Jonathan Endley, head of sales development, Gearhouse Broadcast, discusses delivering faultless RF at major tennis events
Contributor 13 mins ago
Jonathan Endley, head of sales development, Gearhouse Broadcast, discusses delivering faultless RF at major tennis events
target=_blank title=Share on LinkedIn class=share-linkedin> Jonathan Endley, head of sales development, Gearhouse Broadcast, discusses delivering faultless RF at major tennis events
https://www.tvbeurope.com/features/how-radio-frequency-technology-smashes-tennis-coverage title=Share via Email class=share-email>
With Grand Slam tennis' ability to throw up so many intriguing storylines, rights holders need the freedom to be able to go wherever the action is happening on-site. Whether on the main show court, in the VIP areas or out in the fan village, there is a lot of acreage to cover. And with the growing need for more original and engaging content to fill broadcast schedules on a range of platforms, as well as provide material for social media use, it's no longer just the two-week tournament that is filmed, it's also the week-long qualification process that proceeds it.
Radio frequency (RF) technology provides the ideal solution for getting in amongst the action, and delivering something original beyond the host or world feeds. Rights holders turn to wireless cameras to enable them to deliver a more creative production for their viewers. These tools give them the freedom to do a range of treatments including live to cameras, interviews and even guided tours. The trouble is though, that RF is a complicated technology to manage, particularly in built-up urban environments like Melbourne, Paris, London or New York, where Grand Slam tennis takes place. The last thing the end user wants is to have this creative freedom curtailed by the need for manual intervention from RF engineers when they're ready to go and shoot.
So how do you go about delivering faultless RF in such challenging locations and during such high-profile events? The key, as with most things, is in the preparation.
Site visits at the beginning of a project planning stage are absolutely essential, no matter how many times you've worked at that location previously. Some deployments can have up to 30 antennas within the receiver network, all strategically located, to ensure site-wide coverage. And with major sporting venues or the surrounding areas likely to have changed to some degree since the last visit, it's important to start afresh each time.
Frequency management is the next stage, and one that requires an in-depth knowledge of the environment and experience of working with the authority that manages the local spectrum allocation. Securing the preferred frequency band to operate within is not always easy, and can change from year-to-year especially somewhere like New York where there is a lot of competition for space. You also have to be prepared to deal with unlicensed intruders that may encroach in your space, so you need to have redundancy through spare frequencies that you can move to if you are experiencing interference. The more flexible your approach the better.
All of the RF equipment should be pre-configured to the agreed specifications prior to shipping, which reduces rig-time on site and also ensures any faults can be identified and fixed. There is also a significant logistical operation required to ensure every item needed arrives in the right place at the right time.
Once the rig is complete, the RF vendor should be available at all times, but invisible to the rights holder, with only the batteries needing changing during the operational deployment time. The service should be seamless, with the broadcaster able to go where they want, when they want in order to make the content that they want. Success is all down to the quality of the preparation, clever use of the technology and the expertise you are able to call on.
SubscribeFor more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to our newsletter here.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
06/05/2026
Peacock is going all-in on the beautiful game - streaming all 104 FIFA World Cup...
06/05/2026
New pricing tiers for vocal/dialogue restoration tool
NoiseWorks Audio's AI-powered vocal and dialogue processing plug-in is now available in three diff...
06/05/2026
Popular mixing & routing software overhauled
Following a recent public beta test, RME have launched the final release version of the powerful mixing and rou...
06/05/2026
New SOS Video Feature
Focusrites ISA C8X is a milestone product that brings together the companys analogue heritage and their expertise in digital audio. Yo...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
06 May 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Authorized to Resell Starlink for Businesses & ...
06/05/2026
UKTV has secured the exclusive rights to the early back catalogue of iconic Australian drama series Neighbours, following a landmark content deal with Fremantle...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky commissions feature documentary to mark 10th anniversa...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky and Formula 1 agree long-term partnership across UK, Ireland and Italy
Sky in the UK & Ireland to remain the home of Formula 1 until ...
06/05/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign launches nationwide, supported by new...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
Jonathan Endley, head of sales development, Gearhouse Broadcast, discusses delivering faultless RF at major tennis events
