Leader helps Mediapro keep OB camera sources balanced in Madrid and Baku

Leader test equipment formed the core signal monitoring resource deployed by Barcelona-based television production group Mediapro for its coverage of the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League Final in Madrid on 1 June.

Selected by UEFA as the host broadcaster, Mediapro fielded multiple OB vehicles, 42 cameras and more than 150 crew to capture the match for 4K and HD simulcasting. The project was accomplished in cooperation with system specialist and production services provider Mediaburst.

“The Leader instruments gave us the full range of facilities needed to ensure accurate colour matching from the very large number of signal sources,” commented Mediapro CTO and Operations Manager Emili Planas Quintana. “Shooting in 4K is especially demanding as the fourfold increase in resolution compared with HD means every aspect of the production process has to be handled with even greater care to ensure the improved quality is maintained right through the signal processing chain. Leader’s operator-assignable multiscreen feature is particularly useful for side-by-side comparison of the various signal parameters.”

“This was the latest in a long series of high profile sports events at which Leader instruments have been deployed to ensure high quality signal monitoring,” added Kevin Salvidge, Leader’s European regional development manager. “Sport OB continues to be the primary driver for 4K-UHD broadcasting as the extra detail which can be delivered really brings match coverage alive. A key feature of the LV5490 is the ease with which it can be configured to match a wide choice of production standards. These can be selected either at the time of purchase or added as optional upgrades during the proven very long lifetime of Leader test instruments.”

As well as the UEFA Champions League Final in Madrid, Mediapro also used Leader test equipment in Baku for the production of the UEFA Europa League Final and in Portugal for the UEFA Nations League Finals.