German U.COM Media discusses host broadcaster role at Solheim Cup

For the first time, German TV viewers could be eyewitnesses when the US top team of women professional golfers chanted “Class, USA Style” during the 2015 Solheim Cup, which was held from September 18-20. The 14th edition of the most prestigious tournament in women’s golf was transmitted by public German broadcaster Südwest Rundfunk (SWR), as well via live streams on the internet. As host broadcaster, Düsseldorf-based company U.COM Media was on-site at the Golf Club St. Leon-Rot near Heidelberg throughout the prestigious three-day event.

The Solheim Cup, a biennial team competition between the top women professional golfers from Europe and the United States, was staged in Germany for the first time this year. “We produced the world feed and coordinated four unilateral feeds for Sky UK, Golf Channel, SWR and the German digital feed,” reports Hendrik Finger, head of business development, U.COM Media.

In addition, the company produced the event’s in-house TV as well as the Global News Service and New Media content for different social media channels and sponsoring platforms.

For the Solheim matches, U.COM Media utilised HD1 and HD12 facilities from MPP Mediatec, including 25 wired cameras in the field and seven RF cameras, as well as the fully remote controllable AntelopeAIR Extreme Slow Motion and live camera system. The complete wireless telemetry gives the camera operator the freedom to concentrate on finding the best angles. The spectacular moves on the golf course were captured at more than 5,000 fps in native HD. Additional camera equipment included a Spidercam system.

U.COM Media had two HD OB vans on site to host the event, with one master control room and three sub control rooms. The SNG facilities were provided by fernsehwerft, whilst more than 140 U.COM contracted staff in all different departments made the production a global success. The world feed with more than 30 hours of coverage over four days was transmitted in more than 60 countries.

For its 20-hour live production of the event, German public broadcaster SWR also had an OB van and two uplinks on site. TV Skyline was supporting the Sky UK feed at the Solheim Cup with the brand new OB van Ü8 UHD and included the studio positions as unilateral feed in their production.

The three-day event concluded with the closest score in the history of the Cup, with the US winning by 14½ points to 13½.