Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Rubgy World Cup 2023: Host Broadcast Services, IMG Offer Look Behind the Scenes of Massive Production

28/09/2023

Paris 2023: HBS and IMG go behind the scenes for the live and post production of the Rugby World Cup 2023 By Heather McLean

Thursday, September 28, 2023 - 13:17

Print This Story

HBS CEO Dan Miodownik and IMG's David Shield, senior vice president and global director for engineering and technology, provided a behind the scenes look at the key broadcast workflows, tools, and operations of Rugby World Cup 2023 at the Sports Production Summit SPS HBS IMG in Amsterdam

The Rugby World Cup 2023 was a subject of discussion at SVG Europe's Sports Production Summit in Amsterdam, where HBS CEO Dan Miodownik and IMG's David Shield, senior vice president and global director for engineering and technology, provided a behind-the-scenes look at the key broadcast workflows, tools, and operations of Rugby World Cup 2023, which is currently taking place in France.

Miodownik and Shield outlined how their respective organisations are working together to produce one of the largest global sporting events of 2023. For the Rugby World Cup in France, HBS and World Rugby took the decision to create a remote IBC, disconnecting almost all of the post production into a remote IBC in the UK.

When you're doing a big event - and this is a big event you have to put reliability and risk management at the absolute front

This has resulted in HBS working from the IBC in Paris which is based at Roland-Garros, while IMG is working from its hub in Stockley Park, London, handling all the post production aspects of the World Cup.

Speaking from the Sports Production Summit stage in Amsterdam, Miodownik said: When you're doing a big event - and this is a big event you have to put reliability and risk management at the absolute front, so it had to be working with a partner with a set up that made sense and Dave and the team [at IMG] put together a great response [to the RFP], by far the strongest. That why we ended up with the split where IMG are in Stockley Park fulfilling what is a major part of what we're doing, while the French end is dealing very much with the live events operation.

Miodownik commented on how the World Cup is going so far: It's going well. It's had its challenges - that's normal - the key thing is that we feel that the majority of it is going extremely well. There are a few areas that we want to do better and the plan will be to get those right so as we move through the tournament everything gets better in terms of the services we provide to broadcasters and the content we produce.

Shield added: I think it's going really well. Great first round of matches. It's going very well from our point of view and we're really looking forward to working our way through to the sharp end.

Going into more detail on what is happening at Stockley Park, Shield said: It was a happy dovetailing of activities, so we were going to look after the satellite distribution of the world feed, so we needed to get connectivity from Roland-Garros into Stockley Park in the first place. But that enabled a remote non-live post production solution.

2019 had been the first time Rugby World Cup has had a media server, and that was quite a big landmark actually. In 2019 it had been provided using an EVS solution. In our response to HBS' [question on] how we would do [the post production from the UK], we said we'll look at all the options, but actually settled back to the EVS option, which, given we're a big EVS user anyway, meant we had quite a lot of infrastructure at our disposal that we could build into the solution. So that's the major bit of technology that's happening at Stockley Park; the EVS media server.

Shield continued: We also have 72 edit suites there, so rather than building into an IBC as you typically would, we can just cordon off an area [at Stockley Park] which would be for exclusive use for HBS.

Historically we've had a great relationship on production [with HBS], so it's largely IMG production people working on that non-live, but with quite a few leaders from HBS at Stockley Park, also being part of it.

The conversation also went onto discuss the future of the onsite IBC and the significant popularity of smartphone-created content, which HBS is catering for by going digital first' this year for the first time with content filmed in 4:5 and 9:16 ratios.

Watch the full session here:
LINK: https://www.svgeurope.org/blog/headlines/paris-2023-hbs-and-img-go-beh...
See more stories from svg

North America Stories

20/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Sonys Hugo Gaggioni Highlights HDR Advances, Software-Defined Workflows

At the 2026 NAB Show, Sony is showcasing a broad slate of innovations across liv...

20/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Fujinons Stosh Durbacz on Expanding the 4K Broadcast Lens Lineup With New Portable Zooms, 94x Box Lens

Fujifilm is sharpening its focus on core broadcast production with a new wave of...

20/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Rock-It Sports' John Walberg on Powering Logistics, Shipping for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup

This upcoming summer in North America is going to be a busy one. The 2026 FIFA M...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Glookast outlines product updates including Media Producer UX, connectors and Premiere Pro panel

Glookast (Booth W1661) announced a series of product updates at NAB Show 2026, c...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Matrox Video and Amagi collaborate on cloud-based broadcast workflows using ORIGIN framework

Matrox Video and Amagi announced a collaboration to integrate the Matrox ORIGIN ...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Riedel SimplyLive supports expanded centralised VAR system for Argentina football league

Riedel Communications (Booth C4908) announced that the Asociaci n del F tbol Arg...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Ikegami introduces VFE-P07D OLED viewfinder with integrated LCD monitor

Ikegami (Booth C3819) announced the VFE-P07D monocular OLED viewfinder at NAB Sh...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: IABM rebrands as IAMT and launches AI discovery platform and global alliance

International Association of MediaTech (IAMT), formerly known as IABM, announced...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Harmonic supports DIRECTV DTH platform upgrade with VOS Media Software

Harmonic (Booth W2831) announced that DIRECTV is updating its US direct-to-home (DTH) video platform using Harmonic's VOS Media Software. The deployment is...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Wasabi Technologies acquires Seagate Lyve Cloud business

Wasabi Technologies announced that it has acquired the Lyve Cloud business from Seagate Technology. As part of the agreement, Seagate received equity in Wasabi ...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: EVS introduces Choreon robotics orchestration platform for unified production control

EVS (Booth N1841) has launched Choreon, a robotics controller for media producti...

