Sony Digital Cinema 4K and Hawk-Eye Innovations today announce the first full proof of concept of Hawk-Eyes globally-renowned technology outside the world of sports broadcasting.
Hawk-Eyes SMART Production solution is being used to capture the Hackney Empires production of Charlie Parkers Yardbird chamber opera, with a view to demonstrating scalable, cost-effective remote production for arts establishments.
The jazz-infused theatre show is being recorded for cinemas using an innovative solution that includes five remote-operated Sony PXW-FS7 cameras and cutting-edge IT-based production technologies. By harnessing an intelligent production system and remote-controlled cameras, Sony and Hawk-Eye are able to produce original content for Hackney Empire at a far lower cost than was previously possible with typical outside broadcast (OB) production facilities.
Drawing on its background and expertise with the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI), post-production for the recordings will be handled by Sony Digital Cinema 4K, in order to produce a final DCP that meets the rigorous standards set for the big screen.
The long-term aim of the project is to open up new revenue opportunities for smaller arts entertainment providers like the Empire, by providing them with the ability to produce original content for cinema distribution across the UK. Having pioneered modern sports broadcast technology, Hawk-Eyes adaptable, scalable system will help to bring traditional entertainment providers into the digital age.
The production set-up uses four FS7s on remotely operated robotic heads, as well as one static FS7 and a micro-camera in the orchestra pit. Operating the cameras remotely from a 3m x 3m production area at the back of the auditorium, a four-man production crew is able to capture the show without taking up any revenue-generating seat-space in the auditorium, or disrupting the theatre audiences experience.
Two Hawk-Eye SMART Production servers help to co-ordinate the cameras, while a third is used for cutting and managing the recordings, which are stored on a separate recording deck. The small production team includes two robotic camera operators, a director, and a guarantee engineer who follows the script and helps to co-ordinate during the shows. A variety of microphones are placed in specific positions throughout the stage area and orchestra pit, to ensure the team records a rich, lifelike sound to accompany the Full HD footage.
The production at the Empire will serve as a proof of concept for Hawk-Eyes end-to-end workflow, with a view to developing a live-stream workflow for future projects using the same set-up.
Clarie Middleton, chief executive, Hackney Empire, commented: This new solution harks back to the Empires heyday in the 1950s, when it was used as a setting for TV shows. Now 115 years old, were proud that were still exploring the latest technologies to make the arts more accessible. By capturing a stage production like YardBird, Sony Digital Cinema and Hawk-Eye are helping us to provide people who wouldnt usually come to the theatre with an opportunity to enjoy the excitement of our shows. Thanks to their production and post-production expertise, we can make sure our shows look as good on the silver screen as they do in real life. Were excited to be laying the foundation for opening up our productions to audiences across the UK.
Ed Hawke, operations director at Hawk-Eye Innovations, commented: This project provided us with the perfect opportunity to showcase new ways in which Hawk-Eyes technology can be used. Thanks to our streamlined production workflow and remote cameras, were able to capture on-stage action without disrupting the audience or taking up paying seats vital factors for working theatres. Our scalable, streamlined solution has been tested across numerous sports, from ice hockey to handball, and at events from Wimbledon to the Olympics. Now were ready and excited to show how it can bring cost-effective production to the arts.
John Bullen, content development manager at Sony Digital Cinema, commented: Other production set-ups require large crews and extensive equipment, and many theatres simply arent able to afford this scale of production. Theatres like the Hackney Empire are enthusiastic about making their content more accessible by extending it to cinema-goers, and Hawk-Eyes solution makes that possible. As well as promoting the theatres shows more broadly, it opens up new revenue streams that were previously inaccessible to any but the largest theatre organisations.
In December 2016, Sony and Hawk-Eye ran a successful initial trial of the production set-up using Sony PMW-500 cameras and the Hawk-Eye SMART Production technology, shooting Hackney Empires Christmas pantomime production, Sleeping Beauty.
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
21/10/2025
As Amazon's Prime Video prepares to launch its coverage of NBA basketball under a major new deal, Grup Mediapro has announced that it is working with the st...
21/10/2025
ATLANTA Good news for consumers using an Atlanta DTH receiver to watch ATSC 3.0: with a new software update, they will be able to blanket their homes with Wi-Fi...
21/10/2025
While recent news has been heavily focused on Hispanic migration into the U.S., The 2025 Hispanic Market Report from Claritas highlights the fact that this gr...
21/10/2025
MAIDENHEAD, UK RWS has hired Michael Wayne as its head of media and entertainment in Los Angeles where he will lead the company's media localization busines...
21/10/2025
Imagine Communications and Rohde & Schwarz today announced a definitive agreement under which Imagine will acquire Pixel Power Limited, a wholly owned subsidiar...
21/10/2025
Atlanta DTH (ADTH) today announced a major update that will expand the functionality of its NEXTGEN TV receiver by enabling gateway capabilities allowing viewer...
21/10/2025
Heartland Video Systems, Inc. (HVS), a premier video systems integration, consulting, and expert ATSC 3.0 implementation firm announces that it has partnered wi...
21/10/2025
QuickLink, the leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest integration solutions, today announced the appointment of Austin Hinton as it...
21/10/2025
nternet connectivity startup Miri Technologies Inc. will use this week's NAB Show New York as the launch pad for its latest ground-breaking innovation, the ...
20/10/2025
Inside TAMS: How Time-Addressable Media Stores could redefine sports workflows By Paul Markham
Friday, October 17, 2025 - 08:57
Print This Story
A penalty...
