it follows primate friends Zak, Tang, Panzee and Drum through their colourful jungle home in their quest put together a daily performance, The Big Zing, inspired by a range of visiting musicians and singers.

Over the past few years Gearhouse has delivered an exhaustive range of audio and video equipment, including cameras and camcorders, both standard and high definition upgrade (SD and HD), MCR hubs, VTRs and infrastructure solutions to Pinewood.

The kit supplied is all specifically tailored to the needs of Pinewood-produced hit series such as the BBC’s ‘Would I Lie to You’, Channel 4’s ‘The IT Crowd’ and Sky 1’s flagship HD sports panel quiz ‘A League of Their Own’, presented by multi-award winning comic actor and writer James Corden of Gavin and Stacey fame.

HD Kit technical support

Gearhouse’s engineers and technicians have established a close working relationship with their colleagues at the studios over the years, ensuring their technical support is available on demand and any additional equipment requirements can be quickly and seamlessly met.

Simon Honey, Head of TV Studio Operations at The Pinewood Studios Group says:  “Gearhouse Broadcast always provide a professional all round package with exceptional customer service, through a dedicated knowledgeable rental team, dependable hands on technical support, and reliable state of the art equipment – at a competitive price.

“With a proven track record in delivering project solutions, we collaboratively provided a seamless HD tapeless workflow for the CBeebies production ‘Zingzillas’, and the results speak for themselves on screen.”

Gearhouse Broadcast recently teamed up with web design and online solutions specialists Optix Solutions, to develop a new web presence capable of keeping up with the demands of such a fast-moving industry, and we are pleased to announce the new site went live this month.

Optix Solutions were charged with creating a website that is truly easy to use, quick to navigate and flexible enough to be adapted to reflect every important development in the broadcast world on a daily basis.

At the same time it highlights all the products and services available from our Sales, Rental, System Integration and Project Management departments worldwide, as well as latest company and industry news.

“We wanted a site that is not only simple and satisfying to use and lets people know what we have to offer but that also reflects our position and gravitas within the industry,” said Eamonn Dowdall,Managing Director at Gearhouse Broadcast.

“Given the business we are in it wouldn’t be right to rely on a dull static site that didn’t give the visitor a feel for just what an exciting, technical business we are in. We are absolutely delighted with the result and believe our customers and visitors will be too.”

At the click of a mouse you can check out the latest outside broadcast truck being built at our UK headquarters, what cameras are available for rent in Australia, product sales in Doha or project solutions in India.

With so much to cover, it was vital that the site was designed to be as easy as possible to navigate, to take the visitor where they want to go quickly and efficiently.

We have incorporated a specifically designed filtered search facility which enables the visitor to, for instance, find a product by type, condition (new or used) or brand. In the near future you’ll be able to bid for an ex-rental or excess stock bargain via e-auction.

Case studies are used to introduce the sheer scope of the projects that Gearhouse Broadcast are involved in day in, day out.

Visitors are offered detailed insights into everything from the technology Gearhouse Broadcast supplies to bring ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ from the Australian rainforest to our living rooms to the creation of India’s state broadcaster Doordarshan’s first custom-built outside broadcast truck.

Specially incorporated 360° panoramic image technology allows the visitor to take a virtual tour of everything from the VTR and audio set up in a HD (High Definition) outside broadcast truck to the wiring and cabling that makes it all work.

Our brilliant new ‘Truck Builder’ facility even enables you to build a virtual broadcast vehicle from scratch, specifying everything from the number and type of cameras and lenses required to the environmental conditions it will work under. Fill in the form and send it off and we’ll come straight back with a quote.

A new blog area allows us to tell you what Gearhouse Broadcast is up to behind the scenes, like news on the audio solutions we delivered to ITV for X-Factor or the lowdown on the latest in camcorder technology. And you can now also follow us on Twitter.