
Live From Wimbledon: Inside Eurosport's Multinational Effort A relatively small presence delivers in 20+ languages, tailored feeds By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Wednesday, July 10, 2019 - 10:30 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
When it comes to Grand Slam tennis production, Eurosport has a lot of mouths to feed. There are the needs of an international signal distributed across Europe in more than 20 languages and regional Eurosport channels that want to deliver a more tailored experience for viewers. And, although its Wimbledon footprint, with more than 70 people, may be smaller than at the other Slams (most notably because of the lack of a true physical studio presence), the network meets the needs of viewers across Europe.
Eurosport facilities include two standup studio positions on the roof of the AELTC Broadcast Centre and a two-story cabin just outside Gate 17.
Ann Keith (standing) says the Eurosport Wimbledon operations may be smaller than at the other Slams but the team is delivering plenty of content across the continent.
We have a production office and three edit facilities upstairs for highlights, and, downstairs, we have a small production switcher and audio board where we get the host feeds, says Ann Keith, tennis director of operations, Eurosport. Eurosport's dedicated local production teams from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the UK are onsite, which is still considerable even if our rights for Roland Garros across the whole of Europe demand 10 markets and two full studios onsite. Norway also uses a camera with LiveU to transmit from around the grounds.
Eurosport has total exclusivity for the Wimbledon Championships in Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Romania, Russia, Sweden, and Ukraine (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have exclusivity when a domestic player is not playing). In Netherlands, Eurosport has partial exclusivity (NOS has the semifinals and final).
As part of Eurosport's commitment to localization and locally relevant content in its markets, during the tournament, its regional teams from Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and the UK are onsite at various times and in various capacities. Russian commentators were onsite during week one but are now back home calling the action off-tube; Swedish and Finnish commentators were home last week but are now onsite.
Gearhouse Broadcast is the equipment provider for Eurosport's effort, which also includes an EVS IPDirector and replay server.
We do have EVS here, but we utilize it for recording highlights, on-demand catch-ups, and to create a half-hour highlights show that airs every night in the UK, says Eurosport Engineer Sebastien Martineau.
Eurosport's Arnold Montgault says a goal is to take viewers beyond the courts at Wimbledon.
According to Eurosport Senior Producer Arnold Montgault, the production team looks to provide Eurosport channels across Europe with expert points of view, interviews from the standup positions, funny intros, and more.
We want to show people the different parts of Wimbledon and places they usually don't see, he says. And then we have a 30-minute wrap-up show with the best highlights and interviews. For example, we had Mats Wilander interview Rafa Nadal, so you had two players with more than 25 Grand Slam titles between them talking to each other. Offering unrivaled expertise is a big focus for us.
Wilander is joined by co-host Barbara Schett for the daily program Game, Schett & Mats as well as other experts like John McEnroe offering opinions and analysis.
We prioritize local heroes so that Eurosport will have most of their interviews with players from Serbia or Romania in these regions, says Montgault. Then there are the live matches - live is a huge focus and priority for us - and between 10 and 15 standups each day.
All the content is passed to Eurosport's broadcast center in Paris via Globecast. From there, the signals are made available to the various Eurosport entities across Europe. The Russian Eurosport service is also delivering a UHD feed.
We also have three master-control rooms in Paris used for the different regions and then a fourth for Romania that is used when Simona Halep is playing as she gets a bigger audience than a lot of football matches there, says Montgault.
Keith says the team hopes to have a setup similar to the one at Roland Garros for the U.S. Open, which begins at the end of August.
The operational side here is not quite as complex for us, given our onsite footprint, because we have only five markets onsite, she adds, but, with individual and varying requirements, it still takes a lot of coordination.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
15/09/2026
At IBC2026, Pixitmedia by DataCore will showcase its latest capabilities designe...
15/09/2026
Quantum Corp. today announced the release of Quantum Autonomous Data Management ...
15/09/2026
Former Wyndham Hotels & Resorts technology executive will focus on fan engagemen...
15/09/2026
Creator Sports Network (CSN) and FAN.live have announced a partnership giving CSN's network of more than 2,000 vetted creators access to live 3D NFL broadca...
15/09/2026
SVG and SVG Europewere all over the IBC 2026 show floor out in Amsterdam, bringi...
