News and Updates

Broadcast Networks Completes its Third Project for SBP

Ovington, Hampshire - July 2007: UK system integration specialist Broadcast Networks has completed a project for Italian broadcast facilities company SBP to upgrade its 16-camera OB4 Vehicle to full HD production capability.

The vehicle was delivered at the end of June and is currently being used for sports broadcasting and to cover a variety of live events. It will shortly be heading to Poland where it will be used by Canal+ and is also destined to cover the 2008 Olympics in China.

Broadcast Networks handled the complete refurbishment of the vehicle, which involved stripping it back to its original chassis, then re-fitted with new wiring, equipment and internal furniture. The coach work was also upgraded and the truck was re-sprayed to give it a smart new look.

Among the equipment installed into OB4 were 16 Grass Valley 6000 HD cameras, a Snell and Willcox Kahuna HD vision mixer, two Sony HDCAM High Definition VTR’s, three HD LSM EVS 6.6.6. XT(2), a central Grass Valley HD router and a Studer Vista 5 audio mixer, now an industry standard for live OB productions.

Tom Haye, Director of Broadcast Networks, says: “This is the third project we have undertaken for SBP, which is currently extending and refurbishing its OB fleet to bring it up to the latest HD specifications. In recent years it has added three brand new vans - OB20 with 24 HD cameras, OB21 with 10 HD cameras and OB2 with six cameras – as well as upgrading OB6, which has 20 HD cameras. OB4 has been in service for some years and was in need of an overhaul. It has now been equipped with the very latest HD technology, thus reinforcing SBP’s position as the leader of the HD revolution in Italy.”

SBP is a private Italian TV Production and Post Production Company founded in 1976. The company has been operating in the international market for 10 years, providing production services for sports broadcasting and live events coverage, such as Moto GP, Champions League, Olympic Games and F1 Powerboat.

Broadcast Networks undertook its first project for SBP early in 2006 when it was contracted to manage the build of the new 24-camera OB20 vehicle through Sony PSE. A few months later, the company undertook the refurbishment of OB6, bringing it up to full HD specifications.