Adapting to change: Videe battles the elements to deliver Alpine Junior World Ski Championship
From 24 February to 6 March, Tarvisio in Italy became a global stage where over 350 athletes from 60 nations ignited the slopes with their passion and skills during the 44th FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championship (JWSC).
Set against the breath-taking panorama of the Julian Alps in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, the championship was an amazing sporting event and a vibrant testament to the future of alpine skiing. Tarvisio, with its unique confluence of Italian, Slovenian, and Austrian cultures, provided the perfect setting for this unforgettable competition. Its spectacular downhill slopes were chosen for being among the most technical and interesting in the Alps and delivered unforgettable moments in a perfect mix of pure adrenaline and technical skills.
The competition was promoted by the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) and planned and organised by Promoturismo FVG, the regional body responsible for the development and operation of tourism in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region.
The organising body chose to rely on Videe to deliver worldwide live streaming of the event, which showcased the talent of athletes between the ages of 15 and 20.
“At Videe, we understand that TV broadcast requires more than just technical proficiency. That’s why we offer tailor-made solutions that go beyond mere technical expertise, incorporating a dedicated team, a collaborative mindset, and expert guidance in stylistic and editorial decisions. By working closely with Promoturismo FVG, we ensured that every aspect of their project was carefully considered and executed to the highest standards,” comments Paola Montanari, CEO & founder, Videe.
Videe was the host broadcaster of all the events that make up the JWSC, including the opening and medal ceremonies. To deliver this service, Videe proposed a broadcast solution to meet the specific conditions and requirements of both Promoturismo and FIS. The technical system included the provision of an OB truck with up to 10 cameras for the live stream on FIS TV and the live broadcast on ORF and SRG SSR, as well as ENG crews, a Jimmy Jib, micro and RF cameras, and drones.
“Our project was conceived in order to maximise the spectacle of the races and to ensure a fully reliable TV production even in extreme conditions. It also provided the utmost flexibility in adapting to unpredictable events, such as the need to change the skiing race course due to bad weather. To enhance coverage, we established a technical hub at the slalom starting grid, facilitating the easy and strategic repositioning of cameras to cover multiple disciplines. Drones flying over both slopes helped capture the most spectacular curves delivering a comprehensive and breath-taking view of the course.”
“We also set up a Technical Operations Centre at our premises in Pordenone to manage and process the streaming feeds leveraging our redundant and double internet network to maximum effect. In addition to live AV shooting, we were responsible for producing daily highlights and clips for social media. To that, we deployed ENG crews and a replay system, focusing on dual video formatting (16:9 for traditional platforms and 9:16 for social media optimisation),” explains Giuliano Lot, chief engineer, Videe.
To ensure viewers’ maximum involvement, and production quality as well as operational efficiency, Videe chose to rely on a Sony integrated ecosystem onboard its EXP03 truck. “Based on our experience and following experimentation and technical testing, we opted for the Sony PWS-4500 replay system, which ensured a speedy and reliable workflow which boasts a user-friendly interface. It proved to be the right choice for instant replays thus guaranteeing a cinematic look and low latency,” continues Lot.
“Thanks to its XAVC-based architecture, it actually ensured superior image quality, allowing every action to be reviewed with uncompromised fluidity and detail. In the context of alpine skiing, where the fast-paced competition alternates with breath-taking landscapes and extraordinary athletic performances, the ability to capture and replay every moment with maximum precision is crucial. The PWS-4500 enabled multi-angle replay in high resolution, ensuring total viewer engagement and allowing commentators to analyse every technical move with extreme accuracy. HDC-4800 cameras were integrated in the system and their BPU, which guaranteed the highest efficiency and the optimal management of the high frame rate workflow,” commented Andrea De Bortoli, technical sales manager, Videe.
“Teamwork and the expertise of the 30 crew members proved essential,” adds Nicola Degano, production manager, Videe. “A key factor in our strength and reliability is our rigorous approach to selecting the best talent for every production. By carefully choosing the right people for each project, we ensure that our clients receive exceptional results and unparalleled service. Producing a live broadcast on the snow is no easy feat. The snow is staring you down, making every aspect of the broadcast a challenge. The event actually showcased our team’s remarkable resilience and technical prowess, as they successfully overcame adverse weather conditions and unpredictable elements to produce a broadcast that was both visually stunning and technically flawless.”
Lukas Brawand, digital strategy and platforms coordinator, FIS, was onsite during the whole competition together with Timotej Dudas, event project manager, FIS. He comments: “I think it was very important to have a solid and good live host broadcast production at the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championship in Tarvisio because it sets the stage for the future of tomorrow’s best athletes: they get used to a World Championships scenario, to being captured on video and giving interviews. It was great that we had a high standard TV production in Tarvisio and Videe also delivered the highlights for all the events including the full race recap, so that the entire ski community could follow the action. Thanks to Videe we were able to provide personalised and dedicated clips of each and every event of the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championship to all nations and athletes participating. Everything was clipped and personalised and this is a fantastic achievement for a high value service. These clips, which are shared by the federations and by the athletes themselves on social media, are the elements that allow the Junior World Championships to be promoted.”
Iacopo Mestroni, president of the JWSC Tarvisio 2025 Organizing Committee and general director of Promoturismo FVG, said: “The 2025 edition of the Alpine Junior World Ski Championships was a true success for our territory. It was the result of a collective effort in which the collaboration with Videe was a key element. As the official host broadcaster, Videe was able to understand the requirements of an international event thanks to their expertise and overview, and delivered a HB production of the highest technical and editorial quality that met the expectations of FIS and the global audience. Videe’s ability to quickly react to the logistical and meteorological challenges that can arise during such an event was particularly remarkable, and the competitions were broadcast with a smooth and engaging storytelling, highlighting both Tarvisio and the sporting event, and resulting in a powerful and authentic story. For Promoturismo FVG Videe is an excellent partner that is able to showcase our territory and to significantly contribute to the promotion of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s image in the world.”
Erica Grillo, sales manager & new business development at Videe, concludes: “I saw the project take shape from the first draft through site surveys with Promoturismo and videocalls with Promoturismo and FIS, and I was onsite during the setup days and most of the production days. Working with Promoturismo has been great: they’ve granted us full support and collaboration throughout the planning project and onsite with their crew and volunteers. FIS has been a valuable partner and we’ve worked really well together, especially when we had to adapt our production plans following heavy snowfall and an updated race calendar. We’re eager to work together again soon. The HB service delivered by Videe during the FIS JSWC confirms Videe’s team and OB units are fit for winter sports productions and we look forward to providing our services again for events like the FIS World Cup and the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.”