Three of its flagship OB units feature Axon Synapse 4K signal processing, infrastructure, control and monitoring as standard.
CTV Outside Broadcast, a subsidiary of Euro Media Group (EMG), has recently completed the refurbishment and technical upgrade of three of its large flagship OB units to Ultra-HD, featuring Axon Synapse 4K signal processing, infrastructure, control and monitoring as standard.
After the debut of OB2 and OB11 in 2017, delivering 4K events such as the Isle of Wight festival and international test cricket for Sky, the refit project is reportedly complete on OB4.
CTV has worked with Axon’s Synapse signal processing across its fleet.
The challenge in adopting Ultra-HD and HDR is how to effectively implement the new workflows without radically increasing costs both in terms of technology and operator downtime, said Richard Morton, CTVs Head of Projects. With Axon, we have a future-proof infrastructure that has enabled us to transition from HD to 4K without a snag.
OB4 was the third vehicle to undergo a complete technology refit and the unit was deployed to deliver Skys 4K coverage of the PDC World Darts Championship over the 2017 Christmas period. The triple-expanding-side OB features 24 Sony 4K cameras, a 160-input Sony MVS-8000X mixer plus six EVS server positions. It is supported by Axon 4K signal processing and 3G glue with Axons 4K production tools providing up and down converters that fit in the same form factor as the 3GB/s modules. Axons Cerebrum monitoring and control platform is at the heart of the operation, running three UHD galleries through a graphical interface and custom-built panels of 42 LED buttons.
Despite the complexities of upgrading to UHD, operators within each of the refurbished OBs continue to work in an environment and workflow with which they are very familiar, the release stated.
Axon continues to provide us with a proven unified workflow and control solution. We now have an efficient blueprint to roll-out across the fleet making the move to UHD, and eventually HDR, seamless and risk-free, concluded Morton. This strategy is keeping CTV at the leading edge of technology.
In addition to regular live sports coverage, CTV has captured original entertainment shows in UHD HDR commissioned by Netflix.
