Professional Philadelphia software ball team taps StreamGuys for streaming media
The Philadelphia Force, one of the six women’s softball teams that comprise National Pro Fastpitch, is using a new RevenueStream subscription platform from StreamGuys to stream live and on-demand video of its games. StreamGuys enabled the Philadelphia Force to launch this new subscriber-based video service by providing a variety of cost-effective services including consultation, technical support, streaming media, archiving, conditional access and subscription management.
During the past season, subscribers accessed live Philadelphia Force games as well as select exhibition and international games from the team’s Web site www.philadelphiaforce.com.
Barry Eisenberg, director of broadcast operation for the Philadelphia Force, uses four Sony HD-500 video cameras positioned around ECTB Stadium at Philadelphia’s Bicentennial Park. The press box studio includes a Datavideo switcher, two microphones and two monitors: one with a quad-split display of the four camera inputs and one displaying the live streaming program. Eisenberg also employs a Canopus analog-to-digital converter to feed the video into a laptop running Windows Media Encoder software. StreamGuys receives the signal and rebroadcasts the video stream over the team's Web site. The RevenueStream service enables the subscriber controls necessary to manage customer access to the stream.
For more information, visit http://www.streamguys.com/.
Game Creek gives Liberty new look with Canon HD lenses
Veteran production company Game Creek Video has purchased a variety of Canon HD lenses for its new Liberty HD production truck.
The company has purchased three Canon XJ86x9.3B IE-D and XJ75x9.3B IE-D long-field HD zoom lenses, three XJ22x7.3B IE-D compact HD studio lenses and two HJ11ex4.7B IRSE wide-angle HD portable lenses for maximum flexibility in producing HDTV college football and NBA basketball telecasts.
The lenses were used for an NFL game that was played in below-zero temperatures, and they performed well, according to company reps, even though the wind chill was 24 degrees below zero.
For more information, visit http://www.usa.canon.com/.
Broadcast Pix streamlines live production for DSF in Germany
DSF (Deutsches SportFernsehen), a sports broadcast network in Germany, is using a Slate 2100 switcher from Broadcast Pix for live, high-quality production of its new sports news program “DSF Aktuell.” The Slate 2100, which replaces existing production control technology at half the price of a conventional new system, is the centerpiece of a new production studio built specifically to produce a variety of programs.
According to Manfred Eisele, head of production for DSF, the 15-minute nightly program “DSF Aktuell” requires two operators due to the rich graphical content and fast-moving nature of the live show. One operator continually adds content via the Broadcast Pix touch panel and integrated clip server, while the main operator handles the live program switching. A typical program uses nearly 20 clips, all with introductory graphics that are seamlessly processed using the Slate 2100.
The Broadcast Pix Slate 2100 system integrates a production switcher, production control panel, Inscriber CG, transitional effects, chromakeyer, clip store and multiview monitoring, among other functions, in a single workstation-based system. The system can be operated with a production switcher-style control panel or by using a keyboard and mouse interface. The Slate 2100 also comes standard with a breakout box that accommodates secure video and audio I/O connections.
For more information, visit http://www.broadcastpix.com/.
