SVG Sit-Down: Lawo's Johan Boqvist Looks at Sports Radio's Next Century
05/01/2022
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 - 1:12 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Radio was broadcast sports' first electronic medium, and, a little more than 100 years since the first announcers crackled over the airwaves, radio remains a leading media format for sports. It's also where broadcast audio gets to stretch out, offering more detail and nuance. And a lot more yelling. SVG sat down with Johan Boqvist, senior product manager, radio products and systems, Lawo, to discuss how radio is readying its infrastructure for the next hundred years.
Lawo's Johan Boqvist: Radio is and has always been a perfect media for sports because it's so easily accessible and always available.
When people say broadcast sports, the implication is that they're talking about television, and TV does get the lion's share of attention in the conversation around audio for broadcast sports. How does Lawo view radio's role in that conversation, and is radio properly valued for what it delivers?
Radio is and has always been a perfect media for sports because it's so easily accessible and always available, regardless of time of day or location. Many events and games take place exactly when you are working in the garden on a Saturday, in the car coming home from the office, preparing dinner in the kitchen, or going for a run or a workout in the gym, and radio is the perfect companion for these activities since it engages you but doesn't demand your full attention. The radio format also allows the networks to offer longer and more detailed stories for hardcore sports fans, either over-the-air in dedicated digital sports channels or in podcasts.
However, for a broadcaster, it's much more challenging to deliver a great user experience from a live sports event to a radio audience compared with TV. As a show host, you need to create the right atmosphere from the start and be very prepared to engage the audience with interesting stories and tidbits before the game starts. The commentator needs to deliver details and create word pictures that give the listeners the feeling that they're actually at the venue. In many cases, the sports-radio team is doing all of this while also operating the equipment, so they've got to be really on top of their game. Is radio getting the proper value for what it delivers? The listeners certainly value it.
Where has radio for sports been falling short in recent years? Have its capture, mix, and processing technologies kept up, or are they generally regarded as secondary to television's? With surround sound for sports on television almost two decades old and immersive sound on the table, how can radio up its game, so to speak? For instance, is automotive sound a market of interest for that?
All of our radio consoles and mixing engines are multichannel-ready and support several assistive technologies and audio enhancement features that can be used in sports production. However, the challenge for the broadcaster isn't in production so much as in distribution. How do you distribute the 5.1 or 7.1 stream to listeners at home or in the car using traditional radio distribution formats, such as FM, DAB, or satellite?
The networks, the automotive industry, and consumer-electronics market are all working on easy-to-use solutions and standards for this, and I truly believe that, when we start to see more and more 5G-connected vehicles on the roads, we'll also be able to listen to live sports with multichannel audio in the car. The same principle will apply to smartphones when products like Dolby Atmos headphones hit the market on a wider scale.
Dialogue enhancements for the hearing impaired is an additional immersive-audio application that many of our public-broadcasting R&D departments are working to implement. The possibilities of this are really interesting. For instance, imagine giving listeners a dialog control in their smartphone app so they could adjust the balance between music and speech to their own preferences. We've even seen some experiments where the end user's app has a supporter slider. How many of the different listener-supported audio features do you want to hear? Just adjust the slider. OK, this is kind of esoteric, but you get the idea: the application scenarios for next-generation audio are endless.
Streaming is a sector that sports media are embracing, particularly with the new popularity of podcasts (which are audio only and are kind of a version of radio). What are the opportunities there for audio technology?
The podcast format is perfect for long sports interviews, stories, documentaries, and game wrap-ups, and we are definitely seeing an increase in requests for products tailored to off-the-air productions. After all, you don't tie up a main studio every time you do preproduction, so why do it to create podcast content?
Over the past years, we've seen increasing interest in and adoption of virtual-radio solutions: software products that take the place of hardware and deliver an integrated production environment as well as an increased cost-to-benefit ratio. For instance, our R3LAY Virtual Mixer lets you deploy a touchscreen eight-fader mixing app on your PC and integrate your audio-editing software, playout system, phone-management system, and social-media tools - controlling all of them within the same interface. And, since PCs are naturally network-friendly, this virtual-radio installation can operate in a standalone home studio or connect to the main studio over a private IP network. It's a perfect solution for these times when more and more talent are working from home or remote studios.
