Live events broadcast services company Creative Technology has successfully implemented a move from SDI to IP with the help of Imagine Communications’ Selenio Network Processor (SNP) and Panasonic’s KAIROS IP video production platform.
“One of our primary considerations in planning a transition to ST 2110 was the comfort level of our broadcast engineers and project managers who are unfamiliar with IP, but the combination of SNP and KAIROS dispelled that apprehension immediately,” says Sid Lobb, head of vision and integrated networks at Creative Technology. “You plug a single cable between the two devices and it just works. That simplicity was a big, big part of our decision ― it is a great combo.”
According to the two companies, Panasonic KAIROS enables Creative Technology to manage extremely complex productions and deliver them to multiple screen sizes, resolutions and aspect ratios. Imagine’s SNP provides the practical connectivity and control needed to integrate KAIROS, as well as the required outboard ST 2110 processing, gateways, audio signal management and PTP versatility.
“One of our company goals is to help democratise the adoption of ST 2110 technology in the live events world, and the SNP/KAIROS solution is a major step forward in this effort,” added Lobb. “We’ve been able to easily train our own team and freelancers and achieve technical consistency that’s repeatable for our clients at events around the world.”
Creative Technology is using its integrated KAIROS/SNP control systems at sports venues, including as part of golf’s DP World Tour, where a single SNP and KAIROS replaced stacks of switchers and other equipment in an OB truck.
The system is able to support productions that change significantly at each event depending on the local promoter, feeding multiple LED screens of different resolutions and managing a different configuration at each course, as well as creating a tournament television channel for the hospitality areas, said the two companies.
