NCAA Final Four weekend last month will be remembered by the production teams at Turner and CBS Sports as 4K weekend. The two entities worked together to capture the action in 4K and even display it on LG Electronics Ultra HD sets from located in suites at the Georgia Dome.
We started hearing of 4K sets' becoming available, so, at one of the meetings, the idea was to see if there is something we can do with our partners to highlight 4K, says Tom Sahara, senior director, IT and remote operations, Turner Sports.
He describes the production process as back to basics because it quickly became apparent that not all of the production tools were available for end-to-end production.
When we started looking at the technologies that were available, we started to see that there isn't much, explains Sahara. The cameras are pretty far along, but everything else was on the bleeding edge, as much of the product was still to be introduced at NAB. We had to navigate that uncertainty as, aside from the standard 3G routing switchers, there was no way to do switching. We basically decided to record the camera feeds.
And even getting those recorded signals into the four 84-in. Ultra HD sets was difficult. The HDMI 2.0 standard, which will allow 4K signals to be delivered via an HDMI input on the sets, is not yet complete. To get the signals to the sets, the signals were delivered from the compound to 3G media converters, which converted them to an HDMI signal that could then be passed through display cards to the Ultra HD sets.
The production itself centered on two Canon 4K cameras, with one located in a typical high camera position coupled with a large lens and a second, portable camera used for B-roll material.
We wanted to show 4K pictures that people could relate to, not beauty shots or scenic shots, says Sahara. So we shot B-roll of banners and the exteriors of the Dome.
The two cameras were paired with AJA Ki Pro Quad and Gemini 4:4:4 digital recorders and Apple Final Cut Pro editing systems, which were set up at one end of a production trailer, obviating the need for an additional mobile unit.
We captured footage off of the cameras in both of those, recording Apple Pro Res in the AJA so we could test editing workflows, says Sahara. And we recorded raw images in Gemini so we could look at the quality and test a cinema workflow using the DPX, or Digital Picture Exchange, file format.
Recording began on the Friday of Final Four weekend during the All-Star game. That material was turned around for display during the semifinals on Saturday night, and footage from those games was turned around for Monday night's final.
We were dealing with RAW recording, and every frame is 33 MB, so it took time to copy the content from the drives [into the NLE] and then render it out, says Sahara. But we were able to get the content off the camera, transferred, converted, and edited overnight.
One aspect of the Ultra HD experience that was not undertaken was recording at 120 frames per second (fps). Prerelease hardware locked to 30 fps meant that 60-fps recording could be done only in the Gemini recorder. Even the LG sets are still in prerelease mode and do not yet support 60-fps viewing.
We were very aware of the frame-rate issues shooting at 30 fps, and trying to do a full production would have highlighted those issues, Sahara explains. So, in the end, we did the right thing, which was to frame each shot in the best possible way [for 30-fps viewing].
He adds that the viewing experience and reaction from people in the suites made the efforts worth it.
We made a 20-minute loop, and we saw people watching it three times in a row, he says. And you can sit about 1.5 times picture height away from the set and have a comfortable viewing experience where the screen fills the field of view and you can see lots of details.
Among those details? The grain in the wood of the floor and the ability to pick out celebrities sitting on celebrity row from a camera capturing an image that was slightly tighter than half court.
The talent and celebrities were easily recognizable, and those sorts of subtle differences made the picture more life-like, says Sahara.
The production also laid bare the biggest challenge of all in the move to 4K: going from an HD production world, with -in. sensors providing infinite depth of field with very good resolution, to full-frame sensors that provide a shallow depth of field with four times the resolution.
You have to study what you want to do and figure it out; you can't guess, he explains. We were using a 30-300mm lens where our minimum object distance was 18 ft., but, with HD, we are accustomed to having an MOD of more than 50 ft. so that both the near and far side of the court are in focus. So, with 4K, we had to decide which side of the court is in focus and picking the right f-stop to get the right depth of field. Those who have done a lot of film and photography work understand that, but it's going to be a big learning experience.
That will also mean more reliance on focus-assist technologies and, of course, systemization of cameras currently designed primarily for cinematic shooting into ones more suitable for live production.
Being able to capture, turn around, and display 4K content on a consumer devices at this stage of 4K development was pretty amazing, says Sahara. In the early days of HD and 3D, we had to go through endless steps of production and conversions. But here we were able to do it all with off-the-shelf components.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...
NCAA Final Four weekend last month will be remembered by the production teams at Turner and CBS Sports as 4K weekend. The two entities worked together to capture the action in 4K and even display it on LG Electronics Ultra HD sets from located in suites at the Georgia Dome.
