Studio Berlin Adlershof Decides On Thomson For OB Van Upgrade to HD

To meet
the growing demand for HD programming, German mobile facilities company Studio
Berlin Adlershof GmbH (SBA), based in Berlin, is upgrading one of its largest
standard-definition (SD) OB vans ( 4) to full high-definition (HD) operation
with a variety of multiformat production equipment from Thomson. This is the second HD OB van built for SBA, with the
new equipment installation in 4 scheduled for completion by midyear.
The
decision to upgrade 4 to HD follows an earlier HD OB van build project, which
Thomson delivered to SBA in 2006. That original OB
van has successfully covered a number of high profile HD productions, such as
the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2006. That truck will also cover the UEFA Soccer
European Championships in 2008 in Austria
and Switzerland.
SBA is also currently providing HD coverage of the German national soccer
league (Bundesliga).
“The
decision by SBA to have Thomson’s Systems Group upgrade 4 from SD to HD shows
the confidence that they place in both Thomson services and Thomson Grass
Valley HD equipment,” said Patrick Montliaud, Senior Vice President of
Thomson’s Networks and Integration Solutions within the Systems division.
“SBA chose
Thomson Grass Valley HD equipment based on the excellent experience we have had
with our other HD OB VAN during the past two years,” said Michael Rasch, Chief
Executive Officer of SBA. “The idea is to secure a unified production platform
across SBA’s mobile HD fleet related to technologies and operational concepts
that have been very successful for us. Thomson’s system engineers and HD
equipment have served us well and we plan to continue to work with them.”
SBA, which
offers studio facilities and helps broadcasters televise a wide range of live
sport and entertainment events, has ordered a full complement of Thomson Grass Valley
equipment for the HD upgrade of 4. This includes six LDK 8000 Series HDTV
WorldCam camera and one 3x HDTV SuperSloMo camera, two Kayak HD switchers (one
4 M/E and one 2 M/E version), and a Concerto HD video router configured with a
128×128 matrix to handle both SD and HD signals. Both Kayak HD switchers will be
installed on the same 54-foot (16.5 meter) long OB
van in two separate production areas. 4 was originally built as an SD OB van
by Thomson.
SBA’s new
Thomson Grass Valley HD equipment in 4 can produce projects in both the 720p
and 1080i HD formats. This upgrade and multiformat capability is important
because public broadcasters in Germany
will start HD transmissions in 2010.
Adding to
its impressive HD capabilities, SBA holds a 49 percent stake in Media Mobil
GmbH (MMG), a live sports and entertainment production company based in Leipzig, Germany.
MMG also recently ordered a brand new 54-foot (16.5 meter) HD OB
Van, complete with Thomson Grass Valley HD equipment. This close relationship
will enable the two companies to join forces on some projects and become an
even stronger competitor in the marketplace.
SBA is a
subsidiary of Studio Hamburg GmbH, located on the Adlershof Media Compound in Berlin.