SuperSport Outside Broadcast completes HD roll out with Calrec
Published: MEA
SOUTH AFRICA: SuperSport Outside Broadcast has completed the migration of its OB fleet to high definition with the completion of OB1HD. The truck has been fitted with a Calrec Artemis digital audio console meaning each OB van has equipment from the manufacturer.
‘From our first installation in 2006, we have worked with Calrec and have standardised our South African fleet on it. Calrec consoles not only meet our technical requirements for reliability and fibre connectivity in a compact footprint, but also are easy for our operators to learn and use because the layout is similar from one desk to another,’ said Johan van Tonder, technical operations manager at SuperSport Outside Broadcast. ‘Fibre connectivity has given us greater versatility and has drastically cut down on rigging times, both of which save money. In terms of the ability to attract business, Calrec is well-known throughout the broadcast world, so the product speaks for itself.’
SuperSport OB installed a 64-fader Artemis Beam console with four 32 x 32 analogue and four 32 x 32 AES Hydra2 boxes in the scanner. It also has three Madi interface units in the OB and carries four 24 x 8 analogue Hydra2 boxes, which are used as stage boxes whenever extra I/O connectivity is required. The Artemis Beam console supplies the I/O to handle SuperSport’s unique requirement to broadcast in three different languages, which calls for sending a minimum of four programme feeds from a venue.
‘With Calrec, support has never been a problem, and advice has always been readily available. We have always felt we are a valued customer and that they care about this relationship,’ noted Mr van Tonder. ‘Even better, we have never had to take a unit offline due to a Calrec failure. When there have been technical glitches, Calrec has dispatched replacements straight away so that we could avoid downtime. The consoles we installed in 2006 are still running smoothly.’
‘SuperSport covers some of the biggest sporting events in Africa and the world, and it is a major source of sports content for people across the African continent,’ added Anthony Harrison, Middle East and Africa sales manager at Calrec. ‘This is the third 64-fader Artemis console for SuperSport, bringing their total to six Calrec consoles across the fleet. The fact that they continue to use Calrec desks and have invested in the Apollo and Artemis range is a strong vote of confidence in the value of the consoles.’