Net Insight receives expansion order for sports broadcasts
Net Insight, a Swedish developer of optical transport solutions for media, IP and broadcast networks, has received a second order from HTN Communications (formerly Hughes Television Network) to expand its transport network, which is based on Net Insight’s Nimbra video, voice and data transport technology.
Net Insight received its first order from HTN Communications in October 2007 for a Nimbra-based network to help distribute enhanced sports programming across the U.S. Starting with the 2007-2008 NHL and NBA seasons, the initial phase covered approximately 10 venues with a continued rollout to all pro sports venues throughout the season.
For more information, visit http://www.netinsight.net/.
ESPN to cover Masters 72nd golf tournament online
ESPN and the Masters have reached an agreement that will bring live broadband streaming coverage of the 2008 Masters Tournament to fans across ESPN.com, ESPN360.com and Masters.org. This is the sixth consecutive year that ESPN has collaborated with the Masters for digital media coverage, although this year it will include expanded content.
The agreement includes live streaming of all ESPN HD telecasts on ESPN360.com as well as live coverage on Masters.org, live “look-ins” and extensive highlights on ESPN.com, an original online putting game and fantasy and trivia games.
ESPN has exclusive U.S. TV rights to the first two rounds of the Masters Tournament and the Par 3 Contest.
For more information, visit http://www.espn.com/.
Laureus World Sports Awards carried live via new HD truck
A new mobile production truck equipped with a large StageTec audio console made its debut at the Laureus Awards in February at the Governmental Academic Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Launched in 2000, the awards are presented annually to the sportsman and the sportswoman of the year. The ceremony has become one of the big events in international sports, and an estimated 1 billion viewers in 83 countries worldwide watched this year.
A live broadcast of the Laureus Awards ceremony was produced with the new Aurus HD production truck, built by Sony Professional Services UK, owned by the Mariinsky Theater. It includes a StageTec 48-fader audio console for full 5.1 mixing and monitoring. The Aurus includes a large Nexus Star audio router that connects the console to the truck’s extensive onboard audio network. It also features five stationary NEXUS Base Devices plus two mobile ones used as stage boxes.
For more information, visit http://www.stagetec.com/.
FrontNICHE equips new HD trucks with LCD video walls
FrontNICHE will equip three mobile production trucks with new 24in LCD monitors for large video walls. The two dual-core video processors feature next-generation silicon and offer the latest motion interpolation technology. Combined with the new Multidomain Vertical Alignment (MVA) panel, with its improved viewing angle, the 24in monitor provides one of the highest spec TFT LCDs on the market.
Two of the trucks have custom menus while the third includes custom 24-character UMDs. Each has deployed four processors per monitor, which supports multiple SDI and HD-SDI input feed viewing. Internal synchronization enables images to be locked to any input rate or to free run. Each image can be independently controlled to adjust aspect ratio, size, color settings, input format, gamma and other settings.
The network and serial control of all menu settings and data input allows complete flexibility in installation and operation in all applications.
For more information, visit http://www.frontniche.com/.
