Axon Helps BT Sport and Timeline Deliver Europes First Ultra HD Live Sports Broadcast

OB provider Timeline Television relied on Axons 4K Synapse processing and Cerebrum advanced monitoring and control system to deliver UK sports broadcaster BT Sports first live 4K match-day production earlier this month.

BT Sport and Timeline collaborated on the build of a bespoke OB vehicle with an innovative 4K production workflow featuring a number of technology firsts, including a new range of 4K signal processing and distribution tools from Axon. BT Sport launched Europes first live sports Ultra HD (4K) channel, BT Sport Ultra HD, in early August, with its first live broadcast being the FA Community Shield match at Wembley on August 2 between Chelsea and Arsenal.

Developed in close cooperation with BT Sport, Axons Synapse 4K Production Tool Boxes (U4T100 & U4T140) ease the challenges of a 4-wire production setup by carrying Vanc and Hanc data such as timecode and embedded audio. The U4T140 also provides a Dolby E encoder and decoder. The team also worked together to develop a new card (GDR416) to accommodate 4K signal distribution in the Timeline vehicle.

The Synapse 4K cards Axon developed and custom-built for us intelligently manage embedding and line routing, said Dan McDonnell, Timeline Televisions Managing Director. Our delivery schedule was tight, but Axon met the deadline and provided us not only with the functionality we needed but also excellent technical support. With their expertise, we were able to produce a 4K football match to the same quality of HD and showcase the best immersive viewer experience.

Other Synapse modules deployed include 4K up-converters and down- converters. All other Synapse video processing units supplied are capable of handling 3Gb/s signals. A number of these video-processing modules have been executed with fibre-enabled I/O-panels, allowing conversion from video to fibre without the need of additional equipment. To handle Dolby requirements in the truck, Axon also supplied the Synapse DEE28, a multi-format Dolby stream decoder and Dolby E encoder with voice-over module.

BT Sport also deployed Cerebrum, Axons customizable monitoring and control system. By linking together all the main broadcast equipment from major manufacturers, Cerebrums advanced functionality and broad range of features simplifies multi device control onto one easy-to-use interface. It supports a wide range of devices including routers, production switchers, servers, audio desks, camera control units, receiver decoders, multiviewers and waveform monitors using either SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or third party protocols.

We used Cerebrum to control all of the matrix, multiviewers, tally, all of the glue and lots of other pieces in the production chain, all via 10-inch touch-screens. I believe that were the first OB company to replace hardware with touch-screens and really embrace advanced control, explained McDonnell. Its enabled us to do complicated routing with ease just with a press of a button. Cerebrum is an amazing system.

Commenting on the project, Axons CEO Jan Eveleens said, For a long time our industry has been talking about the rollout of Ultra HD, so were proud to be a key partner in the delivery of this game-changer in sports broadcast. And with more companies seeing the benefits of Cerebrum control in mobile production, were thrilled to see

Axon will be showcasing the latest Synapse 4K signal processing range and Cerebrum advanced control and monitoring system at IBC 11-15 September on Stand 10.A21 and B21.

www.axon.tv

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