20/04/2026

SportsTechBuzz at NAB 2026, Day 2: Live Reports From the Show Floor in Vegas

The NAB Show is in full swing, and the SVG and SVG Europe editorial teams are chasing down the hottest stories from all over the Las Vegas Convention Center. He...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Skyline Communications launches DataMiner packages on Grass Valley AMPP App Store

Skyline Communications announced the availability of its DataMiner xOps platform...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: SNS launches Outpost, Trio and AI Suite for connected post-production workflows

Studio Network Solutions (Booth N1129) introduced a set of new products at NAB S...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Dell Technologies and NVIDIA present AI data platform for media workflows

Dell Technologies is showcasing its Dell AI Data Platform with NVIDIA at NAB Sho...

20/04/2026

NAB 2026: Blackmagic Design Announces Fairlight Live Software Audio Mixer

Blackmagic Design has announced Fairlight Live, a software-based live audio mixer with SMPTE 2110 support and spatial audio mixing. A public beta is available n...

20/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Imagine Comms Jimbo Haneklau Talks Prismon, Hybrid IP/SDI Workflows, and Cloud Playout

At the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, Imagine Communications VP of Sales, Sports an...

20/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: LiveUs Phillip Broaddus on LU900Q Launch, Nexus Cloud Platform, and REMI Growth

At the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, LiveU Senior Director of Sales, Sports Philli...

20/04/2026

Protecting America's Shores: L3Harris Keeps the Coast Guard Mission-Ready

L3Harris delivers integrated communications, navigation and C4ISR capabilities that empower the U.S. Coast Guard to protect Americas maritime interests and resp...

20/04/2026

Google Cloud Embraces the Rise of Agentic Production

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

Creators Go All in on AI, Niche Content

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

NBC Sports' Jon Miller: Broadcast Is Having a Moment'

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

Beyond the Lift and Shift': Cloud Migration's New Mandate

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

Virtual Production Finds Its Footing

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

Corporate Creators: All Companies Are Media Companies Now

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

IABM Rebrands as the International Association of MediaTech

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

CBS Detroit Debuts New AR/VR Technology-Driven Studio

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

Fox Sports Taps Appear X Platform for Remote Production

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

CueScript and Lighting Design Group Expand Customer Oppor...

CueScript and Lighting Design Group Expand Customer Opportunities Through New Partnership Find both companies at 2026 NAB Show in CueScript Booth # C 4720 ...

20/04/2026

Layercake Deepens Bitmovin Integration to Power End-to-En...

[Sydney, NSW, 20 April 2026] - Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media orchestration platform Streamcake, today announced the formalisation of its i...

20/04/2026

FOX Sports selects Appear X Platform for next-generation...

Deployment spans FOX Sports' REMI infrastructure, IP production for a major global soccer event, and its Jewel Events production systems Appear, a global l...

20/04/2026

Pro Sound Effects Launches the Industry's First and Only Native Sound Effects Integration for Avid Media Composer at NAB 2026

Pro Sound Effects Launches the Industry's First and Only Native Sound Effect...

20/04/2026

SBE Elevates Fred Willard to SBE Fellow

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Camera for iOS 3.3 Update

Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Camera for iOS 3.3 Update Brie Clayton April 20, 2026 0 Comments New update adds camera control and monitoring ...

20/04/2026

Maxon Announces Free Tools and Mobile Expansion of ZBrush and Cinema 4D

Maxon Announces Free Tools and Mobile Expansion of ZBrush and Cinema 4D Brie Clayton April 20, 2026 0 Comments Cinema 4D brings professional 3D workfl...

20/04/2026

Vizrt AI Keyer kills the green screen and creates virtual scenes in any environment

Vizrt AI Keyer kills the green screen and creates virtual scenes in any environm...

20/04/2026

Ikegami Announces VFE-P07D Monocular OLED Viewfinder

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

EVS Launches Choreon Robotic Control Solution

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

Ross Video Showcases End-To-End Production Ecosystem at 2026 Nab Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

Heidi Steffen to Become President of TitanTV

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

20/04/2026

NVIDIA and Partners Showcase the Future of AI-Driven Manufacturing at Hannover Messe 2026

Manufacturing is at an inflection point. Across every major industrial economy, ...

20/04/2026

Autonomous AI at Scale: Adobe Agents Unlock Breakthrough Creative Intelligence With NVIDIA and WPP

AI agents are transforming how work gets done across all industries, acceleratin...

19/04/2026

NAB Show 2026 Is Here! Follow All of our Live Coverage!

Blackmagic Design has announced the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP and ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP Plus, two SMPTE 2110-native live production switchers. The ATEM ...

19/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Grass Valley CEO Jon Wilson on AMPPs Explosive Growth, Hybrid Workflows, and Whats New at the Show

Grass Valley is finding the right balance between its hardware heritage with an ...

19/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Oracles Kip Schauer on Why OCI Is Doubling Down on Media, Sports, and Broadcast

Oracle's strategy rests on the foundational strengths of Oracle Cloud Infras...

19/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Program Productions Jess Kowatch on Whats New with ProCrewz and the Impact of AI on Crewing

Program Productions, the live sports production industry's leading crewer, i...

19/04/2026

Live From NAB 2026: Aggrekos Joe Scionti on Powering the Super Bowl, PGA Championship, and the Road to the FIFA World Cup

At the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, SVG sat down with Joe Scionti, Account Manage...

19/04/2026

NAB 2026: Evertz to highlight evertz.io XChange for live event management and market switching

Evertz (Booth N817) is set to present new services within its evertz.io platform...