Fletcher Sports adds Grass Valley cameras, replay systems

Viewers tune in to live sporting events for the excitement and the ability to watch slow-motion replays of the game-changing action. Capturing those plays typically requires specialized cameras, and that is exactly what Fletcher Sports in Chicago offers with its arsenal of rental equipment provided for coverage of professional and college sports, entertainment and events.

To up its game, Fletcher just added a large number of new LDX C86 Cameras and K2 Dyno Replay Systems from Grass Valley, a Belden Brand.

Fletcher has been around for more than a quarter century and has gained a reputation for understanding and meeting the needs of its customers. The company provides cameras, robotics and personnel for any event, with a heavy emphasis on sports. Customers include networks or teams such as the NHL Network, the YES Network, MSG Network, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Comcast Sports Bay Area Network and many others.

“It doesn’t make sense for our customers to invest in these kinds of solutions because they are very specific to the super slo-mo applications, so they rely on us to have the latest technology and to know how to get the most out of it,” says Dan Grainge, president of Fletcher Sports. “We’ve used Grass Valley cameras from the very earliest models and when the time came to upgrade, we were confident that there was no other manufacturer providing the same level of performance and value.”

The LDX C86 Series of compact high frame rate cameras are the world’s first self-contained high-speed cameras in a small form factor. They are an extension to the revolutionary LDX 86 Series of cameras—built for business flexibility and operational excellence—with superior imaging, processing and performance. Fletcher uses its LDX C86 cameras to provide specialty angles such as in-net cameras for hockey, slam cams for basketball, under scoreboard cameras and other applications where super slo-mo is required to take the action to the next level for viewers. To increase functionality, LDX C86 cameras also offer live 1X standard-speed output in addition to the high-speed output as well as the highest sensitivity and image performance across all of the different acquisition speeds.

The K2 Dyno Replay System makes it easy for operators to create engaging replays and highlight packages. The system’s unique AnySpeed technology dynamically provides the smoothest playback at any speed from zero to 200 percent, while the DynoZoom tool allows for pan/zoom functions to be applied to high frame-rate camera systems including 3X 1080p, 6X and 4K UHD.

Fletcher provided some of that new equipment for coverage of the recent NHL All-Star game, marking the first time that all robotic cameras captured 6X hi-speed action with super slo-mo capability. Five cameras were deployed right at ice level during the game.

“Sports fans have grown accustomed to being part of the action today. They expect to see every detail in slow-motion replays and want to experience it from multiple angles. With the LDX C86 family of cameras and K2 Dyno Replay Systems, Fletcher Sports gives customers what they need to deliver a world-class experience for their viewers,” noted Kyle Luther, vice president of sales for North America, Grass Valley.