Panasonic AW-HN40H TV Technology: Guide to Sports Production - Page 9

camera systems," because none of the others were fast enough to keep up with the horses while providing consistent, smooth video. To use BATCAM at the Derby, two 80-foot reticu- lated arm lift trucks with 10-foot extension trusses were positioned inside the track's second and third turns respec- tively. Next, a high-tension cable measuring 2,200 feet was suspended between them at a height of 90 feet above ground. BATCAM- with its remotely-controlled AK-HC1500G HD "camera car" unit-was then mounted The BATCAM provided a smooth, extremely clear overhead camera view of the Churchill Downs' back stretch from end to end. on the cable. For the Kentucky Derby-which averaged 15 million view- The result was a smooth, extremely clear overhead camera ers this year-NBC Sports thought it worthwhile to add a 4K view of the Churchill Downs' back stretch from end to end. (It camera to the production. can be seen in this NBC Sports clip of the race by clicking on "If our budget has the room, we use 4K where we can," said the picture above.) DeKime. "4K lends itself to the finish line camera, and we'll use "You could see the race from a spectator's point of view," it on various other horse races. If the Belmont becomes a Triple said Roche. "You were travelling side-by-side with the horses Crown contender, I can promise you that we'll have 4K on the fin- as they ran along the back stretch." ish line as well." [This issue went to press prior to the race.] He noted CAMERAS & OTHER CONSIDERATIONS that the Sony HDC-4300s can be upgraded to 4K if required, allowing NBC Sports to scale up 4K resolution if need be. In addition to BATCAM, NBC Sports had 52 HD cameras As for the mobile production trucks NBC Sports used positioned around the Churchill Downs course. "We used 27 NEP's ND1s A, B, C and D units for the main NBC network Sony HDC-2500 cameras-including six handhelds connected show, according to Kice. "Earlier in the day, when we were wirelessly by BSI RF equipment-eight HDC-4300s and one on NBCSN, we used NEP's SS-15. We also had a mobile unit HDC-4800 4K camera for the finish line," said Keith Kice, there from BSI that provided all of our RF audio and video NBC Sports' senior technical manager. "We ran the 4800 at for the show." four times speed and were able to do the digital zoom on the Laying out all 52 cameras, and connecting them back to camera [to take a closer look at the finishers while delivering the production trucks (by fiber optic cable or RF), was a major 1080p video resolution]." challenge for NBC Sports due to Churchill Downs' sheer size. "It's about a mile around," Kice said. "Getting everything in place, connected, and checked out on schedule made for a very full three days." Despite all the factors NBC Sports had to deal with, everything went as planned for Derby fans. "The weather was pretty horrible, and it put a damper on everything; no pun intend- ed," said DeKime. "But for as much rain as we got, during what was probably the wettest Kentucky Derby ever, we had very few prob- lems. One of the cables got fried due to water near the end of the day, but overall it was The owners of Justify, the winner of the "Run for the Roses," are awarded the trophy. technically a pretty good day for everybody despite the circumstances." [9] TV TECHNOLOGY