EVS and HBS Reinforce their Collaboration For Brazil

(21/03/2014) EVS, the leading provider of live video production systems, and FIFA's dedicated host broadcaster HBS have extended their long-standing collaboration to work on the 2014 FIFA Wold Cup in Brazil. HBS will deploy and integrate EVS' advanced technologies, including live multi-format production tools, central media exchange and multimedia distribution platforms. This will enable HBS to make the best of the live action instantly available for production and distribution.

HBS designs and runs the entire host broadcast operation for FIFA, including the production and integration of services. It will provide the broadcast feed from all 12 event venues, covering 64 matches. The broadcast infrastructure is made up of three key workflows: live production at the different venues across Brazil; a centralised broadcast media server and file-based media sharing systems; and a new multimedia distribution platform.

Francis Tellier, CEO at HBS, commented: Our partnership with EVS is a good example of the cross-fertilisation that can take place between two key companies in the sports broadcasting space. We both strive to improve the quality of major sporting events and work together to offer the best technical solutions so that broadcasters and right holders can guarantee the optimal coverage and service offerings to their audiences.

Live production

The live production workflow at the 2014 FIFA World Cup will centre on EVS' new XT3 live production server, offering multi-format capability. For each venue, around 16 XT3 servers will be used for replays, highlight edits, graphic insertion, clip creation and content management. EVS' IPDirector production asset management suite will drive all the emotion' highlights packages, an add-on to the multi-feed concept launched by HBS in 2002. The compilation of all the best clips will be handled by the new MultiReview solution. These clips will then be used to create highlights packages that will be made available to FIFA's Media Rights Licensees (MRLs).

Centralised file-based media server

More than 100 EVS IPDirector suites located in the International Broadcast Centre will be used to manage the ingest of live incoming feeds as well as access to the centralised FIFA Media Asset Exchange (FIFA MAX) server. It will store match feeds, clips, highlights, pre-recorded content (city profiles, etc.) and other relevant data. The IPDirector suites will also be used for the live logging of events. Around 12 XT3 servers will handle 4,500 hours of content located on an EVS XStore SAN.

36 Adobe Premiere stations, along with EVS' IPLink plugin panel, will be used to create final edits of updates, promos, behind the scenes footage and multimedia packages. The Epsio FX system will be deployed for on air graphic insertion.

The FIFA Max centralised broadcast media server and EVS-enabled file-based media sharing systems will allow production teams at the IBC, as well as in their home-country headquarters, to access content for further editing and broadcast. MRLs will be able to browse, access and download the content made available to them using EVS' IPBrowse and IPWeb tools.

Multimedia distribution platform

On behalf of FIFA, HBS is also delivering expanded and enhanced content services across all multimedia platforms for the 2014 FIFA World Cup . FIFA's Media Rights Licensees will have access to exclusive content for delivery to smartphones and tablets via their own second screen apps.

Based on EVS' C-Cast technology, the distribution platform will connect HBS' live production infrastructures to a central cloud-based platform, aggregating live streams, multi-angles clips, stats, and social network feeds. This content will then be distributed to affiliate broadcasters, who in turn can make it available to their own viewers.

EVS is passionate about continuously delivering new technology innovations that keep pushing the limit of live further, offering professionals the ability to provide more compelling content, faster, through more channels to more final viewers, said EVS CEO Joop Janssen. Our 15-year partnership with HBS has been instrumental in delivering this constant implementation of new solutions at many of the major sporting events worldwide. HBS not only shares the same understanding of how technology can enhance viewers' experience, but also has a unique expertise for integrating transformational technologies into advanced live production and media delivery workflow. We're proud to consolidate our collaboration with HBS and continue to work together to anticipate industry evolutions and constraints with new advanced live media solutions.

About EVS

EVS provides its customers with reliable and innovative technology to enable the production of live, enriched video programming, allowing them to work more efficiently and boost their revenue streams. Its industry-leading broadcast and media production systems are used by broadcasters, production companies, post-production facilities, film studios, content owners and archive libraries around the globe. It spans four key markets Sports, Entertainment, News and Media.

Founded in 1994, its innovative Live Slow Motion system revolutionised live broadcasting. Its reliable and integrated tapeless solutions, based around its market-leading XT server range, are now widely used to deliver live productions worldwide. Today, it continues to develop practical innovations, such as its C-Cast second-screen delivery platform, to help customers maximise the value of their media content.

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