Telegenic readying 4k-capable truck for 2013

UK outside broadcast company Telegenic is in the early stages of building a 4k-capable truck and plans to have it ready before the middle of next year for sports production, as well as live music and drama deployments.

Telegenic is continuing its trend for keeping up with emerging technology after putting the first UK HD OB scanner on the road in 2001 and then ordering Europe’s first 3D production vehicle, T18, in 2009. The firm now has four 3D trucks – T18 and T21, which were commissioned by Sky, and T19 and T23 – plus three HD scanners, T8, T14 and T16.

Even though 4k technology is still being tested for broadcast applications, Telegenic’s commercial manager Eamonn Curtin says the company feels some customers will be looking to work in the format when the new truck, designated T25, goes into operation. “4k will live side-by-side with 3D,” he says. “The first 4k TV sets are appearing and the technology is similar, so we hope it will work with glasses-free 3D as well.”

Telegenic moved into 3D in conjunction with Sky Sports, which ordered the first truck. Curtin says although the company is known for sport it is talking about 4k to people in other markets and genres, such as drama and music. “But there was a lot of 4k at the London Olympics due to tests of Super High Vision,” he comments, “so we know there is an appetite for this technology in sport. As a company Telegenic is keen to be very future-driven in terms of technology.”

T25 will be capable of both 4k and 3D operations and is currently under construction at coachbuilders AF Smith. Telegenic’s last five trucks were systems integrated by Sony Professional and although Curtin says this relationship is likely to continue, the installation stage has not been planned as yet.

“The 4k cameras are very new and we haven’t decided on them yet,” Curtin comments. “We’ve been speaking to Sonya about the vision switcher and they’ve been testing systems as well. As long as the equipment is 3G-capable there will be the bandwidth we need.”

On the audio side Telegenic is a Calrec Audio user and Curtin says they will be talking to the manufacturer at some point.

T25 is due to go into service during May 2013.