Archive for the ‘Equipment Rental UK’ Category
Hitachi & Gearhouse Broadcast Announce Strategic Alliance in Broadcast System Camera Market
Friday, September 7th, 2012
Amsterdam, 07 September 2012 – One of the longest established technology suppliers to the broadcast system camera market, Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe, has opened up IBC 2012 with an announcement that will sting many of its competitors. Hitachi has formed a strategic sales and market development agreement with international broadcast rental, project solutions, systems integration, equipment sales and outside broadcast company, Gearhouse Broadcast. The agreement provides Gearhouse Broadcast with prime distribution rights to all Hitachi broadcast cameras in many international territories.
Under the conditions of the agreement, Gearhouse Broadcast will enhance Hitachi customers’ pre- and post-sales experience by making available its market-leading engineering facilities and offering an extensive rental inventory of Hitachi camera systems. Hitachi believes that through this partnership, the two companies will improve the quality of ownership and enhance the perception of the Hitachi brand within the international broadcast market.
“Our stated intention is clear: we are determined to become regarded as the leading supplier of 3G and future camera technologies. New ventures, such as our relationship with Gearhouse Broadcast are fundamental to support our growing presence in world broadcasting,” commented Masahiko Kato, General Manager, Global Business Division of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
“This is an ambitious goal and one that we will achieve,” continued Kato. “If we wish to become perceived as the best in the market, then we need support in key markets from the best company in the business. This is why we have selected Gearhouse Broadcast.”
A leading international broadcast solution provider, Gearhouse Broadcast has well established project solutions, outside broadcast, rental and systems integration operations and was previously one of Europe’s biggest and long-standing users of Sony camera technology. This agreement sees Gearhouse Broadcast moving to offer the market a fresh option in the form of these new Hitachi cameras.
“Hitachi’s pedigree in the broadcast camera market is outstanding and in developing their new family of HD and 3G systems cameras they have demonstrated that they have lost none of their skills and experience. The new Hitachi cameras are well engineered, robust and reliable,” reported Eamonn Dowdall, Business Development Director at Gravity Media Group, the parent company of Gearhouse Broadcast. “Our relationship with Hitachi is both practical and strategic. The facilities and services that we provide at Gearhouse Broadcast offer the level of support that Hitachi broadcast customers, and indeed all broadcast camera users expect and demand.”
“We’ve been using the Hitachi cameras in our rental fleet and on numerous major sports projects for some time and we are tremendously impressed by their build quality and technical sophistication. We predict a great deal of interest in the coming months and years,” Dowdall concluded.
Gearhouse Broadcast Awards Multi-Million Pound Camera Contract to Hitachi
Monday, July 9th, 2012Hitachi SK-HD1200 cameras offer extended choice and cost efficiency to company’s rental customers
International broadcast rental, project solutions, systems integration and equipment sales company, Gearhouse Broadcast, has awarded a multi-million pound contract for system cameras to Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe GmbH. The contract includes 22 SK-HD 1200 high-end multi-format 1080p/3G production cameras as well as three SK-HD 1500 HD Supermotion system cameras.
Launched last year, Hitachi’s SK-HD1200 represents a high-performance portable 16 bit A/D HDTV studio and EFP camera with three 2.3 million pixel 1080p IT-CCDs (which are 1080i switchable). The new Hitachi cameras provide a higher performance and more affordable alternative to Gearhouse Broadcast’s existing Sony camera fleet. The company will take delivery of the new cameras in August and will immediately introduce them into its general inventory, making them available to rent by existing and new customers.
“This contract represents a major capital investment and a significant strategic development for Gearhouse Broadcast: the contract was awarded to Hitachi after extensive evaluation of the various system cameras that are available today,” reported John Newton, Chief Executive Officer at Gearhouse Broadcast. “We want to offer our rental clients wider choice and to be more competitive whilst maintaining the quality of our cameras in terms of specification and performance.
“We have put the Hitachi cameras through all their paces and what we have discovered is a rugged and reliable product that offers real choice to our studio, OB and rental customers. Furthermore, these cameras are supported by one of the market’s most experienced camera manufacturers that has all the necessary technical and operational support measures in place and has developed a long-term product roadmap,” Newton continued.
Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe has a broadcast camera heritage extending over 40 years. The company has stated its intention to expand its camera product range, thereby increasing share in this demanding market. It believes that strategic deals with key customers such as Gearhouse Broadcast will enable it to generate the all-important user feedback and momentum that will enable it to drive this business forwards.
“We have worked hard with Gearhouse Broadcast in negotiating this purchase and we are delighted to announce this strategic contract with them today,” commented Paddy Roache, Director and General Manager at Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe. “This order communicates a clear message to broadcast camera users in the UK and Europe. It will be one of many that confirm Hitachi as a leading supplier to the international broadcast technology market.”
