Timeline TV has designed and created the first purpose-built Ultra HD (UHD) 4K outside broadcast unit in the Europe. BT Sport has awarded Timeline a four-year contract for the provision of Ultra HD 4K OBs to complement its HD programme portfolio.
The broadcaster will be launching a new BT Sport Ultra HD channel with the first UHD broadcast being the Community Shield. UHD events will be broadcast throughout the year, each week, and will include UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and Aviva Premiership Rugby.
The OB unit will launch in August and be available for hire for both sporting events and other production genres including arts, entertainment and natural history when not in use by BT Sport. Built by Timeline’s SI division, the unit is designed from the ground up to deliver UHD 4K programmes to the same standard as current HD programmes for complex live or as-live production. BT Sport and Timeline worked with suppliers to deliver UHD 4K technology including:
– Sony HDC-4300 2/3 inch UHD 4K cameras
– Sony UHD 4K PWS-4400 server
– Fujinon UHD 4K 2/3 inch 80:1 box and 22:1 ENG lenses
– Snell Kahuna UHD 4K vision mixer and Sirius router
– Axon signal processing equipment and Axon Cerebrum control system
– EVS XT3 UHD 4K servers
– Grass Valley Kaleido-Modular-X multiviewers and Belden cable
“Timeline has always been at the forefront of technology and UltraHD is the cutting edge,” said Dan McDonnell, managing director of Timeline. “The challenge of this emerging standard has been to work with manufacturers to find solutions to enable UHD productions to be made to the same high standards as HD programmes. I am pleased to strengthen our long relationship with BT Sport by supplying UHD 4K OB services.”
Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operating officer, BT Sport and BT TV, added: “BT Sport’s UEFA Champions League coverage sets out to bring viewers the best ever experience of football’s leading club competition. Our Ultra HD coverage of the UEFA Champions League alongside other competitions will bring a truly cinematic experience into fans’ living rooms.”
