Both the Thomson Grass Valley Kalypso HD switcher (top) and the Sony MVS-8000 multi-format production switcher will be used during the coverage of this year's Super Bowl XXXIX.
For this year’s Super Bowl XXXIX telecast on FOX, veteran mobile production company NEP Supershooters sent more than 30 employees and 10 of its SD and HD trucks to televise the big game from Jacksonville, FL. They used a combination of several Grass Valley and Sony HD switchers to bring the 720p production to viewers.
Among the Grass Valley gear on site to cover the game — as well as the pregame and postgame shows:
- Two Kalypso HD video processing center switchers (onboard NEP’s SS-18 and SS-20 HD trucks)
- More than 50 LDK 6000 mkII HD cameras
- A full complement of Trinix routers, Profile PVS 3000 XP media platform SD/HD servers and Kameleon and gecko modular products.
NEP also used the Grass Valley C2IP system to control the cameras from the truck.
Live game coverage was produced in the 720p HD format, FOX’s HD format of choice with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio for HD consumers downconverted using a special production process to maintain a high signal quality for SD digital and analog NTSC audiences. Thomson’s Grass Valley LDK 600 mkII HD cameras captured both 1080i and 720p HD images natively from the same camera head.
Sony’s MVS-8000 multi-format production switcher was used in NEP’s SS-24 mobile unit to support the game’s broadcast. In 2004, four MVS-8000 switchers supported the game in a 1080i environment for CBS, handling the pre- and postgame shows, tape release and the game itself.
A variety of Sony VTRs were also used for the broadcast.
For more information, visit www.sony.com/professional and thomsongrassvalley.com.
