Paris 2024: NBC Sports' Ultra-Complex Transmission Scheme Connects Paris, Stamford, and Beyond Production teams are backed by facilities across the country By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - 1:38 pm
Print This Story
NBC Olympics' operations for the Paris 2024 games were a genuine transatlantic operation, with production teams throughout France and at NBC's Stamford, CT, Broadcast Operations Center (BOC) tied together by a supercharged web of connectivity. Add NBCU's stateside facilities at 30 Rock in NYC; EC Network Operations Center (NOC) in Englewood Cliffs, NJ; Dry Creek Hub in Denver; and Telemundo Center in Miami; and it's clear how much transmission fire power NBC Sports had at its disposal for these Games.
We have what we lovingly call the subway map,' illustrating all the different services and individual video paths connecting every site and venue in Paris to five of NBCU's facilities stateside, and it's bigger than ever, said Ian Kuchta, VP, BOC and transmission operations, NBC Sports Group, during the Games. We have a copy of the [subway map] from the Torino 2006 Games, and it looks miniature compared with this year's [transmission scheme]. That shows just how much everything has grown and changed.
Kuchta and Eric Poellot, senior manager, transmission engineering and operations, NBC Sports Group, led the Broadcast Operations Center (BOC) team in Stamford, which monitored hundreds of feeds while keeping an eye out for good 1080p HDR 50 video and 5.1.4-surround audio quality.
The BOC is our central hub and brain for the entire building, said Jefferson. They are making sure we're handshaking properly, checking all the LiveU crews and their delivery, and making sure sources are headed to the right place here in Stamford. It has grown a lot over the years, so the team has to be extremely vigilant. It's up to them to make sure that everything is coming in correctly, because, if it doesn't, everything downstream is affected, whether it's Peacock, our network distribution, or cable distribution. Everyone has to be laser focused here.
Transatlantic Operation: JPEG XS and 100-Gbps Pipes Bring It All Together NBC relied on four redundant 100-Gbps undersea fiber circuits provided by AT&T (along with two 10-Gbps fibers for extra redundancy), marking a major increase in contribution firepower compared with the five redundant 10-Gbps paths for Tokyo 2020.
The NBC Olympics Broadcast Operations Center in Stamford, CT
A whopping 445 audio and video signals were sent from Paris. This included OBS host feeds, which were backhauled via JPEG XS. NBC deployed Media Links Xscend and MD8000 media-transport platforms for JPEG XS/ J2K contribution.
This is the first time we're [transmitting] all of our OBS DX feeds as JPEG XS, said Kuchta. It has been great because JPEG XS simplifies the timing of everything. We are less focused on having to figure out point-A-to-point-Z timing because everything comes back in the same time space from venues and from the IBC in Paris: 118-ms video router to video router.
Said Darryl Jefferson, SVP, engineering and technology, NBC Sports and Olympic, We also have full connectivity between [Stamford] and all of our primary sets: the caf set at the Caf de l'Homme, the set at the OBS TV tower, and our museum set. That connective tissue is very important and, although it comes with its own set of logistical and technology challenges, allows us to create all this amazing studio programming from Paris.
LiveU Goes Beyond the Playing Field With Family and Friends NBC deployed 26 LiveU IP wireless backpacks as ENG cameras in Paris. The systems focused on family and friends in the crowd (often accompanied by a live mic) inside venues and followed athletes before and after competitions. In addition, NBC deployed the LiveU Matrix cloud-native IP video-distribution platform and LiveU Ingest automatic recording and story metadata tagging solution.
LiveU was also able to deploy all of that in 1080p HDR, said Kuchta, which was a big lift for them and a must-have for us since we're a wall-to-wall 1080p HDR operation here. We have such a large amount because we're trying to cover stories on a wider level. That means we need to cover not only the venues but also the hotels, the buses, inside the athletes village, in the streets, at a caf , and almost every historic location around Paris.
Jefferson added, In terms of our strategy here, we're putting a lot of our effort into all the sports that we know we have viewership for. And we knew that the country was extremely hungry to see more behind the scenes. They want to see more of how these athletes get here. What happens to them before, what happens to them after? Those LiveU cameras provide more behind-the-scenes [content], more with the families. Getting those cameras and those microphones in the stands with family members is a new position for us.
Opening Ceremony: A Monumental Transmission Challenge on Its Own Perhaps the most complex of all was the Opening Ceremony coverage, which emphasized the fun and festivities happening aboard Team USA's boat as it floated down the Seine. On the boat, NBC deployed a hardwired robotic camera (with low-powered RF connectivity), an RF Steadicam, and a handheld. EMG provided seven terrestrial RF receivers on the bank of the Seine to aid in transmission.
