NASCAR Clash at the Coliseum: Fox Sports Goes All Out With 1080p HDR Workflows at Historic Venue The broadcaster aims to highlight the building's famous architecture, sold-out crowd By Kristian Hern ndez, Associate Editor
Friday, February 4, 2022 - 1:33 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Throughout the 99-year-history of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the venerated venue has hosted a profusion of professional teams, collegiate programs, and international sports competitions. On Sunday, the National Historic Landmark will be home to another spectacle: the Busch Light Clash. Fox Sports will be behind the wheel for this broadcast and will use this preamble to the NASCAR season to showcase the building as well as to test new equipment.
Stroke of Luck: Rams' Return to the City Gives the Venue a Facelift The broadcaster's journey to producing this event began in September 2021. During the final months of last year, Fox Sports began working closely with the necessary personnel at NASCAR on mapping out their strategy. Led by Field Technical Producer George Grill, the preparation process was significantly affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The L.A. Coliseum is allowing Fox Sports to use a Skycam in the lower bowl for NASCAR's Busch Light Clash. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports)
It has come a long way [over the past five months], he says. We had five onsite visits and a lot of phone calls and Zoom meetings to discuss logistics.
From the broadcaster's point of view, the main challenge in putting on this event was working in an edifice that is nearly a century old. Although thousands of events have taken place at the Coliseum, it has never hosted a NASCAR race before. This means that stationary camera positions were constructed to shoot humans playing traditional sports or lower-speed motorcycle races, not stock cars accelerating at blazing speeds.
In addition, the aging building presented another operational hurdle: an infrastructure with outdated wiring. Luckily, when the National Football League announced that the then St. Louis Rams would return to the City of Angels in 2016, the venue was refurbished and received an updated technological foundation.
An exterior Strada Crane will provide aerial views over the Peristyle. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports)
The whole building got rewired, which was a great thing because our connectivity is up to par, says Matt Battaglia, director, remote engineering, Fox Sports. Slash positions are the same, but we moved our main camera positions up two levels from where you'd usually have them for a football game [at the Coliseum].
Although these camera angles could be considered a detriment to the broadcaster's typical NASCAR coverage, the production team is capturing this look to put the track into a tight frame. The decision not only is a stylistic choice but also brings the viewer closer to the track.
We'll have robos around the track, notes Grill, but most of our cameras are high looking down at the track. We want to keep that close and tight shot that the venue is providing us.
Production Toys: Skycam, Strada Crane, Drone Drive 1080p HDR Show The setting is also forcing the production crew to get creative with the plan of attack. For example, the Coliseum's original footprint doesn't allow team garages or a typical pit road to be located inside the lower bowl. For the former, a temporary structure will be erected in the parking lot of the adjacent Banc of California Stadium, home to Major League Soccer's LAFC. The procession of cars to the tunnel will be captured with RF robos as they head toward the entrance tunnel to the track.
Game Creek Video Cleatus is at the center of the production compound. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports)
On the more notable side of the camera complement, Fox Sports will deploy a handful of tech pillars that will be used at subsequent races throughout the season. Beverly Hills Aerials, located less than 10 miles from the Coliseum, will supply live drone shots near the track and the surrounding area. A Strada Crane will provide swooping shots that look over the famed Peristyle. One of the more prominent technologies will be the use of a Skycam. An application normally not seen because of the expansiveness of NASCAR usual venues, the Coliseum's confined shape is working to the broadcast team's benefit.
From left: NASCAR Race Hub's Adam Alexander, Shannon Spake, Larry McReynolds, Jamie McMurray, and Bobby Labonte on the main set. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports)
Outside in the compound, the onsite crew is working inside a new and improved truck for this preseason race. Game Creek Video Cleatus mobile unit, which is typically saved for the Daytona 500, will be on hand with added improvements made in the offseason at Fox Sports' Los Angeles headquarters. At the conclusion of Sunday's race, Cleatus will stay on the West Coast and facilitate operations for the Auto Club 400 on Sunday, Feb. 27 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA - which is 51 miles east of the Coliseum. For the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, the network will roll in Game Creek Video Encore in Cleatus's place.
The main studio set is foldable and is positioned to have the Peristyle as a dramatic backdrop. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports)
Since we're building out our 1080p HDR workflows for 4K shows throughout the season], Battaglia explains, we now don't have to change a truck [for the Clash]. We're still providing 720p shows for the majority of fans watching from home.
Although an updated wiring system has solved a huge headache, another lucky break came courtesy of the Rams. Since the team hosted the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium, crewing wasn't an issue with a wealth of talent already in the area. In add
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...
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....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
NASCAR Clash at the Coliseum: Fox Sports Goes All Out With 1080p HDR Workflows at Historic Venue The broadcaster aims to highlight the building's famous architecture, sold-out crowd By Kristian Hern ndez, Associate Editor 