15/09/2026
Rise WIB has announced the shortlist for the Rise Awards 2026, returning to Troxy in London on Tuesday, November 17. The awards recognize outstanding women, adv...
15/09/2026
Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) has announced its media distribution lineup for the 2026-27 season, beginning September 11. Every match will stream live on the...
15/09/2026
Willow Sports has announced it will serve as the exclusive U.S. and Canadian hom...
15/09/2026
Gravity Media has announced it will provide outside broadcast production and technical services for the MXGP of Australia, the finale of the 2026 FIM World Moto...
15/09/2026
Co-founders Scott Coker and Peter Y. Levin have unveiled Ki MMA, a new global mixed martial arts promotion launching in the first quarter of 2027. The announcem...
15/09/2026
Sony Electronics has announced two new G Master super-telephoto prime lenses for...
15/09/2026
GlobeCast provides facility for AI-power automated production core...
15/09/2026
Gravity Media, a leading global provider of production and content, and media services and facilities, is empowering Tourism and Events Northern Territory (NT) ...
15/09/2026
New Thunderbolt audio interfaces aimed at pro studios
Audient's latest announcement sees the company introduce three new high-end audio interfaces desig...
15/09/2026
Completes core wireless system line-up
The latest addition to Sennheiser's Spectera range is now shipping, completing the core elements of the company...
15/09/2026
High-frequency dynamics plug-in upgraded
Schwabe Digital have just released a major free update for their acclaimed high-frequency dynamics processing plug-...
15/09/2026
DAW update launched alongside all-in-one subscription bundle
The latest version of Universal Audio's DAW software has just arrived, and has been release...
15/09/2026
Three popular hardware units go virtual
Rupert Neve Designs are entering the software market in style, with not one, but three of their sought-after hardwar...
15/09/2026
When longstanding OB specialist Cloudbass made the decision to expand its fleet to accommodate remote production facilities for a leading UK sports broadcaster&...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Six Berklee Alumni Win at 2026 Emmy Awards The recipients were recognized for their contributions to Widow's Bay, Beef, South Park, and Bad Bunny's Su...
15/09/2026
OWC Announces Acquisition of OpenDrives, Expanding Software-Defined Video and Ri...
15/09/2026
Podcast The Vertical Buzz Shot with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
Brie Clayton September 14, 2026
0 Comments
Production team builds premium p...
15/09/2026
Grass Valley Launches AVORA at IBC2026
Brie Clayton September 14, 2026
0 Comments
New standalone solution gives production teams everything they need ...
15/09/2026
Brandon Woody Joins Berklee Student Ensemble for Signature Series Concert The acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and bandleader will lead a Berklee student ensemb...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
15/09/2026
Applications open for Future Leaders Delegation to BitSummit 2027 15 September 2026
Applications are open for Screen Australia's annual Future Leaders Dele...
15/09/2026
Red Seat Ventures' Supercast Launches Live Streaming, Bringing Real-Time Vid...
15/09/2026
Arqiva recognised with Armed Forces Covenant Silver AwardPresented to organisations that demonstrate outstanding support for the Armed Forces community
--
Sh...
14/09/2026
Lil Baby's Dead Fresh kicks off ESPN's Week 1 Monday Night Football, ...
14/09/2026
With Super Bowl LXI waiting in Los Angeles, ESPN will use the regular season to ...
14/09/2026
By Bailey Pennick
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. ...
14/09/2026
Three new models introduced
Sony have just announced the launch of three new pairs of headphones that span their premium, mid-range and entry-level line-ups...
14/09/2026
New flagship Thunderbolt units aimed at pro studios
Audient's latest announcement sees the company introduce three new high-end audio interfaces designe...
14/09/2026
Cobalt Digital IBC Stand 8.F90 // Journalists: Click to visit Cobalt
Highlights...
14/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/09/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming solutions, has announced that Australia's largest media company, Nine Entertainment (Nine), has deployed Bit...
14/09/2026
Creativepool Annual 2026 Winners Announced
Brie Clayton September 13, 2026
0 Comments
The creative industry's Most' awards celebrates another...
14/09/2026
At IBC2026, Ren M rch explains how the N-Series combines DPA's renowned microphone technology with a high-performance wireless platform, offering a wide tu...