Hitachi SKHD 1200 broadcast system camera
The SK-HD1200 camera provides superior performance delivering sharper and cleaner HD images thanks to its 14bit A/D converters and Hitachi’s implementation of the latest digital processing technology. Like the other cameras in the SK HD range, the SK-HD1200 provides high sensitivity and a horizontal resolution performance of 1100 TV lines – delivering exceptional picture quality with low noise and ultra low vertical smear.
The SK HD family represent versatile dockable HD TV cameras, which enable multiple configurations thanks to their fibre optic, digital Triax cable and wireless transmission adapters. The SK HD range offers the choice of native 1080i or 720p CCD options as well as the new multi format 1080p SK HD1200. It also features a solid state HDTV recorder option utilising the Panasonic P2 format and a large lens studio adapter.
For ease of set up and operation, the SK-HD1200 camera is complemented by a range of accessories including a full studio adapter which enables the use of both hanger type and bayonet type lenses without removing the camera from the adapter, an intuitive camera control unit and a digital triax system. Also, a new remote control unit has all the commonly used functions of the camera as well as touch screen panel operation.
Grand Slam success for Gearhouse Broadcast
Thursday, March 8th, 2012
Gearhouse Broadcast completes the successful delivery of comprehensive technical facilities for the Australian Open host broadcast and unilateral broadcasters at this year’s Asian/Pacific Grand Slam.
The Australian Open is one of the largest and most complex annual events that Gearhouse Broadcast covers. Drawing on previous ATP Tennis Masters Series experience, the Gearhouse Broadcast technical set-up has been expanded to accommodate the size and magnitude of the event.
This year the tournament was bigger than ever before with Gearhouse Broadcast providing Channel 7 with a comprehensive package of technical facilities and crewing across the entire event. The Broadcast Centre was built into a large double story temporary building that housed all the technical facilities including the Production Control, Audio Control, Logging & Archiving, Edit suites and production offices.
Gearhouse’s Engineers installed all the technical host facilities within ten days then fully tested them before handing them over to Channel 7 for their coverage of the event. During the event support was provided by audio, video and communications engineers who worked in shifts to ensure that the facility ran smoothly.
Broadcast equipment supplied for the championship included 57 x EVS XT 3s, 50 x IP Directors with a range of EVS XFile and X Store units and these systems where linked into Avid ISIS servers and edit suites. A range of vision desks were supplied to cover the courts and uni-laterals including the Kahuna 4ME, Kayak 2.5ME, MFS 2000 1.5ME, Sony MVS 8400 4ME, Sony MVS 7000 4ME and Kayenne 4ME. All the cameras used at the tournament were Sony with a total of 65 x HDC1500’s and 6 x HDC 3300 Super Motion’s with a wide variety of Canon XJ and HJ type lenses.
Gearhouse Broadcast where also awarded a multi-year contract for an international broadcaster for their coverage of the Australian Open. The contract was to provide uni-lateral facilities consisting of two large production and audio control rooms, an MCR area with an EVS system for Ingest and on air playback that integrated with an Avid ISIS and Nitris Edit suites. They also provided the production facilities for Tennis Australia which was an MCR, Ingest, playout and Editing facility that provided the feeds for the various broadcast platforms to which Tennis Australia were delivering content.
For this year’s Championships, Gearhouse Broadcast made a significant investment including the new Grass Valley Kayenne Switcher and two new Sony MVS 7000X-Series Switchers, 52 Bel Digital Audio 3G HD compatible BM-A1-2SHD audio monitors and a state-of-the-art NAC Hi-Motion II Ultra Slow Motion HDTV Camera which made its world-wide debut at the Australian Open. This camera was used extensively on the two main courts and delivered some exceptional slow motion action.
The Hi-Motion II™ camera is able to shoot at up to 1,000 frames per second at 1080p using three CMOS sensors and provides simultaneous output of live real time video and ultra slow motion replay video.
According to Gearhouse Broadcast’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Moorhouse “Being appointed to deliver broadcast solutions for the Australian Open is testament to the confidence Channel 7 and other international broadcasts have in Gearhouse Broadcast based on track record of working on projects of this size and complexity”
“The event has its challenges both in terms of logistics and technology, but having delivered the broadcast facilities for the Australian Open for the past eight years we have an in-depth understanding of the project”.
The event ended with a Nadal v Djokovic showdown in the final, which saw the World’s No.1 Djokovic capture his third Australian Open crown by defeating Nadal 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5.
Gearhouse Broadcast Invest in New NAC Hi-Motion II Camera
Thursday, March 8th, 2012
A leading supplier of global broadcast solutions, Gearhouse Broadcast announces its investment in the new NAC Hi-Motion II Ultra Slow Motion HDTV Camera for its Project Solutions Division.
