As part of its coverage of this summer’s Euro 2024 football tournament, RTL Deutschland has unveiled a new state-of-the-art studio which uses LED screens, 5G, IP and multiple different cameras.
RTL worked on the facility with architecture and design studio Veech x Veech, which has worked with ORF, BTV, Al Jazeera, among others.
The studio combines cutting-edge technology and a sleek and contemporary design with a 360-degree immersive 265-square-metre loft space.
Featuring an 11.5-metre curved high-resolution LED wall, it allows the broadcaster’s hosts and pundits to use a multitude of graphics, photos, videos and statistics on the primary large-format screen. Additionally, three adjacent presentation positions allow for standup presentations and analysis.
Deutsche Telekom has installed a private 5G campus network for the broadcaster, making it the first media company in Germany to supply its production studios with 5G via its own 5G standalone (5G SA) network.
“This enhances flexibility in TV production, enabling the use of wireless cameras both inside and outside the studios,” Paul Hering, head of studio and field production at RTL Deutschland tells TVBEurope.
“The network will also facilitate the operation of wireless microphones, wireless intercom systems, and dedicated internet access in the future.”
RTL has opted for a physical rather than virtual studio, adds Hering, as it enables the broadcaster to present information in a more understandable, attractive, clear and approachable way. It will do that by using the 11.5-metre LED wall as well as a huge touchscreen. A third LED wall will display social media content.
In terms of cameras, the studio will feature one Steadicam (including tracking) with an LDX C80n camera from Grass Valley and a Canon HJ14ex4.3 lens and radio system.
Other cameras include Grass Valley’s LDX 135 with a Canon CJ20ex5 lens, as well as a crane camera and one mounted on a rail on the ceiling to provide a long shot of the studio. RTL is using Pixtope’s tracking system.
The studio itself will be operated by 11 people, including camera operators, a camera assistant, cable puller, production manager and a set engineer, adds Hering.
“We will be using Vizrt’s real-time 3D graphics technology Viz Libero for analysis. Augmented reality will also be via Vizrt,” he continues.
The studio is connected to RTL’s operation centre via a mixture of SDI and IP, while a Panasonic Kairos will be deployed as a vision mixer.
“One of the major benefits of the studio is that it will be used again for our sports programmes, including the upcoming NFL season,” concludes Hering.