20/10/2025
Transformational production: Inside TVN's remote production push for the DFL...
20/10/2025
How NBC Sports Transitioned Stamford Facility to One Format: 1080p HDRMulti-year plan harmonizes workflows, simplifies operationsBy Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial ...
20/10/2025
NBA on NBC' Studio Production Team Is Ready for Tip-Off With Coast-to-Coast...
20/10/2025
Under pressure: TVN CEO Markus Osthaus considers the German sports broadcasting ...
20/10/2025
(L-R) Maria Dizzia, Carmen Emmi, and Russell Tovey attend the Plainclothes pre...
20/10/2025
In March, we launched Concerts Near You to help listeners find concerts from their favorite artists. Since then, more than 3 million people have used it to disc...
20/10/2025
Em diversas cidades do Brasil, um movimento tem se fortalecido para celebrar o poder, a beleza e a profundidade da criatividade negra. O Dia AMPLIFIKA, agora em...
20/10/2025
In cities across Brazil, a movement is growing that celebrates the power, beauty, and depth of Black creativity. AMPLIFIKA Day, now in its fifth edition, return...
20/10/2025
Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft rendering...
20/10/2025
DENVER and MUNICH Imagine Communications today announced its plans to acquire Pixel Power Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rohde & Schwarz. Financial terms of...
20/10/2025
LOS ANGELES G Morgan has joined Globecast, a provider of broadcast, media and entertainment managed services, as executive vice president of sales, Globecast Am...
20/10/2025
PLYMOUTH, Wisc. Heartland Video Systems and Zixi have partnered to enable broadcast-quality live video delivery over any IP network....
20/10/2025
A. R. Rahman on Facing Fear and Finding the Divine In an interview with Berklee President Jim Lucchese, the Oscar-winning composer reflects on how courage and...
20/10/2025
Monday 20 October 2025
To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. ...
20/10/2025
Rohde & Schwarz transfers Pixel Power to Imagine Communications Companies work collaboratively to ensure continuity and ongoing support for existing customers...
20/10/2025
RT 's Prime Time is set to host the final Presidential Election Debate this Tuesday night, October 21, providing an opportunity to hear directly from Irelan...
20/10/2025
NVIDIA and Google Cloud are expanding access to accelerated computing to transform the full spectrum of enterprise workloads, from visual computing to agentic a...
19/10/2025
Back to All News
Sins of Kujo' Comes to Life in New Live-Action Series Set for Spring 2026
Entertainment
19 October 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied to cl...
18/10/2025
New England Sports Network (NESN) has chosen Harmonic, working with Astound Business Solutions, as its enterprise technology partner to transform primary distri...
18/10/2025
NEW ORLEANS, La. In the run-up to the start of the NBA season, WVUE-TV and Gray Local Media have announced a deal with DirecTV that will greatly expand access t...
18/10/2025
Berklee Celebrates 40 Years of the Fall Together Concert Faculty composers Bob Pilkington and Greg Hopkins are among the featured artists for this year's ...
17/10/2025
NEP Group Receives New Equity Investment From 26North Partners LP, Co-InvestorsCarlyle remains the largest shareholder as the company prepares for the futureBy ...
17/10/2025
Apple Lands Five-Year Deal for F1 Distribution in the U.S.Besides airing on Apple TV, the sport will be amplified on other Apple servicesBy Ken Kerschbaumer, Ed...
17/10/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Marshall Electronics' Bernie Keach on the Future of PTZ Camera...
17/10/2025
L2 Productions' REMI Facility in Austin Can Produce Content From AnywhereMusic festivals, sports events are produced via flypacks and remote control roomsBy...
17/10/2025
By Lucy Spicer
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...
17/10/2025
(L-R) Christopher Meyer, Addison Timlin, Cooper Raiff, Lili Reinhart, Alyah Chan...
17/10/2025
M sica e arte se uniram em uma noite especial na semana passada na ZIV Gallery, ...
17/10/2025
Music and art came together for one special night last week at ZIV Gallery, an i...
17/10/2025
Spotify and FC Barcelona are extending our partnership through 2030, continuing a collaboration that's redefining how fans, players, and artists connect. Th...
17/10/2025
MURRIETA, Calif. The Sports Fishing Championship (SFC) has deployed DigitalGlue's creative.space storage platform to streamline video production by centrali...
17/10/2025
BELLEVUE, Wash. Football continued to cement its reputation as a bulwark of TV advertising in Q3 2025 with new data from iSpot that showed both the NFL and coll...
17/10/2025
The Sports Fishing Championship (SFC), the premier competitive saltwater fishing series, has transformed its production workflow by adopting creative.space, the...
17/10/2025
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning multi-camera video productions and remote contribution solutions, announces the release of StudioPro Version 4, ...
17/10/2025
Although the annual Grammy Awards celebration is best known for recognizing achievements in the recording industry, the show often proves a visual spectacle as ...
17/10/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leading provider of software-defined data storage and data services, has promoted Alex Dunfey to Chief Technology Officer (CTO) from his for...
17/10/2025
The University of Arizona (UofA) has significantly upgraded its broadcast communication infrastructure with the integration of Riedel Communications' advanc...
17/10/2025
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that New England Sports Network (NESN), owned by Fenway Sports Group and Delaware North, has selected Harmonic as its en...
Sony Digital Cinema 4K and Hawk-Eye Innovations today announce the first full proof of concept of Hawk-Eyes globally-renowned technology outside the world of sports broadcasting. 
