Posts Tagged ‘Project Solutions’
World Cup Used Broadcast Equipment Sale Moves To Amsterdam
Monday, September 6th, 2010
This summer’s football World Cup finals was one the most challenging and complex projects Gearhouse Broadcast has been involved in to date, and now broadcast equipment sent out to South Africa, much of it bought in especially for the event, is up for sale.
Demand and enquiries for the ex-World Cup used broadcast equipment has been constant ever since it arrived back in the UK from South Africa, and now the Gearhouse Broadcast sales team is taking to the road and offering exclusive show rates on the kit to broadcast professionals attending the IBC (International Broadcast Convention) in Amsterdam between 10th and 14th of September.
IBC brings together the leading broadcast companies, brands and investors under one roof at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam, attracting almost 50,000 attendees from more than 140 countries. This year Gearhouse Broadcast will be represented by its new and used broadcast equipment Sales and Systems Integration divisions.
The World Cup was responsible for a big surge of activity in the broadcast services sector, with huge demands placed on manufacturers and broadcast system solutions specialists like Gearhouse Broadcast to provide the most up-to-date equipment and technology, including broadcast system cameras and Audio Video test equipment.
During the month-long event, Gearhouse provided broadcast systems integration and broadcast project solutions to the likes of HBS (Host Broadcasting Services), ESPN America and ITV, to name but a few.
The sheer volume of equipment required to meet demand and ensure all projects ran smoothly and to deadline involved Gearhouse Broadcast made significant investments in Canon HD lenses, Sennheiser Microphones, Sony HD Monitors, Sony HD Cameras and Sony HD Camcorders. Added to this were Pro-Bel HD/SD Routers, Tektronix Test Equipment, Evertz VIP Multi Viewers, Harris distribution and glue products and 14 EVS XT2 servers to compliment an existing inventory of 32, all just in order to service the demand for the product at the World Cup.
It was not just Gearhouse Broadcast’s equipment that was in demand. Given the size of South Africa, the sheer logistics of the operation around the whole tournament meant the technical infrastructure behind the scenes had to be spot on, and Gearhouse Broadcast’s project solution and systems integration expertise had a major part to play.
For more information on ex-World Cup used broadcast equipment you can download a full list at http://www.gearhousebroadcast.com/i/worldcup-equipment.pdf or call the sales team on 0845 820 0000.
To find out more about our exclusive IBC show rates on ex-World Cup used broadcast equipment please join us on Stand 10.C41. To register for FREE, log on to www.ibc.org/registration and enter Gearhouse Broadcast’s password 10138.
Gearhouse Provides Broadcast Solutions for World Cup
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
THE football World Cup is often described as the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’, and once again Gearhouse Broadcast is right at the heart of it as the finest players around the globe descend on South Africa this summer.
With a worldwide TV audience of billions, Gearhouse Broadcast is being used by seven major multinational broadcasters to supply both project solutions and equipment.
As well as the Technical Operation Centres (TOC’s), Gearhouse Broadcast is also providing location services such as the systems integration and building of studios and facilities at the international broadcast center for individual rights-holding broadcasters can produce their own style and flavour of transmission back to their home countries.
HBS – Host Broadcast Services
As a service provider to HBS, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Project Solutions team built and installed the Technical Operation Centres at each of the ten stadiums. Gearhouse also supplied engineering staff for each of the Technical Operation Centres.
ESPN America
We have designed and installed a very large 1200 m2 facility for ESPN. This facility is made up of three production galleries each with its own audio mixer, a central logging and ingest area, an on-air EVS area, Avid edit suites, a transmission area and a remote large studio overlooking Soccer City. There is also a large central production office with various audio, video and communications facilities installed on desks as required. The whole facility is virtually tapeless with a central EVS server for Ingest and logging which is connected to an Avid Unity server to allow transfer of files between Avids, Ingest and on-air EVS machines. We also have three Lawo MC56 audio desks connected together via four cores that allow total flexibility between all the control rooms for transfer of audio signals for the various 5.1 mixes being done. The communications with Bristol and all the remote sites in South Africa is being handled by a large Telex Adam system with 270 ports which include 64 RVON ports.
Univision
Gearhouse Broadcast has supplied broadcast equipment, communication facilities, two control rooms, studio and crew at the IBC in Johannesburg. This facility also has a large EVS and FCP server system making it an almost tapeless facility as well. We have also supplied a remote three camera studio facility that is connected to the IBC via a 3rd party supplied fibre and data connections.
ITV
Gearhouse have supplied one HD outside broadcast (OB) facility for all of ITV’s pitch-side presentations. The units will supply 2 way interview and presentation facilities pre and post match, together with pitch-side reporter facilities during the match. The OB facility is a small four camera unit that has been built out of our fly away rigs and installed into a small vehicle that travels around the country. Gearhouse have also supplied crew including Engineer, Sound and Cameramen for the facility.
ESPN BRAZIL
Gearhouse Broadcast have designed and installed an IBC facility that includes a production control room, studio facility, 12 x ENG kits, EVS servers and integrated Avid editing and storage servers. This facility is on air around 14 hours per day showing matches and background stories that are edited in the four edit suits on site.