The purchase was driven to meet the demand from Gearhouse Broadcasts clients for forthcoming global sports events such as the European Football Championship, Tennis, Motor Racing and other major sporting events this summer.
The Australian Open Tennis Championship, which took place in Melbourne between 16 and 29 January 2012, marked the world’s first use of the Hi-Motion II Camera in sports broadcasting.
The Hi-Motion II™ cameras use a unique three chip (CMOS) sensor capable of capturing more than 10X high speed images in Full HD and provide simultaneous output of live real time video AND ultra slow motion replay video. The three chip NAC Hi-Motion II™ cameras provide unparalleled clarity and detail enhancement along with superb light sensitivity while fitting seamlessly into the workflow of sports broadcast environments.
Kevin Moorhouse, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Chief Operating Officer said “The debut of the Hi-Motion II™ camera at this year’s Australian Open Tennis Championship significantly enhanced the host broadcaster’s ultra-slow-motion action which was captured in crystal clarity and ultra fine detail”.
“The camera was used extensively on the two main courts and delivered some exceptional slow motion action, enabling us to capture the dramatic court action at this year’s tournament”.
“The new Hi-Motion II camera is a dual-format 1080i/720p system that can provide simultaneous output of live normal-speed video and ultra-slow-motion replay video. The camera can work alongside other HD cameras to deliver the exceptional imagery today’s HDTV sports broadcasters and viewers demand”.
Andy Hayford, Nac Image Technology’s International Sales Manager commented “As I’ve traveled with the NAC Camera in Europe, Asia and the USA, the response to the Hi-Motion II™ is overwhelmingly positive! Everyone from Engineering, VT and Production is ‘over the moon’ that the camera works straight out of the box and integrates like a normal camera – and the live and replay pictures are stunning! It’s great to hear the positive response one of the Broadcasting Industry’s leading Facility and Rental Suppliers is getting to Hi-Motion II™ in Australia. NAC look forward to working more with Gearhouse Broadcast in the future.”
Gearhouse Broadcast Confirms its Commitment to EVS with a Multi-Million Deal Including Over 20 XT3 Servers
Friday, June 24th, 2011Gearhouse Broadcast, a market leader in TV broadcast services specialising in Equipment Rental, Equipment Sales, Outside Broadcast, Project Solutions and Systems Integration, has recently confirmed its long-term commitment with EVS solutions for production servers and associated systems. The terms of the agreement include a mix of new and upgraded systems allowing Gearhouse Broadcast to be at the cutting edge of live production technology.
Among EVS’ top clients, Gearhouse Broadcast is extending its existing comprehensive range and inventory of servers (including 57 latest generation XT2+ Servers and supporting IPDirectors, XFiles and XHubs) with the addition of 20 new XT3 servers introduced by the Belgian manufacturer at the NAB Show in Las Vegas last April. The new XT3 server offers eight full configurable video channels with 96 audio ports and six 3D channels. It’s the first system to natively support all popular codecs without requiring hardware changes.
This transaction additionally includes the full upgrade of their existing rental fleet of EVS systems including IPDirector content management suites, XF2 media storage allowing them to guarantee their clients the most efficient and advanced production tools.
Gearhouse Broadcast’s headquarters are located in the U.K. with operating offices in Australia, US, Qatar and India. With a large inventory and always investing heavily in new technology, experienced engineers and a wealth of global experience in exceeding broadcaster’s needs, the company offers a full range of solutions and a proven track record in the delivery of broadcast solutions for all types of live broadcast events including football tournaments, Olympic Games, major reality television shows and music concerts.
Chief Executive Officer at Gearhouse Broadcast John Newton comments: “Our contract with a broadcasting equipment leader such as EVS places us at the forefront of live production technology operations. It allows us to meet demanding broadcast requirements for current and future live operations anywhere globally.” Newton continues that “Gearhouse Broadcast provides our global rental clients with the most up to date broadcast solutions on the market and EVS always guarantees the best of live technology while opening up the way to future broadcast operations.”
Head of APAC, EMEA & Events at EVS Luc Doneux says: “EVS is very enthusiastic with the success of its new live production solutions recently introduced at NAB. Doneux continues: “The XT3 platform was conceived to keep up with live production solutions offering unrivalled flexibility, and a real path to future sports broadcast operations. When a leader in TV broadcast rental services, like Gearhouse Broadcast, confides in EVS equipment, it allows us to proudly keep up with market trends offering superior technology, and to open roads ahead towards future of sports.”
Gearhouse Broadcast provide HD Camera Solutions for Nation’s Favourite Sports Broadcast
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010It seems that no sooner was the World Cup over than the English Premier League was back on our screens and with it the national institution that is football.
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 positioned 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 6x300GB and 12x300GB 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 stock 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.”
