Broadcast Solutions’ latest Innovation Day attracts 200-plus

The latest in Broadcast Solutions’ series of far-reaching broadcast Innovation Days took place at the company’s headquarters in Bingen, Germany, on 9 December. Once again it featured extensive exhibits and OB van showcases, as well as a couple of seminar sessions addressing two of the major issues of the day – the movement towards IP-based production, and the rise of 4K and HDR.

With a production hall packed with more than ten OB Vans in all sizes (from a Streamline S12 to a tailor-made 30 camera OB Van for Al-Kass) visitors could see first-hand how Broadcast Solutions plans and builds its OB vehicles. Even more, with major brands from the industry showing their solutions and products, the exhibition area served as an information and networking resource in which to discuss new technology and projects.

Further must-sees for visitors were presented in the outdoor area, where a Robycam cable camera system was used in live mode flying over the heads of the visitors. As a world premier visitors had the chance to see the 3in 2out 4K 50p servers from slomo.tv – billed as the only 4K system available today that works from one unit. BlackJack works as a 5-channel 4K 50p slow-motion unit or can be used for recording up to 16 channels 3G with three operators editing (slo-mo and highlights) up to 4 channels simultaneously.

Broadcast Solutions also showcased its groundbreaking Satcom on the Move solution, which allows for data and video transmission while on the move. For the first time in Europe, 4.5 Mb HD quality video was transmitted while driving. The transmission was a standard SNG setup and was received on location with a dish as small as 1.5 meter.

For the IP panel, Broadcast Solutions partnered with SVG Europe to provide an expansive look at the production and connectivity revolution now taking place. Joining moderator and SVG Europe managing editor David Davies were: Claus Pfeiffer, Strategic Marketing Manager – Broadcast & Cinematography, Sony Professional Solutions Europe; Chuck Meyer, CTO, Production, Grass Valley USA, LLC; Philipp Lawo, CEO, LAWO AG; Thomas Riedel, CEO, Riedel Communications GmbH & Co. KG; and Sebastian Ruchti, Sales Engineer for Germany & Austria, Evertz Microsystems Ltd.

Taking part in the panel session were: Klaus Weber, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Camera, Grass Valley; Gisbert Hochgürtel, Product Manager Professional Solutions Europe, Sony Europe Ltd; and Jan Fröhlich, PhD Student at Stuttgart Media University, Color Scientist at Dolby Laboratories Inc. The session was moderated by Rainer Kampe, CTO, Broadcast Solutions.