HuskerVision Builds IP Production Facility with Grass Val...

HuskerVision, the video production and multimedia operation for University of Nebraska Athletics, has deployed Grass Valley K-Frame production switchers and LDX cameras as part of a new SMPTE ST 2110 production facility supporting sports venues across the university campus.

The six-month project created three new control rooms and replaced HuskerVision's aging baseband infrastructure with an IP production environment. The completed facility gives its production teams the capacity to support events across campus, with UHD and HDR capability built into the system as requirements develop.

Operated by students and staff, HuskerVision produces video and multimedia content for University of Nebraska Athletics. Its student program has also provided a route into the broadcast industry for hundreds of graduates, making professional production experience an important consideration when the university selected technology for the new facility.

We had the opportunity to look at how we wanted to produce content across our venues for the next several years, rather than simply replacing the equipment we already had, said Garrett Hill, Director of Technology, HuskerVision. Grass Valley gave us the combination of functionality and price-to-performance we were looking for, with an IP production system that can support what we need today and our move toward UHD in the future.

Moving Production to ST 2110

The new facility uses Grass Valley LDX 135 and LDX 150 cameras, with XCU Xpress UXF base stations connecting the camera systems into the ST 2110 environment. The LDX 135 provides native UHD acquisition, while the LDX 150 supports multi-format production, with both camera systems providing HDR and NativeIP capabilities.

Two Kayenne K-Frame SXP-I production switchers provide the main production control, with support for HD, 3G and 12G UHD production. Advanced IP I/O and 100GbE connectivity carry signals across the IP infrastructure, while Creative Grading panels and a central control server provide color and HDR management across the camera fleet.

The two switcher configurations provide separate production positions, giving HuskerVision the resources to manage multiple productions across its event calendar. The IP architecture also allows Grass Valley and third-party systems to operate across the same network rather than relying on fixed baseband routing.

Preparing Students for Professional Production

An important part of the project was giving students experience with technology they are likely to encounter when they move into professional live production. Grass Valley equipment is widely deployed across production trucks in the US, making familiarity with K-Frame and LDX systems relevant beyond their work at the university.

For our students, the technology they work with here is part of their preparation for a career in the industry, said Kevin Raguse, Broadcast Technology Engineer, HuskerVision. They can learn live production on the same type of switching and camera systems they will encounter in professional environments, while our staff has a reliable system that is straightforward to operate across our day-to-day productions.

Grass Valley worked with systems integrator BeckTV on the deployment, which also included commissioning and on-site operational and technical training.

Working with HuskerVision and Grass Valley, we integrated the cameras and production switchers into a shared ST 2110 network, giving the team more flexibility to route signals across control rooms and campus venues, said Brock Raum, Senior Engineer, at BeckTV. The facility was designed to support efficient day-to-day operations while providing a foundation for future UHD and HDR production. It also gives students hands-on experience with the IP workflows they'll encounter in professional live production.

HuskerVision has helped launch the careers of hundreds of people working in live production, which gives this project significance beyond the facility itself, said Greg Doggett, VP of Sales NAM Sports at Grass Valley. It also reflects the growing number of universities investing in professional broadcast technology to support both their production needs and the practical training they provide for the next generation of industry professionals.

The new facility provides HuskerVision with a common IP production infrastructure across its control rooms, giving its production teams the capacity to support events across campus.

Grass Valley will exhibit at NAB Show New York, October 21 22 at the Javits Center, at Booth 121, where visitors can learn more about its latest live production, IP infrastructure and software-defined production technologies.

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