HBS supports UEFA’s Euro 2024 host broadcast operation

The International Broadcast Centre in Leipzig, Germany (Photo by Tullio Puglia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

HBS has once again provided services in support of UEFA’s host broadcast operation of Euro 2024, including IBC and broadcast infrastructure, commentary services and staff management.

It is the sixth consecutive edition of the tournament for which HBS has delivered services to UEFA.

The 21,000 square metre IBC was located at the Leipziger Messe in Leipzig and served as the hub of UEFA’s host broadcast operations and a base for 27 of UEFA’s broadcast partners.

All temporary broadcast-related structures at the IBC were delivered by HBS on behalf of UEFA. The project included the assembly of all temporary IBC facilities, beginning at the start of April, including broadcast power, HVAC and fire prevention installations and the day-to-day management of the site during the event.

Read more Euro 2024: Inside UEFA’s International Broadcast Centre

The design of the IBC was focused on limiting the impact of its set-up on the environment, with several elements meant to be reused for general construction after the event, and others (such as the bespoke temporary air conditioning installation) using rental components.

Meanwhile for broadcast power, a sustainable 1MVA redundant UPS supply solution has been implemented, avoiding the use of running generators altogether, significantly reducing the CO2 footprint, HBS said.

Once the IBC facility was constructed the operations on-site were also covered, with the IBC core system, audio operations, monitoring and intercom systems installed and managed by HBS teams.

Managing the host broadcast adaptation equipment that caters for signal exchange between each Stadium and the IBC, while the Master Control Room (MCR) and feeds distribution were delivered through a fully redundant IP infrastructure. This IP set-up reduced installation time and increased scalability and flexibility, said HBS.

At venues the commentary/audio contribution solution from the venues to the IBC also relied on IP technology, with a similar fully redundant set-up. The overall system consisting of 500 IP Commentary units offered a turnkey solution to broadcasters operating at the venue, the IBC or remotely (via IP-codec turnarounds).

In addition, recruitment and management of some specific sections of UEFA’s IBC-based staff also rested with HBS, a service delivered by HBS for UEFA Euro events since the 2004 edition in Portugal.

HBS said it was “proud to have been able to participate in the delivery of the competition and honoured to be counted as a trusted supplier of UEFA, helping to ensure that the event is beamed to football fans across the world”.