CBS Sports used the Grass Valley Kalypso HD and Zodiak SD switchers to catch all of the action of this year’s 2006 U.S. Open Tennis Championships live.
NCP-VIII, the latest multi-format HD mobile production truck from New Century Productions (NCP), has hit the road with a Grass Valley Kalypso HD Video Production Center switcher. The 53ft portable production studio is built around the Kalypso HD switcher and manages dozens of live and pre-taped sources for live production.
Because of its multi-format flexibility, the same Grass Valley Kalypso HD switcher used for CBS’ 1080i HD format production during the 2006 U.S. Open was used to televise Little League Championship games, in Bristol, CT, for the ESPNHD channel in the 720p HD format. The switcher supports 1080i and 720p HD formats, which will be used in the new NCP-VIII truck to produce a variety of live sports and entertainment productions.
The company currently owns two more Kalypso HD switchers and several Grass Valley 3000 and 4000 series SD production switchers on board other trucks in its fleet.
NCP’s previous state-of-the-art truck, NCP-VII, also uses a Grass Valley Kalypso HD switcher, as well as 16 Grass Valley LDK-6000 Mk II HD cameras and a new Grass Valley LDK 6200 HD Super Slo-Mo camera.
In addition to NCP, national rental house and broadcast equipment supplier Bexel will also be on hand at the U.S. Open with two Grass Valley Zodiak SD switchers, in dual control rooms, to supply the main feed for participating international broadcasters. Bexel has provided equipment and technical services, as well as on-site engineering personnel, to CBS Sports for the past 10 years.