TYC Sports AND TE LE FE Argentina
Designed and installed the IBC facilities for these Argentinean broadcasters in the IBC in Johannesburg, South Africa. This includes monitoring, distribution, production galleries and studio facilities. Torneos y Competencias S.A. was responsible for hiring the equipment and Torneos y Competencias ARG is in charge of the production of DirecTV Latin America, Fox Sports, TELEFE, Canal 7 and TyC Sports.
The tournament has kicked off a surge of activity in the broadcast services sector with huge demands placed on manufacturers and broadcast solutions companies, like Gearhouse Broadcast, to provide the most-up-to date equipment and technology.
Gearhouse have made significant investments in Canon HD lenses, Sennheiser Microphones, Sony HD Monitors and Sony HD Cameras and Camcorders. In addition to these they have invested in Pro-Bel HD/SD Routers, Tektronix Test Equipment, Evertz VIP Multi Viewers, Harris distribution and glue products and from EVS they have purchased 14 XT2 Servers to add to an inventory of 32 EVS’s to service the demands for this product at the World Cup.
It’s not just Gearhouse Broadcast’s equipment that is in demand – the sheer logistics of the operation around the whole tournament means that the technical infrastructure behind the scenes has to be spot on, and Gearhouse Broadcast’s Project Solution and Systems Integration expertise had a major part to play.
Gearhouse had over 70 people on the ground putting in 2650 man hours in the weeks leading up to the event. Once all the equipment was shipped to South Africa, they had just 16 days to build and run system checks before kick-off.
“This has been one of the largest and most challenging projects we have undertaken due to its scale and the complexity of the logistics involved. Because of the amount of kit and the distance involved, we started preparing for the World Cup 12 months ago and it has been a very complex process” says Kevin Moorhouse, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Chief Operating Officer.
“The size of the country means that our planning and logistics needed to be extremely well organised so that everything was there and in place with plenty of time prior to the start of the tournament. We’ve got a six-person team just handling logistics from a large warehouse in Johannesburg from which all equipment and materials will be prepared and distributed and a small satellite workshop for our service engineers”.
“Whereas in other countries we would normally be able to source new equipment if we needed it overnight, in South Africa, we had to be more prepared. We’ve had to bring extra equipment with us because there is no source of broadcast equipment available in the country. If we needed another VTR, I would have to fly one in, so our planning had to be so much better”
”Our goal was to supply cost effective broadcast solutions for all our individual rights-holding broadcasters. The choice of our equipment suppliers for these high profile live sports events is always a carefully considered decision, we choose the most reliable technology on the market every single time”, said Kevin.
ATP World Tennis Masters
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010The schedule of a top international tennis player is hectic – as is that of the broadcasters who follow them to all points of the globe to bring the action to huge audiences across the world.
Gearhouse Broadcast Project Solutions Division is proud to have been chosen for the tenth year in succession to deliver technical and production broadcast facilities for the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 – nine tournaments throughout the season taking place in venues as far flung as Cincinnati, Toronto, Miami and Monte Carlo.
Gearhouse Broadcast has also been contracted to provide the technical facilities for this year’s tour finale, The Masters Cup – where the eight top ranked players compete to become the overall series winner – in London at The 02 Arena in November 2010.
Of paramount importance to clients ATP Media is the ability to provide comprehensive and consistent technical and production facilities for the 50 leading international broadcasters who cover the series whatever the venue, in order to maintain and enhance the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 ’ status as one of the most important events on the international sporting calendar.
Key to this is Gearhouse Broadcast’s state-of-the-art digital flyaway rigs, which feature video routing, distribution, communication, CCU and monitor gallery rigs.
After each event these are configured specifically to meet the demands of the next location on the tour so that they can be quickly and effectively integrated and installed by project engineers on site.
The tournaments usually cover two or three courts in the initial stages then go down to one court as the knockout stages progress, meaning that some of the equipment can be removed, configured and then sent on early to the next destination.
ATP Media’s CEO Steve Plasto says: “We opted for Gearhouse Broadcast because we are confident in their capabilities to create the same broadcast environment anywhere in the world. They have demonstrated their expertise and professionalism time and again throughout the Tennis Masters Series tournaments.”
Other services that have made Gearhouse Broadcast the system integration solutions provider of choice include:
- A core technical back up and support crew at every venue
- Infrastructure solutions including portacabins to house equipment, power supply requirements and catering facilities
- Logistical planning to ensure equipment and crew move from event to event smoothly and on time
- Accommodation and administrative support
- Additional top up facilities and equipment to meet broadcasters on-the-spot requirements
Forward planning, site visits and liaison with venue managers through the tournament.
Zoom in on new Gearhouse Broadcast Website!
Thursday, April 29th, 2010As one of the market-leading international broadcast service companies, Gearhouse Broadcast required a website capable of showcasing everything we do and all the latest developments in each sector we operate in across the globe.
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.