NVP chooses Grass Valley to boost OB fleet for 4K UHD and HDR

Italy’s NVP has bought a range of live production technology from Grass Valley that will be used as part of an upgrade to its outside broadcast (OB) fleet. The production company and facilities provider is doing the refurb in order to cope with an increasing demand for 4K UHD and HDR content.

Inside NVP’s OB4 and newly launched OB6 vehicles, the teams are ready for 4K UHD and HDR

Installed in NVP’s OB4 and newly launched OB6 vehicles, this implementation strengthens NVP’s position as a provider of live production services in Europe, the company claimed.

Both trucks are equipped with Grass Valley’s 4K UHD and HDR-capable, Kahuna 9600 production switcher, Kaleido multiviewers, Densité modular infrastructure, Sirius 840 router and KudosPro converters. These solutions were chosen for their picture quality, flexibility and resilience. The 4K UHD and HDR capability of the Kahuna 9600 and its seamless integration with the Sirius 840 router, together deliver a scalable path to all functionality and format requirements, all critical factors for NVP.

“Viewers have long judged video content by the quality of images on their screens, which is why we’re always pursuing the next breakthrough in technology, setting a benchmark for the highest quality live productions. Our customers know they can rely on us to meet shifting demands, like the rise of 4K UHD and HDR, and enable them to efficiently deliver the content their viewers want,” said Natalino Pintabona, chief executive officer at NVP. “Having collaborated with Grass Valley over the years, we knew from past experiences – and successes – that they were the logical choice for this important project. We now have a robust set of solutions that enable us to meet the increasingly complex production needs for live sports and entertainment broadcasts. The Grass Valley workflow also drives greater operational efficiency, helping us work smarter so we can make the most effective use of our resources.”

The project’s system integration, design and build was provided by Video Progetti, an Italian systems integrator and long term Grass Valley channel partner.

“It was crucial for us to futureproof these first-class trucks with the best and latest technologies that could support live 4K UHD/HDR productions,” added Carlo Struzzi, chief executive officer at Video Progetti. “When it came to sourcing critical elements like production switchers, routers and multiviewers, we knew to look no further than to Grass Valley. These solutions are helping make NVP’s OB vans a model in technical and operational efficiency for the industry.”

Added Tim Banks, vice president of sales, EMEA, Grass Valley: “It’s imperative that broadcasters are equipped with the right tools and technologies that enable them to meet the growing expectations of viewers. We’re proud to be working with NVP helping them to deliver the highest quality live productions with a rock-solid and futureproof solution for their OB fleet.”

NVP plans to launch a third 4K UHD and HDR-enabled OB van in 2020, as it continues to expand its operations both in Italy and across other markets.