Live From the US Open: NEP Out in Full Force - Both Behind the Scenes and on the Court An army of NEP companies provide distribution, comms, camera tracking, new LED wrap at Arthur Ashe By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Friday, September 6, 2019 - 2:53 pm
Print This Story
Story Highlights
NEP's growing portfolio of companies is on full display here at the US Open. In addition to supporting the USTA and rightsholders with content distribution and communications, three NEP mobile units are onsite, Mediatec has deployed a state-of-the art LED wrap display on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Bexel has provided extensive fiber support, Fletcher has an army of robos on hand and its TRACE camera-tracking system as part of ESPN's ACES productions on the outer courts, and Big Screen is producing content for screens across the grounds.
NEP Mediatec's Head of Displays and Special Projects Tom Hogan (right) and Senior LED technician Simon Downs
A good portion of what NEP can provide is here in several different aspects, says NEP Engineering Manager Nick Romano, who oversees the technical aspects of the USTA operations and distribution/comms for rightsholders. And that's the beauty of the company: we are multifaceted and can help out in many different ways. That's what I love about where we're at right now at the Open: we're here to help out however we can, and we're lucky to have the capability to do that.
Distribution for All: Comms, Video-Feed Infrastructure for Rightsholders
A temporary two-story structure has once again been erected across the street from Ashe to serve a variety of international rightsholders (a permanent IBC-type structure is planned to be built in time for next year's tourney). Romano and his team helped create the technical infrastructure to distribute video/audio signals and communications to rightsholders both onsite and remotely.
From left: Bryce Boob, NEP/USTA lead fiber tech; Todd Parsons, ESPN lead fiber tech; Nicholas Romano, NEP broadcast services engineering manager/USTA tech manager
More than 13,000 ft. of Cat 5 cable was installed for the IPTV system, comms, and internet connectivity. In addition, NEP worked with ESPN, Gearhouse Broadcast, and the USTA and installed 2,000 lines of fiber between the temporary structure and the USTA complex, along with another 300+ lines across the street separating the temp structure from ESPN's production center. Only half of this fiber was terminated in an effort to prepare for the future and the upcoming move to IP.
The fiber team led by [NEP/USTA lead fiber tech] Bryce Boob have been absolutely amazing, says Romano. We worked together to create the fiber plan, communicated with [ESPN lead fiber tech] Todd Parson to significantly expand on the network of fiber that was already here to wire this entire building.
The comms infrastructure has also been expanded through its facility's OMNEO Dante network. The network has grown from several individual comms systems to a hosted domestic system, comprising three frames tri-bussed together and an international side, which also has three frames. The NEP NCP8 production unit and the Big Screen operation are trunked into this network separately.
NEP Mediatec has deployed a new eye-popping 14 million-pixel LED fascia display surrounding the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
We continue to expand upon that comms network every year in coordination with ESPN and Gearhouse, says Romano. Everything has come together so it becomes one big system, where not only the audio will pass but the data will also pass through so people can key in each other. This was a huge improvement from the first year we were here. And [we were able to give] the other couple of entities that are here and wanted to stay separate four-wire ports and whatever else they needed.
For rightsholders not onsite, baseband feeds from the hub room are sent to The Switch and converted to its NIMBRA Network for international distribution.
Compared to my first year here, we're on a totally different planet, says Romano. People have bought into the USTA's vision, and there is absolute unity among all the [entities] here: Gearhouse, NEP, ESPN, the USTA, everyone. We're here to do our best for the client and make the best possible show happen.
Chromium, Nickel, and NCP8 Are Back Onsite
NEP's Chromium and Nickel mobile units are once again on hand to support the USTA's world-feed production. In addition, NCP8 is back, serving the ITV multiscreen mosaic production carried by DirecTV in the U.S. For the first time, NCP8 was onsite early this year to serve as home to ESPN's production of US Open qualifying during Fan Week.
ESPN told us that we really knocked that one out of the park, says Romano. EIC Mark Altman on NCP8 and his team did a tremendous job in making sure that everything that was needed at that time got taken care of.
Mediatec Surrounds Center Court With Eye-Popping LED Display
In a US Open first, NEP Mediatec has deployed an eye-popping 14 million-pixel LED fascia display surrounding the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Mediatec used more than 2,500 sq. ft. of ROE 3-mm LED (with a canvas width of 35,000 pixels) and is using seven Brompton Tessera SX40 processors with 13 Tessera XD distribution units to offer complete live redundancy. All content is delivered as 12G SDI or HDMI 2.0 signal and routed through a Ross Video Carbonite Ultra switcher and Lightware MX2 16 16 HDMI2.0 matrix.
A similar 5-mm LED system has been deployed by Mediatec at the Australian Open for several years, but the setup rolled out for the US Open is brand new.
Maintaining the color on the Mediatec LED fascia display on Ashe posed a challenge with the changing sunlight throughout the day.
We worked quite rigorously with the manufacturer to make sure it
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
05/05/2024
A special evening performance by multiplatinum singer Becky G will provide a memorable conclusion to TeievisaUnivision's Casa Cultura upfront event on May 1...
05/05/2024
Giant media buyer Publicis is telling network sales executives that it does not think Nielsen's new panel-plus-big-data currency is ready for this upfront....
05/05/2024
WASHINGTON Glenn Kirschner, legal analyst at NBC News, blasted the media for referring to the New York trial of former President Donald Trump as a hush-money ...
05/05/2024
Catchy Comedy's weekend marathon sees The Beverly Hillbillies on the weekend of May 4-5. The event kicks off Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. ET, and runs through...
05/05/2024
NBC Sports has the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4. The coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock and the feature race at Churchill Downs in Louis...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
Live From the US Open: NEP Out in Full Force - Both Behind the Scenes and on the Court An army of NEP companies provide distribution, comms, camera tracking, new LED wrap at Arthur Ashe By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
