Team Win: Italy's Serie A Runs 4K UHD Feasibility Study with Key Industry Players

Team Win: Italy's Serie A Runs 4K UHD Feasibility Study with Key Industry Players EMG Italy oversaw the production of a match between AC Milan and Udinese By Roberto Landini, SVG Europe

Thursday, November 7, 2024 - 7:00 am

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Story Highlights

The famous San Siro Stadium hosted a pivotal test on the feasibility and quality of 4K UHD in live sports production. For the first time in Serie A, the Milan-Udinese match on October 19 featured two Hitachi UHD7000-S11 cameras, part of a full 4K UHD production chain in Rec. 709 standards. This innovation introduced new viewing angles compared to traditional shots, leveraging the Hitachi 4K UHD cameras.

The trial was made possible thanks to the collaboration of multiple companies. Milan, as the producer of home matches, worked alongside Lega Serie A, which authorized and supervised the project, managing Serie A production from the IBC in Lissone.

EMG Italy, responsible for the match and several Serie A productions, deployed its flagship mobile unit, Nova 128, along with a production team. CVE, importer of Hitachi and Domo Broadcast Systems products, contributed the Hitachi camera equipment and an RF transmission kit from the Domo. This integration of technology and expertise allowed for a successful test of 4K UHD in a high-level sports environment.

The setting

The San Siro, recently upgraded with a fiber optic infrastructure by EMG Italy, provided the ideal setting for the trial. One of the two Hitachi cameras was shoulder-mounted, allowing extensive movement along the left touchline and offering goal-line shots in RF mode. An embedded Domo Broadcast system in the camera transmitted an HEVC 1080p signal, received by a set of antennas and then routed via fiber optic to the mobile unit.

The second camera, using a standard SMPTE chain, recorded UHD footage and relayed it to EMG Italy's mobile unit CCU. Strategically positioned at 45 along the length of the field near the benches, this camera was mounted on a tripod for optimum coverage.

Read more: Next-generation technology: EMG Italy completes extensive San Siro infrastructure overhaul

The test yielded very positive results, says Francesco Donato, CTO of EMG Italy, both for image quality and fluidity, perfectly integrated into our OB truck Nova 128 workflow.

Hitachi has long offered a proven studio broadcasting technology, but this is the first time in Italy that we have been able to showcase the HD7000 cameras in the field during Serie A, says Mauro Contursi, CVE general manager. The 4K UHD solutions proved perfect for live broadcast, with one camera used wirelessly thanks to an integrated transmission board developed by Domo Broadcast Systems.

Both lenses selected were Fujinon, adds Francesco Spisti, head of sales & marketing at Fujifilm. We opted for a UA107x8.4BESM-T45 box lens, balancing focal range and performance, mounted on the SMPTE camera. The shoulder camera used a UA22x8BERD-S8 ENG lens, ideal for realistic, high-quality 4K video production. Both lenses included full servo controls for precise zoom and focus.

The results

For Lega Serie A, EMG Italy created a fully 4K UHD workflow (with the exception of the RF camera operating in 1080p, standard for Serie A RF broadcasts), which was then downscaled to HD for distribution to DAZN and international broadcasters.

Two major outcomes stand out, notes Carlo Maria Antonio Di Tullio, stadium & broadcasting producer of AC Milan. First, Hitachi cameras have been recognised as suitable for high-level Serie A coverage; second, they integrated seamlessly into a third-party production chain of established mixed components within an ecosystem previously closed to new solutions.

Giacomo Gatti, head of production at EMG Italy, adds: Using a shoulder camera in constant motion across the field usually strains compression systems, producing artefacts. However, the Hitachi camera handled the stress well, delivering image quality without visual interference.

Moreover, the RF section must ensure stable transmission in motion, which is not always the case. Here, the camera maintained signal stability, even within the tunnel, which other RF links have struggled with. The tunnel, symbolising the final moments before match kickoff, proved to be no issue for the embedded Domo Broadcast board in the Hitachi 7000, showcasing remarkable reliability. This gives directors greater operational confidence.

Additionally, we managed colour control remotely via the panel, even for the radio camera, allowing video parameter adjustments directly over the radio link.

Di Tullio concludes: As self-producer for our Campionato and Coppa Italia matches, AC Milan remains committed to advanced broadcasting technology to continually enhance the quality of content and viewing experiences for fans. In a competitive Serie A landscape, technological innovation is essential to deliver broadcast experiences that meet modern expectations with increasingly engaging, interactive content.

The San Siro trial aligns perfectly with AC Milan's vision of consistently exploring solutions from advanced cameras, immersive graphics and real-time analytics to AI and machine learning to optimise production and workflows. These innovations aim to deliver a top-tier TV experience, aligning with the needs of today's fans who expect highly interactive, customisable content accessible on multiple devices.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/11/07/team-win-italys-serie-a-runs-4k...
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