Live Sports, LLC Makes Panasonic AK-UB300 4K Box Cameras Crucial Component of Ultimate Remote Production Model
LiveSports, LLC (Beaumont, TX) has recently implemented six of Panasonic’s new AK-UB300 4K box cameras as the linchpin of a new remote production paradigm for coverage of professional tennis tours (ATP and WTA) on behalf of its client, IMG Gaming.
Beginning early this year, LiveSports switched out its previous generation of Panasonic AJ-HPX370 P2 HD camcorders for the UB300 4K multi-purpose cameras mounted on robotic motion control heads.
“IMG Gaming had asked us to start producing in 4K in anticipation of eventual 4K broadcasts,” said LiveSports’ president Jef Kethley. “We chose the UB300s based on native 4K acquisition, the ability to paint the cameras over IP, compact ergonomics and our years of successful collabo-ration with Panasonic.”
“Also, the UB300 fully supports our established workflow,” he continued. “We use a mixture of converters to take the 4K output and convert it into NewTek’s NDI IP video over the network. Once the cameras are recognized as a video source, they are accessible to our NewTek IPSeries Video Mix Engine switcher on our network. Having the video in the NDI realm from the cameras allows us to have much more flexibility to route them to multiple devices in the truck.”
Kethley describes a grueling schedule on a 45-week tour that chases hot weather and regularly serves up a succession of daily matches lasting from 9 a.m. till 11 p.m. “Since installing the UB300s, we no longer have any camera operators court-side cooking in the sun. We very quickly went to fully remote production from our production buses at the venues,” he explained. “For the recent Chicago, Binghamton and Lexington tour legs, we were more remote than ever, running the production and controlling some of the cameras from our Network Operations Center (NOC) in Texas. That is truly remote production.
“It’s hard to overestimate the savings in travel costs, not to mention the reduced wear and tear on our crew. The big thing to us is making it easier for the crew.”
While LiveSports feeds outlets such as ESPN and the Tennis Channel by way of satellite truck uplinks, its main audience is internet-based, with live video transmitted from a dedicated server setup to overseas gaming houses throughout Europe and Asia. (Tennis is one of the world’s most popular sports for on-line betting, only outpaced by professional soccer.)
“The UB300s deliver stellar performance,” Kethley said. “Our newfound ability to produce in 4K satisfies the needs of our largest client, gives us a wider range of events to potentially cover, and enables us to future-proof our work.”
For more information about LiveSports, LLC, visit www.live-sports.tv.
About the AK-UB300 4K Multi-Purpose Box Camera
The AK-UB300 provides the precise camerawork and high image quality you need for sports and other events. It can achieve 4K image quality even when shooting low-budget content in a small-scale studio, and it is also an excellent choice for aerial shooting. To maximize ease-of-use and handle a wide range of needs, the AK-UB300 has a low-light noise reduction function utilizing high sense mode, a newly developed haze reduction function, and 4K output board (3G×4) switching. Along with the 4K output, it has a 4K focus assist function, and there is also an HD cropping marker. In addition, HD-IP streaming and IP control enable system integration with the AW series. The result is camera operation with both flexibility and scalability.
For more information about Panasonic professional video products, vis-it www.panasonic.com/broadcast or contact Panasonic at 877-803-8492.
Panasonic Media Entertainment Company
Panasonic Media Entertainment Company specializes in creating technology solutions for the entertainment, integrated resorts, sports, and professional AV markets including house of worship, education, broadcast and cinema. The company’s customized systems and technologies incorporate high-performance projectors and professional displays; large screen LED video displays; broadcast, cinema and pro video equipment; professional audio systems, and energy-saving lighting equipment. A division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, Panasonic Media Entertainment Company is based in Newark, NJ, with offices in Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA; Orlando, FL; and Coppell, TX.
About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading technology partner to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation, and leverages its strengths in immersive entertainment, sustainable ener-gy, automated supply chains and connected mobility to provide integrated solutions for B2B customers. Panasonic was featured in Fortune Magazine’s 2016 ranking of 50 companies that are changing the world and doing well by doing good. Specif-ically cited were its smart and sustainable technologies, including its contributions to smart cities and the electric vehicle revolution. Learn more about Panasonic’s ideas and innovations at www.PanasonicMovesUs.com.
Contact:
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Neil Matsumoto, +1 323-217-5618, [email protected]