What
LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/01/05/svg-sit-down-lawos-johan-boqvis... |
See more stories from svg |
More from Sports Video Group
26/03/2024
Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on Creating a Content Strategy That Makes a Difference
Royal Belgian Football Association's Head of Content Daf Van Campenhout on C...
26/03/2024
WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group
WEBINAR: Content Leadership in Pro Sports With The Gargano Leadership Group Managing content teams with New York Jets Jessica Ciccone, Washington Commanders Rae...
26/03/2024
Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer
Prime Video's Eric Orme on What's Next for the Streamer By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - 1:01 pm Print This Story |...
26/03/2024
NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 So Paulo Game, Prime Video Adds NFL Wild Card Game
NFL Streaming Exclusives in 2024: Peacock Lands Week 1 S o Paulo Game, Prime Vid...
25/03/2024
The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Breaks Down the Complexities
The State of Soccer Rights in Europe: Ampere Analysis' Daniel Monaghan Break...
25/03/2024
Rising Star: Checking Out Strategic Sports Goals With TikTok's Global Head of Sports Partnerships Rollo Goldstaub
Rising star: Checking out strategic sports goals with TikTok's global head o...
25/03/2024
TV Skyline Completes Record Winter Sports Season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalbach
TV Skyline completes record winter sports season with FIS Ski World Cup in Saalb...
25/03/2024
Sports Innovation 2024: New Viewing Experiences and Tracking Systems Provide a Glimpse Into the Future
Sports Innovation 2024: New viewing experiences and tracking systems provide a g...
25/03/2024
Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and Warnings in Equal Measure as AI Dominates Dsseldorf Event
Sports Innovation 2024: Wonderment and warnings in equal measure as AI dominates...
25/03/2024
NAB 2024: EVS Sets Out Plans for NAB and Highlights Industry Tech Trends
EVS sets out plans for NAB and highlights industry tech trends By George Bevir Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - 16:34 Print This Story Left to right: Lisa Coll...
25/03/2024
ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Live Sports Broadcast
ESPN's Allison Loucks on the Challenge of Integrating Analytics Into the Liv...
25/03/2024
NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time Local Sports Broadcast
NBC Sports Chicago, Chicago Blackhawks Team Up for First-Ever Animated Real-Time...
22/03/2024
Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Production
Put It in the Mixer: European Broadcasters Embrace the Cloud For Soccer Producti...
22/03/2024
SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Landscape
SVG Digital Engagement Forum Tackles Current Industry Topics, Evolving Media Lan...
22/03/2024
Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consumer, OTT Platforms
Edgio's Eric Black on Offering Cost-Efficient Solutions for Direct-to-Consum...
22/03/2024
With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women's March Madness From All Angles
With Caitlin Clark Effect' at an All-Time High, ESPN Covers NCAA Women'...
21/03/2024
Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics
Visual Aids: Telling the Story of Soccer Through Data and Graphics Tech leaders from FIFA, Sky Sports, and Genius Sports discussed the opportunities at SVG Euro...
21/03/2024
March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center for 20-Camera Productions
March Madness Gets Real Today; NEP, Game Creek, F&F Trucks Are Front and Center ...
21/03/2024
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Activating Content Via AI Tools
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Technology Solution's Peter Gibson on Act...
21/03/2024
Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A National-Network Feel at DC's New RSN
Inside Monumental Sports Network's New ST 2110 Production Facility: A Nation...
21/03/2024
SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27
SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Travels to Denver on June 26-27 By SVG Staff Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 1:47 pm Print This Story | Subscribe Story...
20/03/2024
Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Production
Between the Lines: The European Soccer Rights Revolution and Its Impact on Produ...
20/03/2024
The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimpse Into the Past and the Future
The Reality of Production in a Post-Pandemic World: SVG Yearbook Offers a Glimps...
20/03/2024
MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate in South Korea
MLB Seoul Series: ESPN Turns to COVID-Era Remote Production for Two-Game Slate i...
20/03/2024
Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX
Mobile TV Group Launches Latest Flex Series Mobile Unit With 52FLEX 52FLEX seats over 20 on-site crew members and features a first-of-its-kind Visitor Mobile Un...