Gearhouse Broadcast Provide HD Camera Solutions For Nation’s Favourite Sports Broadcast
Monday, September 6th, 2010
It seems that no sooner was the World Cup over than the English Premier League was back on our screens and with it the national institution that is football.
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. (more…)
Gearhouse Broadcast Support SIS LIVE and Help Serve Up HD Treat at Wimbledon Championships
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
As an equipment supplier to SIS LIVE, broadcast solutions company Gearhouse Broadcast ensured that every serve and volley at this year’s Wimbledon Tennis Championships could be seen around the world in outstanding high definition for the second year running.
SIS LIVE, Europe’s largest outside broadcast and uplink supplier and providers of all technical facilities at this year’s Wimbledon, brought in Gearhouse Broadcast to provide a large variety of the HD equipment for this summer’s tournament, including five Sony HDC 3300 slow motion cameras.
Broadcast technology also supplied by Gearhouse included; 264 x 264 3GB Cyprus video router, vision mixer, four Sony MFS2000 Multi Format Production Switchers, nine HD EVS systems, HD and SD distribution and audio embedding equipment, along with distribution amplifiers and the infrastructure, or ‘glue’ as it is known in the industry, to tie it all together.
Broadcast solutions
Prior to the event, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Rental Division and engineering staff worked closely with SIS LIVE’s engineers to ensure that all the equipment supplied met their technical solution requirements.
Once identified, all the kit was thoroughly tested and configured by Gearhouse Broadcast engineers in workshops at their Watford Head Office before being delivered to site.
Broadcast integration
During the set up week prior to the event, Gearhouse appointed a Project Engineer to assist SIS LIVE’s engineers with the integration of the equipment, as well as providing 24/7 technical back up.
Alan Wright, SIS LIVE Engineering Manager, said: “The Wimbledon Championships are one of the biggest and most complex annual events that we cover and Gearhouse Broadcast supplied a variety of equipment to ensure this year’s coverage was successful.”
What did you make of the HD broadcast coverage of this year’s Wimbledon? We’re always interested in your views, so please let us know.
Gearhouse Has Talent when it comes to live audio broadcast
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010With audiences regularly topping 10 million, the annual Britain’s Got Talent show has become something of a national institution.
Presented by the nation’s favourite hosts Ant and Dec, the show has made household names of the likes of judge Simon Cowell and contestants such as Diversity, Susan Boyle and this years winner Spellbound.
Audio broadcast solutions
With the acts and judges performing live in front of an audience it is essential that the audio broadcast technology and solutions within the studio are of the highest possible quality.
For the fourth year running Gearhouse Broadcast were awarded the contract to supply radio microphone equipment for the judges, hosts and contestants for the ITV live studio show of Britain’s Got Talent.
Gearhouse also provide Radio Frequency (RF) solutions for ITV’s other huge talent show hit, ‘X Factor’ as well as the Britain’s Got Talent spin off, ‘Britain’s Got More Talent’.
Jakki Hewitt, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Rental Manager, said: “With our history of successfully undertaking RF projects such as Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor, we have consistently proven that we can provide our clients flexible and reliable solutions to the very highest standards.”
Planning of the show began with a detailed frequency blueprint produced by Gearhouse Broadcast’s audio specialists, and in the end no fewer than 50 channels of radio microphones were in operation.
Broadcast integration and support
Dawn Gray, Britain’s Got Talent, Line Producer for talkbackTHAMES said, “We have worked with Gearhouse Broadcast on many projects before. Highly recommended, Gearhouse proved that their audio department could tailor their service to suit any needs and any schedule that we could throw at them.”
Gearhouse Broadcast audio also managed all stages from planning, kit preparation and delivery to onsite installation. Continual on-site and off-site support is also vital to provide seamless integration of wireless radio microphones given the size of the studio and the unpredictable and spontaneous nature of the programme.
Among the very latest state-of-the-art equipment supplied to meet the very specific needs of the programme were:
- 40 Sennheiser SK5012s
- a new SK5212 bodypack transmitter
- Six SKM 5200 handheld transmitters
- Two SKP 30 plug on transmitters, which when plugged into the microphone connector instantly converts to wireless operation
- Sennheiser’s MKE Platinum clip-on lavalier microphones were used for all presenters and contestants
- A purpose built Titan ProSplit antenna combiner/splitter which fed multiple zones of RF coverage to seven racks of Sennheiser EM1046 receiver cards
What did you think of Britain’s Got Talent 2010? Did the quality of the sound increase your enjoyment of the show? Let us know.
Gearhouse Broadcast Help Pinewood Studios Put The Zing In Kid’s Favourite ZingZillas
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010PINEWOOD Studios, home to some of Britain’s most iconic films and television series continues to be an integral part of the nation’s broadcast industry.
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.”