Presteigne Charter is supplying kit and crew to two major overseas broadcast rights holders for Canada and Australia to the Olympic Games this summer, writes Adrian Pennington.
These include provision for TOU (The Olympic Unit), a collaboration of Nine Network Australia and Foxtel Australia at the London Olympic Park.
Nine won the TV rights and sub-licensed certain rights to Foxtel Australia. Nine will be producing free-to-air broadcasts along with highlight packages. Subscription TV platform Foxtel will be airing no fewer than eight round the clock channels from the IBC for the duration of the Olympics.
Presteigne Charter will be providing the facilities to produce all these channels in various forms across the IBC, venues and remote locations. It will supply 30 EVS server systems linking to both Avid and FCP, several full playout channel facilities with custom design furniture, and system architecture.
It also includes two large Lawo MC2 66 audio consoles along with Sapphire audio desks. Glue is provided by a large Evertz EQX router and multiviewer system.
The second major client for Presteigne Charter at the Games will be CTV. Unlike TOU, the Canadian broadcaster will originate material from several venues to pass back through the IBC for production back in Canada. Presteigne Charter will be supplying a large amount of system infrastructure, communications and monitoring.
CEO Mike Ransome (pictured) suggests UK outside broadcast kit and specialist crew will be stretched during the summer. Presteigne Charter’s engineers were contracted to Olympic duty more than six months ago.
Last year the company invested £4m in new equipment.