20/03/2024
Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65
Mike Helling, Longtime FOX Sports and Regional Sports Producer, Dies at 65 He led regional broadcasts for both the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals duri...
19/03/2024
Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want
Calling the Shots: What European Soccer Directors Really Want Sky Sports Sarah Cheadle, Telenet Play Sports Serge Bellens spoke at SVG Europes Football Summit l...
19/03/2024
Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With iPhones
Going Grassroots: Men in Blazers Shoots This Week in Wrexham Digital Series With...
19/03/2024
Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level
Grass Valley Maverik X Switcher Takes AMPP-Based Production to Next Level By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 10:40 am Print ...
19/03/2024
Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broadcast Studios
Monumental Sports Network Launches State-of-the-Art Production Facility and Broa...
19/03/2024
NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emBET Integration
NBA League Pass Escalates Sports Betting Functionality With Sportradar's emB...
19/03/2024
ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Through 2031-32 Season
ESPN Extends Exclusive Media Rights for Expanded College Football Playoff Throug...
18/03/2024
Major League Soccer: IMG on Capturing Fan Rituals and Delivering Consistent Coverage
Major League Soccer: IMG on capturing fan rituals and delivering consistent cove...
18/03/2024
Smashing Padel: Inside Aurora's Innovative Production of the Inaugural Hexagon Cup
Smashing padel: Inside Aurora's innovative production of the inaugural Hexag...
18/03/2024
Airspeeder Teams Up With EMG for World's First Live Broadcast of Flying Car Series
Airspeeder teams up with EMG for world's first live broadcast of flying car ...
15/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mix for NBC Sports; Coverage Goes HDR
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: New Truck Fleet, Live Drones Get Into the Mi...
15/03/2024
SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video Systems Dissect the FAST Boom
SVG Digital Engagement Forum (NYC, March 20): ESPN, CBS Sports, Amagi, TAG Video...
15/03/2024
Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming JV
Pete Distad, Former Apple, Hulu Exec, Named CEO of New ESPN, FOX, WBD Streaming ...
15/03/2024
Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Drones for Second Year in a Row
Live From Big East Men's Tournament: FOX Sports Brings Back Pair of Live Dro...
15/03/2024
After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partners, Free DTC Platform
After a Record-Breaking 2023, NWSL Enters 2024 Season With More Production Partn...
14/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facility
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Lays Out Vision for New Media Facil...
14/03/2024
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, Coverage
Live From THE PLAYERS Championship: PGA TOUR Fleet of Trucks Transforms Setup, C...
14/03/2024
Amy Rosenfeld Named 2024 Receipient of the Colin Jose Media Award by the National Soccer Hall of Fame
Amy Rosenfeld Named 2024 Receipient of the Colin Jose Media Award by the Nationa...
14/03/2024
March Madness Live' Adds Vertical Video Feed, Apple Vision Pro Compatibility to Live Streaming Experience
March Madness Live' Adds Vertical Video Feed, Apple Vision Pro Compatibility...
13/03/2024
Vegas Golden Knights' Andrew Abrams on Meeting High Expectations For In-Arena Entertainment
Vegas Golden Knights' Andrew Abrams on Meeting High Expectations For In-Aren...
13/03/2024
SVG Sit-Down: Stats Perform's Brian Orefice on How Player Tracking With AI, Remote-Based Technology Is Possible
SVG Sit-Down: Stats Perform's Brian Orefice on How Player Tracking With AI, ...
13/03/2024
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Gcore's Alexey Petrovskikh on Driving Down Costs and Driving Up Latency Reliability of Live Streaming
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Gcore's Alexey Petrovskikh on Driving Down Costs ...
13/03/2024
Six Nations 2024: Complex Graphics Workflow Simplifies Story of the Game
Six Nations 2024: Complex graphics workflow simplifies story of the game By Fergal Ringrose Monday, March 11, 2024 - 16:54 Print This Story Sage-sponsored...
13/03/2024
In Memoriam: Andrew Lorenz - Sportvision and SMT Vet, Emmy Award-Winning Innovator, Beloved SVG Community Member
In Memoriam: Andrew Lorenz - Sportvision and SMT Vet, Emmy Award-Winning Innovat...