Mediahouse, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, selected Gearhouse Broadcast’s Systems Integration division to deliver two new London-based high-definition studios which are used by the BBC’s The Football League Show and ESPN’s Premier League matches. This build brings the total number of HD studios at Mediahouse to four.
The studios were built to fulfil a commitment to broadcast top-flight English football to rights-holders worldwide. The service is offered to broadcasters 24 hours a day and includes a mix of studio-based output; including wrap around up to six live football matches a week, regular news shows and additional magazine programming.
The new installation consisted of installing new cabling, technical equipment and bespoke studio furniture. Gearhouse Broadcast built two HD/ 3D capable galleries to support three studio floors which are now 3G ready for 1080-50P productions.
The project involved a two week planning period followed by four weeks of onsite installation and commissioning. The equipment selected to carry out the upgrade included Axon glue equipment, Vutrix Quad Splitt Monitors, Sony MVS-8000X Switchers and Miranda 8500 Hybrid Routers. Six Sony HXC100 HD cameras were added to bring the existing complement to ten.
Shane Warden, General Manager at Mediahouse, said: “Our decision to use Gearhouse Broadcast was based on a number of factors; they are one of the few broadcast companies in the UK who can source and work with such a wide range of equipment. They have excellent in-house product knowledge through their technical divisions and their systems integration track record demonstrates successful studio installations delivered for Astro and Al Jazeera. The installations went smoothly and we are very happy with the new facilities”
Kevin Moorhouse, Chief Operating Officer at Gearhouse Broadcast added: “We are delighted to have been selected by IMG Media to undertake the systems upgrade at their studios in London”
“Following the original brief from Mediahouse, Gearhouse Broadcast provided consultancy and project management throughout the contract and carried out the systems integration on site. Technical support is available to Mediahouse post installation in the form of GearhouseBroadcast’s after sale support service”.
The changes were done in the close season and were completed in time for ESPN’s first live HD Premier League match, which transmitted on Saturday 13 August 2011.