NEP Broadcasting’s International Events Group (IEG) assisted IMG Media in providing coverage of the 52nd annual World Golf Championships – Barbados World Cup live from St. James, Barbados. The event took place from December 5 through December 10, and ABC and ESPN broadcast 12 hours of U.S. coverage. IMG/ABC also had to simultaneously cover event highlights for broadcasts in 140 countries.
In order to capture the tournament for an estimated 200 million viewers, NEP’s IEG used a modern, flexible and fast-assembly fly-pack infrastructure, and shipped nearly 45 tons of equipment to St. James from NEP Broadcasting’s Pittsburgh headquarters. In addition, NEP sent eight of its core engineers to manage and maintain all on-site equipment throughout the event.
IMG/ABC worked from one main production gallery for overall tournament coverage, with an additional smaller production area for the international broadcast. The equipment for the main site was outfitted with 62 stacked monitors and 35 isolation monitors and included a Sony HDS-X3600 64×64 video router accompanied by a Sony HDS-X3600 128×128 audio router; a Thompson Grass Valley DD35 digital switcher; eight Sony Digital Beta tape machines; two six-channel EVS LSM hard disk video recorders; a 52-channel Soundcraft Series 5 mixing console; a 48-channel Yamaha PM4000 console; and 20 cameras comprised of Thompson Grass Valley LDK 6000 HDs and Sony 900 SDs.
The smaller production unit’s equipment was comprised of a Trilogy Intercom Matrix; a Networks 32×32 video and stereo audio router; a Ross Video Synergy 2.5 MD switcher; two wireless Sony 950 cameras; two Sony Digital Beta tape machines; a Crest Century VX mixing console; and a six-channel EVS LSM.
“Broadcasting in the Caribbean is a challenge in and of itself – travel distance, time and customs are always an issue when preparing our shipping schedule,” says NEP Vice President Errol Foremaster. “The tropical terrain is also a major factor, subjecting our equipment to the region’s notorious, unpredictable weather and humid conditions. To address this dilemma, we engaged in alternative solutions, which resulted in our decision to ship fly packs and set up tents to weatherproof the equipment.”
For more information, visit www.nepinc.com, www.imgworld.com and www.worldgolfchampionships.com.
