Leader Electronics has reported a busy global summer of sport.
The company said postponements from summer 2020 has made this year’s schedule of televised live events even more tightly packed than normal.
However, it added that these have allowed maturing technologies such as UHD/HDR, immersive audio and remote IP production to give audiences an enhanced viewing experience.
Leader test instruments such as the LV5600 ‘True Hybrid’ waveform monitor were used by outside broadcast operators at various summer 2021 sports events to monitor SDI and IP sources simultaneously.
Also deployed was the LVB440 IP Analyzer, which provides in-depth IP network analysis via a low-latency HTML-5 display.
“Live production has overcome many of the challenges broadcasters faced during the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Kevin Salvidge, Leader Europe’s regional development manager.
“Innovation has flourished in adversity. With most of the TV-viewing public limited in their travel options, OTT service providers saw their chance and took it by using UHD, HDR and immersive audio, which were already on the verge of becoming mainstream.
“Remote IP production has made rapid progress. Operations such as camera shading, which in the past would be performed at each sports venue, were relocated to remote production centers.
“This significantly reduces the number of staff needed at each site. There will still be a requirement for high-budget OB trucks as IP connectivity is still not available from every location, but demand for IP-based remote production is growing strongly.
“UEFA celebrated the 60th anniversary of its European Football Championship in 2020 by hosting the tournament across 11 European 11 countries. The tournament delivered 51 matches during 31 days of competition, all being available in UHD/HDR.
“A number of Leader customers provided OB support, feeding UEFA’s master control room in Amsterdam ahead of distribution to media rights holders.”
Leader Electronics Corporation designs and manufactures test and measurement instruments.
Leader products are specified for broadcast, production, post-production, research, product development and service applications.