IBC2015 Q&A: NEP Visions’ Brian Clark on Looking for the Next Big Thing

With IBC kicking off this week in Amsterdam, SVG sat down with several industry leaders who will be roaming this year’s show looking for the next big thing to help them produce high-quality live sports telecasts. NEP Visions Commercial and Technical Projects Director Brian Clark will be on hand at IBC, exploring technology to help the company’s trucks and flypacks serve client needs today while accounting for the expected rise of IP and 4K in the coming years. Here’s a preview of what Clark will be looking for at IBC2015.

Brian Clark, director, commercial and technical projects, NEP Visions

Will you be looking at anything specifically? Any specific technology that especially excites you?
We will be examining the IP and 4K demands for trucks and flypack operations, along with project-specific technologies for some very exciting and demanding events in 2016. In terms of specific technology, High Dynamic Range and colour space for 4K [are intriguing] and also the new fibre-based audio field kits and video field kits.
What market trends are you expecting to see at IBC this year when it comes to the OB market?
Further pushes in 4K and how we manipulate and replay the format with the future of frame rate and UHD at the foremost.

How is NEP Visions preparing for the potential rise of live 4K production? Or are you?
We are already looking into this and undertaking projects at the cutting edge of 4K developments in UHD.

Does NEP Visions have any plans to adopt an IP router in the near future?
We have seen several major U.S. truck providers integrate IP routers into their latest large OB trucks. We are actively looking into this and all the related issues around IP and what the various manufacturers are offering.

Sports-wise, what has been the defining moment for NEP Visions over the past 12 months? What were the key events that NEP Visions OB trucks have worked in recent months?
We have a lot of defining moments: our continued support of the host broadcasting by BBC for Wimbledon, our coverage of the Champions League final in Germany for Sky and Fox, the successful coverage of the EPL, our involvement with the BBC Sport and Film Nova coverage of athletics and the various City Games and Runs, and not forgetting the amazing race coverage of the Grand National, Cheltenham, and Royal Ascot.