Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

NBC Olympics selects technology vendors for Tokyo 2020

NBC Olympics is working with Xytech. Telestream, Sony, MediaKind, Signiant, TAG Video Systems, Amagi and Ross Video

NBC Olympics has announced partnerships with a number of technology vendors as it prepares for the start of this summer’s Games next month.

Xytech’s software and services have been chosen to orchestrate the logistics of people, equipment, locations and transmission feeds for this summer’s Games. NBC Olympics plans to use Xytech’s SheduALL software-based optimisation solution to optimise transmission during the Games, which begin next month.

Meanwhile, Sony is providing nearly 100 cameras for the broadcaster, as well as switchers.

A selection of the Sony cameras, including the HDC-3500, will be used for IP-enabled transmission, while the rest will operate in SDI.

NBC Olympics has selected Sony’s XVS-9000 4K/3G/HD IP-ready switcher and the XVS-8000 and XVS-6000 4K/3G/HD video switchers designed for IP- and SDI-based production. Many of the switchers will be used in an IP-based environment and several will be designated for 1080P HDR production.

Telestream is working with the broadcaster on media capture and automated processing workflows. NBC Olympics will utilise the company’s Telestream’s Lightspeed Live Capture and Vantage media processing platform for its mixed HDR/SDR workflow.

The Lightspeed Live Capture systems will receive 1080p59.94 HDR signals from the events and create media simultaneously to two different formats. As the 1080p59.94 HDR is recorded in XAVC Class 100 HDR (Hybrid Log Gamma or HLG) format, Telestream’s Vantage software, running on an array of Lightspeed G6 servers will process the media.

SDR versions will be created in XDCAMHD 422 at 1080i59.94. The HDR to SDR conversion will be done through a new advanced colour processing pipeline in Vantage utilising colour processing Look Up Table filters (LUTs) that translate HDR (HLG) to SDR (Rec. 709). In real time, while Lightspeed Live Capture is under record, Vantage will check both HDR and SDR assets into Avid Interplay.

For video contribution and distribution solutions, NBC Olympics is working with MediaKind. The broadcaster has selected a range of the vendor’s video processing and advanced modular receiver technologies. MediaKind’s specialist engineers will also provide assistance through the installation of equipment and system set-up.

The broadcaster will use Signiant’s file transfer software to move content from Tokyo back to the United States; while TAG Video Systems’ integrated software-based IP monitoring and multiviewer solution to monitor its MPEG Transport Streams.

Grass Valley’s IP infrastructure will support the broadcaster’s processing of live video and audio feeds – both from studios and remote event venues – ready for delivery its production and editing control rooms ahead of live broadcasts. NBC Olympics plans to deploy Grass Valley’s IP Media infrastructure at the Tokyo IBC, leveraging control of a Cisco Spine and Leaf switching topology through the GV Orbit NMOS compliant router control and configuration system.

Amagi is providing UHD playout with cloud automation, and NBC Olympics has selected Ross Video’s graphics rendering solution Voyager for augmented reality graphics.

Chryon is supporting NBC Olympics’ remote production workflow with Lyric X, a 4K-ready solution for graphics creation and playout. Lyric systems will be used at the broadcast centre in the US to enable an agile workflow for adapting graphics and getting them to air quickly. Additional Lyric systems will be deployed in a dedicated control room in Tokyo to support flexible graphics creation and playout for a select group of events.

Calrec is providing six of its Artemis consoles for NBC Olympics’ broadcast centre in Connecticut, as well as a 64 fader Artemis and a Brio console in the Main Control Room in Tokyo. A 32 fader Artemis Beam is handling the audio in the 4K control room in Japan for “immersive” audio broadcasts, and two 40 fader Artemis consoles are in NBC Olympics’ fly packs for ‘immersive’ beach volleyball and golf production. There will be full IP routing in the IBC so all Calrec consoles will have AoIP interfaces connecting a variety of fixed format and modular Hydra2 IO to an IP router.