Digital Azul and the GCTV Live Studio Remote Production for Longines Global Champions Tour using INTINOR solutions.

Digital Azul's partnership with Intinor underscores the importance of reliable technology for mission critical sports production global events

Digital Azul, a leading innovator in sports branded content, broadcast and streaming production, is successfully executing the remote production of the GCTV Live Studio, part of the prestigious Longines Global Champions Tour. Leveraging Intinor's cutting-edge remote production solutions, Digital Azul has set a new benchmark in delivering high-quality, resilient, and efficient live sports broadcasting across the globe.

Challenge

Traditionally, broadcasting in an event like the Longines Global Champions Tour, which spans 17 international locations including Doha, Shanghai, Miami, Mexico City, Paris, London, and Riyadh, would require an OBVAN dedicated for the GCTV Live Studio at each site. This approach is logistically complex, resource-intensive, and costly due to traveling and accommodation. Digital Azul sought to revolutionize this process by centralizing operations and enabling remote production from their Master Control Room (MCR) in Lisbon.

Solution

Digital Azul partnered with Intinor to implement a remote production solution that utilizes Intinor's Direkt series and Bifrost transport protocol. This solution enables the transmission of high-quality video and audio signals, camera control, and intercom systems over regular internet connections, including 5G and wired networks.

Key components of the solution include:

- Video and Audio Transmission: Using Intinor's HVEC encoders, Digital Azul transports four camera signals and multiple audio channels from each event location to the MCR in Lisbon with ultra-low latency.

- Intercom and Remote Control: The system supports intercom, camera shading, PTZ remote operation, and IFB from Lisbon, allowing seamless communication and control as if the team were on-site.

- Monitoring and Resilience: Intinor's Bifrost protocol and advanced monitoring tools ensure stable and resilient connections, even over long distances. This was crucial for the Shanghai event, where the MCR and remote production site were 11,000 km apart. Redundant path streaming has played an important role.

- Ease of Use and Support: The user-friendly web interface of Intinor's system, along with robust support from Pantalha (Intinor's representative in Portugal) and Intinor, facilitated smooth operation and troubleshooting.

Execution

During each event, signals from cameras and microphones are all transmitted back to Lisbon, where the Digital Azul team manages the production as if they were in an OB van. This setup includes:

- Live Multicam Production: Directed and produced by team members that are both in Lisbon and others on-site, ensuring a cohesive production experience.

- Graphics and Replays: Integrated in real-time with OTT and social media platforms.

- Presenter Interaction: Confidence monitors and intercom systems allow presenters and reporters to receive real-time guidance from Lisbon.

- Ability to send and receive Multiple SRT’s to other stakeholders using Intinor platform:
Achieve a Powerful broadcast solutions that combines Simultaneous  Live Broadcast in Sports TV Channels, OTT’s, and Social Media Networks.

The Shanghai operation in May, marking the inaugural event at the Shanghai Juss International Equestrian Centre, showcased the system's robustness and reliability, despite the significant distance between Lisbon and Shanghai.

Outcome

Digital Azul's implementation of Intinor's  remote production technology has transformed the logistics and execution of the Longines Global Champions Tour broadcasts of the Live Studio. The key benefits include:

- Cost Efficiency: Reduced need for OB vans and on-site production staff.

- Flexibility and Scalability: Ability to manage multiple global events from a central location.

- Enhanced Production Quality: High-quality, low-latency video and audio with resilient connectivity.

Conclusion

Digital Azul's innovative use of Intinor's remote production solutions has established them as a leader in global sports content production and broadcast. Their successful execution of the GCTV Live Studio, particularly the challenging Shanghai event, demonstrates their capability to deliver high-quality, reliable, and efficient remote productions. This case highlights the potential for remote production technology to revolutionize live event broadcasting, providing a scalable and cost-effective solution for the industry.

Digital Azul's partnership with Intinor underscores the importance of reliable technology and strong support in achieving these groundbreaking results, positioning them as a prime example of innovation in broadcast and streaming production. The partnership with Pantalha, who helped design, project, test and support this solution, has reinforced the long-standing partnership between the two companies who look to each other for ways to innovate with the highest quality possible.

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June, 2024