NEP UK and Ireland, a leading provider of outside broadcast services, and part of the global NEP Group, has announced its extensive technical support for The Championships, Wimbledon 2024.
In partnership with Wimbledon Broadcast Services (WBS), NEP is enhancing the viewing experience by providing HDR content to more broadcasters than ever before.
Deployment of Industry-Leading OB Trucks
NEP UK is deploying its advanced Outside Broadcast (OB) trucks, including Ceres, Venus, and Pacific. These trucks utilize IP technology to meet the increasing demand for high-definition and high dynamic range (HDR) content. The use of 50p HDR technology by more broadcasters ensures an unparalleled viewing experience for tennis fans worldwide.
Collaborative Efforts and Technical Innovations
The collaboration between NEP and WBS technical teams, along with the utilization of NEP Group’s global production ecosystem, enables seamless operation and broadcast delivery. NEP provides a range of services including OB trucks, specialty camera solutions, connectivity, media asset management, live display, and other broadcast services.
Sam Broadfoot, Technical Project Manager at NEP UK, stated, “Each year, our collaboration with WBS reaches new heights, and The Championships 2024 is another chapter in our longtime partnership, one where we’re delivering an in demand HDR viewing experience to audiences around the world.”
Georgina Green, Senior Broadcast & Production Manager at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, added, “Our partnership with NEP continues to bring unparalleled technical excellence. Their dedication to quality and innovation ensures Wimbledon Broadcast Services is world leading in host broadcast production.”
Fletcher’s AI-Powered Camera System
Fletcher, a division of NEP, is reintroducing its AI-powered automatic camera system, TR-ACE, for capturing action on seven out of 18 courts in 1080p SDR. The TR-ACE system uses image recognition and LIDAR technologies to autonomously track players, allowing a single operator to manage the entire system.
Mediabank Enhances Content Management
NEP’s Mediabank, an award-winning media asset management tool, is being used to manage and distribute content. It provides remote access to match highlights, press conferences, and other video clips. A 10G link to Mediabank in Oslo is supplied by IMG via NEP Connect.
Support for Qualifying Matches by OBStv
OBStv, a division of NEP Ireland, supported the qualifying matches with two OB trucks, providing essential edit and ingest facilities. NEP Edit & Ingest is providing over 130 EVS products and 1PB of central storage for The Championships.
Creative Technology Enhances Visual Experience
Creative Technology (CT), an NEP Group Live Events company, is managing 106 LED displays and the in-house IPTV system for 2,000 televisions around the venue. CT also installed an immersive projection experience in the players’ tunnel and is collaborating with SMT to stream all 18 courts during the Qualifying Competition.
New Technology and Fan Engagement
For 2024, new technology includes fan engagement screens in Wimbledon Park and upgraded displays in the No.1 Court Wimbledon Shop. CT and NEP are also providing radio talkback and microphone facilities to ensure smooth communication and audio capture.
This comprehensive technical support by NEP UK and Ireland ensures a high-quality broadcast of The Championships, Wimbledon 2024, enhancing the experience for audiences worldwide.
About NEP Group
NEP Group is a global leader in media technology, providing a comprehensive range of services for live production, virtual production, and media processing. The company supports various sectors including sports, entertainment, and broadcast.
News source: NEP Group
