The FIS Ski Cross World Cup 2024, held in Val Thorens in France, brought together elite athletes from across the globe. The course is famed for its high speed and requirement to perform technical manoeuvres on its challenging cross-country courses. The event served as a crucial leg in the World Cup Series, as well as providing competitors with the opportunity to gain Olympic qualification points.
For broadcasters of major sporting events, the final product needs to be high quality video, transmitted in real time to a global audience. On site logistic and environmental challenges require broadcasters to utilize flexible, reliable solutions to enable them to capture and deliver compelling content.
The Ski Cross World Cup from Val Thorens was broadcast live in France by L’Equipe, as well as shared with a worldwide audience by Eurosport.
Client’s Challenge
TV-One, a leading Italian broadcasting company, sought to enhance its live event coverage by upgrading its existing infrastructure. The primary objectives were to achieve ultra-low latency, high-definition video transmission, and comprehensive camera control over extended distances.
With skiers taking on the course four at a time, it was crucial to catch every moment of the action, and for directors to be able to quickly switch between live feeds and be where the action was happening. The solution needed to be versatile, supporting various camera types, and future-proof to accommodate technologies such as 5G.
Given that the event was the Ski World Cross, the products needed to work reliably in cold weather for an extended period, without an excessive drain on batteries throughout.
Vislink’s Solution
To meet these requirements, Vislink provided an integrated system comprising the following components:
- HCAM Transmitter: A proven, highly flexible, portable wireless camera system supporting HEVC 4K UHD encoding with very low latency. Its interchangeable dual SFP modules accommodate Quad 3/6/12G SDI/HDMI/Fiber Optic interfaces, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of cameras.
- Quantum Receiver: An IP-native wireless camera receiver designed to enhance remote production workflows. It supports multi-input diversity with LMS-T and DVB-T demodulation, ensuring robust RF reception and wide-area coverage. The Quantum receiver’s IP-centric design allows for efficient distribution of data and video streams over IP networks, facilitating real-time viewing on multiple devices.
- FocalPoint Camera Control System: A state-of-the-art wireless camera control system capable of managing multiple camera and operator control panel combinations. Designed with Ethernet control, FocalPoint ensures seamless integration with evolving technology and supports both copper and fibre optic connectivity for reliable performance in diverse environments.
- Fibre Extender Solution: This system extends the operational range of camera systems by converting signals for transmission over fibre optic cables, maintaining signal integrity over long distances. It supports various fibre connector options, ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Implementation and Results
The integration of Vislink’s solutions enabled the broadcasting company to achieve:
- Ultra-Low Latency Transmission: The HCAM’s HEVC encoding and the Quantum receiver’s efficient decoding provided near real-time video transmission, crucial for live event coverage.
- High-Quality Video Output: Support for 4K UHD and HDR ensured that broadcasts met the highest quality standards, enhancing viewer experience.
- Comprehensive Camera Control: FocalPoint allowed operators to manage multiple cameras seamlessly, improving production efficiency and flexibility.
- Extended Operational Range: The Fibre Extender solution facilitated reliable signal transmission over long distances, essential for large-scale events.
Conclusion
TV-One were able to produce many hours of high-quality, real-time broadcast, enabling viewers to engage with the content throughout the event. Cameras were operational for the full production time and supported content that was broadcast to a global audience, capturing all the thrills and spills of the cross-country skiing event.
“Partnering with Vislink was a game-changer for our coverage of the FIS Ski Cross World Cup. Their innovative wireless solutions ensured ultra-low latency and high-definition broadcasts, even in the challenging conditions of Val Thorens. The seamless camera control and extended operational range gave us the flexibility to capture every thrilling moment, delivering a world-class viewing experience for our global audience. Vislink’s future-proof technology has undoubtedly raised the bar for live sports broadcasting.”
Andrea Gianolli, Chief Executive Officer, One TV
Vislink’s integrated wireless camera solutions effectively addressed the broadcasting company’s needs for high-quality, low-latency video transmission and comprehensive camera control. The system’s flexibility and future-proof design ensure that the broadcaster is well-equipped to adapt to emerging technologies and continue delivering exceptional live content.