Norway prepares for first 3D production
Norway: Next week’s crucial Euro 2012 qualifier between Norway and Cyprus on 11 October will mark Norway’s first stereo 3D broadcast, as TV 2 makes the most of OB-Team’s brand new 3D capable OB truck, HD 3, to capture the event at Ullevaal for TX on the Canal Digital platform.
Jens Cornelius Knudsen, senior director, production TV 2, will be the man in the hot seat, and spent last weekend in England observing Sky Sports’ 3D production of the North London derby between Spurs and Arsenal at White Hart Lane. Indeed, he’s been eager to tap into expertise wherever he can for the five-rig shoot, hiring a stereographer and convergence operator from the experienced pool in England to ensure quality control.
He admits it’s a learning curve – slower cutting, working with 5 cameras instead of the normal minimum for Norwegian football of 16 (though, naturally, the production is also going to use a 2D-3D converter to take advantage of the simultaneous 2D shoot) – but is excited by the challenge. “I am of the opinion that we do not get started until we have tried something, so this is this a good manoeuvre and an opportunity to learn a lot. We will take an internal assessment in the aftermath,” he says.
For OB-Team, it’s validation of its decision to make HD 3 3D-capable. “It is exciting that we can finally go on the air with a full 3D production,” says Bjørnar Nordahl, managing director of the company. “We’ve really been lucky with the timing. We needed to expand our fleet of television production trucks. At the same time 3D technology and the market for 3D production evolved so that it seemed appropriate to build the 3D functionality to our newest OB truck.”
“It is important that football is at the forefront of development,” adds Norwegian FA president, Yngve Hallén. “We want to give all those who do not have the opportunity to be on our national arena, Ullevaal Stadium, a visual experience as close to the real as possible. 3D provides a unique feeling of togetherness. I am therefore pleased that the Football Media and together with our partners to offer Norway vs Cyprus in full 3D production.”
The 3D broadcast will be available for Canal Digital’s customers – both satellite and cable – on a new channel named TV 2 3D. Graphics are from Vizrt New York. Norway should beat Cyprus comfortably, but whether they’ll qualify from this year’s iteration of the tournament’s ‘Group of Death’ (which also contains Portugal and Denmark) depends on other results.