Eurovision Provides 4K Showcase During 2016 Biathlon World Championships

Various Eurovision units followed up a successful 4K test from Kitzbühel, Austria a few weeks ago by setting up a similar showcase at the 2016 IBU Biathlon World Championships in Oslo –Holmenkollen. 4K cameras were placed at the venue in order to produce Ultra High Definition resolution content (clips) featuring sharp and crisp images of this exciting sport, devoted supporters, and magnificent landscape.

Oslo Biathlon 1

2016 IBU World Championships, Press Centre in Oslo. From left to right : Nicole Resch IBU Secretary General, Bruno Chappuis EBU Sports Rights Manager, Anders Besseberg IBU President, Jakob Bjurstrom EBU Executive Producer

4K offers four times the resolution of 1080p HD video and therefore requires specialized production and transmission equipment as well as more bandwidth for distribution.

In cooperation with IBU, these clips were shown on UHDTV screens on site, in the VIP areas, and in the Press Centre, allowing Biathlon guests and media representatives to appreciate the life like images.

This showcase is one of multiple UHDTV projects on the Eurovision roadmap. In the past, tests were conducted at the European Athletics 2014 in Zurich and at the Eurovision Young Dancers contest in 2013. Eurovision has been organizing the international distribution of premium sporting events in 4K since the 2014 FIFA World Cup and, this summer, a total of eight games at the Euro 2016 football championships in France will be distributed in 4K.

“The extra resolution of UHDTV images adds more detail, more depth and more color resolution to the picture resulting in images that look incredibly lifelike,” says Stefan Kuerten, Director of Eurovision Services & Sports Rights. “We are always seeking the best quality possible for our broadcasters and their viewers and if UHDTV means more like looking through a window than watching TV then we feel like we have achieved our goal.”

Ingolfur Hannesson, Head of Eurovision Winter Sports adds: “All in all, the current Eurovision Biathlon team consists of more than 20 different experts concentrating on making the viewer experience unique and memorable. For us, UHDTV production showcase is only a natural step in that direction.”

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