Vivaro delivers remote production of Pan American Games
The 2023 Pan American Games, held in Santiago, Chile, from 20 October to 5 November, celebrated athletic excellence and also marked a significant evolution in sports broadcasting. The event showcased innovative approaches in media technology and sustainability in production, led by global media group Vivaro.
As a co-host broadcaster, Vivaro’s approach to live production resulted in the live broadcast of nearly the entire event, a first in the history of the Pan American Games. “The Pan American Games provided a unique platform to demonstrate Vivaro’s capabilities in transforming sports broadcasting,” remarked Gustavo Mario De la Garza Flores, CEO of Vivaro Group.
The organiser’s Panam Sports Channel further amplified this reach by broadcasting the games live and free, offering nine live signals to global audiences. This approach offered a wider reach and brought fans closer to the sports, giving them the opportunity to witness over 6,900 athletes from 41 countries competing in 31 disciplines contributing to Olympic qualification for Paris 2024.
Vivaro Video’s use of remote production (REMI) was a game-changer, reducing the host broadcaster expense by 41% compared to the 2019 games. “Our commitment to REMI technology not only enhanced broadcast quality but also marked a significant step in cost-efficient production,” said Rodrigo Peralta, CEO of Vivaro’s subsidiary in Chile.
This was coupled with an increase of over 700 live hours compared to the previous games, for a total of 1,900 live hours. The team, comprising more than 500 local technical professionals and remote production staff across Spain, Portugal and Argentina, ensured a high-quality broadcast.
Vivaro’s contribution extended beyond production and broadcasting. It also managed the International Point of Presence (POP), utilising a robust fibre optic network for seamless connectivity and signal transport. The operations, based in the games’ International Broadcast Centre (IBC), were crucial in maintaining the broadcast’s integrity and reach.
“By deploying Appear’s X Platform, we minimised energy consumption and optimised shipping costs without compromising on quality,” explained Carlos Jurado, senior director at Vivaro’s division in Canada. This setup, facilitating remote production and distribution workflows, integrated industry standards with an array of processing and network functions.