IMS Productions Supports Successful HDR Test During NBA Game

Growing demand to provide viewers with more lifelike broadcasts spurred an internal trial by IMS Productions and several leaders in sports broadcast production, including Evertz, Grass Valley, Sony, and Technicolor, to simulate the first-ever HDR/SDR lens to home production. The successful HDR proof-of-concept test took place on January 31, 2017 during an NBA game.

“IMS Productions has worked hard to ensure our fleet has the ability to adapt when our client’s needs demand it,” says Robby Greene, president of IMS Productions. “Our teams’ years of experience and hands-on approach have allowed us to embrace next generation technologies and help our client’s spearhead the advances, including live HDR production, that promise to further the delivery of live sports content and enhance the overall viewing experience for their viewers.”

The objective of the test was to produce both an SDR and HDR show with one crew in a single mobile production truck. IMS-HD5, equipped with eight Sony HDC-4300 4K/HD high frame rate live camera systems equipped with Canon lenses, captured both the 1080p HDR and 1080i standard-dynamic range (SDR) output. The SDR output was fed to IMS-HD3, the main production truck, in order to handle the home show without disruption. Both feeds were transported to the HDR-capable network-operations center and routed to the distribution facility where they replicated distribution by sending it to various locations and delivered the content to multiple Technicolor set-top boxes using Advanced HDR by Technicolor to deliver both SDR and HDR in one signal. In addition to Sony’s cameras, a Grass Valley Kayenne Switcher and Technicolor’s Intelligent Tone Management technology to up-convert additional SDR cameras and sources to HDR, were used to complete the full HDR production.

“Sony is at the forefront of HDR, helping to drive the best possible picture quality from our pro cameras into the home,” says Sony Electronics’ Dan Perry, National Account Manager. “Much of our production technology is designed for HDR production, and these tests are the latest example of the demand for content that satisfies the requirement for an incredible viewing experience.”

“Technicolor collaborated with IMS Productions and all the key partners to define, implement and demonstrate best practices for live HDR production, broadcast and delivery. Technicolor technologies allow programmers to cost effectively create and broadcast high-quality HDR and SDR content using a single workflow. Advanced HDR by Technicolor optimizes current production processes and tools while ensuring audiences always experience the highest quality SDR and HDR video. It also automatically adapts all content to the capabilities of consumer displays available in the market today,” says Roy Stewart, VP, Business Development and Partner Relations, Technicolor.