Also on the boat, a single LU 800 LiveU backpack with the roving cameras were on a dedicated private cellular network. Samsung and OBS deployed one camera per boat as part of its private 5G network dedicated to the Opening Ceremony (the network also provided backup for NBC's LiveU units).
In addition, NBC took in live video from three cellphones (via LiveU's LU-Smart mobile app) on the Team USA
Most recent headlines
17/02/2025
TVBEurope talks to the team who brought a piece of broadcasting history back to life on BBC Wales last night
By Jenny Priestley
Published: February 14, 2025 ...
17/02/2025
Eligible studios will receive the relief directly from their local authorities, with no need to submit a claim
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 17, 20...
17/02/2025
As DEI initiatives come under pressure in the USA, supporters of Rise, which promotes diversity in the media and entertainment sector, discuss the continuing im...
17/02/2025
EIB Global loan will partially fund SES's continued O3b mPOWER medium earth orbit (MEO) fleet expansion enabling additional capacity worldwide. O3b mPOWER s...
15/02/2025
At Nielsen, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) play a critical role in nurturing a ...
15/02/2025
Innovation to empower creativity: Explore the latest in Lightroom
Rob Christensen February 15, 2025
0 Comments
Whether you want to remove distracting ...
15/02/2025
Wisycom, a worldwide leader in RF technology and provider of wireless solutions, announces a new distribution agreement with EQUAPHON. An Argentinian profession...
15/02/2025
DPA Microphones, the leading manufacturer of high-quality microphone solutions, is pleased to welcome Nicholas Nick Mariano and Vincent Vince Divine to the ...
15/02/2025
Tuxera, a leading provider of quality-assured file systems and networking solutions, will showcase how Tuxera Fusion SMB enables unprecedented performance for m...
15/02/2025
Bitmovin's latest Video Developer Report indicates an increasing role of AI, the slow adoption of next-generation codecs, and continuing challenges when it ...
15/02/2025
When Michelin Enterprises set out to promote its prestigious Hotel Guide in the new Sleepless in the Kitchen , campaign, veteran German/Slovenian gaffer Robert...
15/02/2025
Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing series, revolutionizing motorsport with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability has sele...
15/02/2025
Agile Content, a global leader in TV and video technology solutions, announces its rebranding to AgileTV.
The transition to AgileTV stems from a commitment to ...
15/02/2025
Hiltron Communications will promote the latest additions to its range of satellite communication products, systems and supporting services at GovSatCom 2025. Th...
15/02/2025
Following the success of the original Airglow Booklight, DoPchoice debuts a new addition to their inflatable line the Float. This lightweight, inflatable, round...
15/02/2025
LAS VEGAS Marshall Electronics has announced that it will debut its newest camera controller, the RCP Plus, at the 2025 NAB Show at Booth N2649 between April 5 ...
15/02/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has named Blake Sebo as the next general manager of KTUU and KYES, Gray's NBC and CBS affiliates in Anchorage, Alaska....
15/02/2025
KOKKEDAL, Denmark DPA Microphones will feature its new CORE+ technology for distortion-free microphone sound at the 2025 NAB Show, April 5-9, in Las Vegas....
15/02/2025
SWANSEA, U.K. QuickLink will launch StudioPro-NDI and StudioPro-3, two new models of its QuickLine StudioPro video production platform, at the 2025 NAB Show, Ap...
15/02/2025
Live From 2025 NBA All-Star Game Weekend: After 25 Years, Turner Sports All-In F...
15/02/2025
NASCAR Driver Cam on Max Embraces Cloud-Based Workflow for 2025 Season Chris Brown of WBD Sports says Mobii will play key part in delivering signals from the tr...
14/02/2025
Last month, we officially launched the Spotify Partner Program, a powerful new m...
14/02/2025
From an island off the coast of Lutruwita to the global stage in France SBS & ...
14/02/2025
The future of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) land systems is evolving so that ...
14/02/2025
Here are 5 reasons why you should attend ISE 2025
Discover more about Calrec: Learn more about Calrec's legacy of innovation in broadcast audio solutions ...
14/02/2025
World Radio Day: On the same wavelength
By Graham Murray, International Sales Manager at Calrec
To mark World Radio Day, Calrec's International Sales Ma...
14/02/2025
DALLAS and TYSONS, Va. Tegna has concluded a broadcast rights agreement that makes Tegna's KFAA in Dallas the exclusive local television partner of the Dall...
14/02/2025
Amazon's Prime Video has released a new app for Apple TV that the streamer said delivers an improved streaming experiences with faster scrolling, improved s...
14/02/2025
CLEVELAND Telos Alliance announced a software update for its Axia Quasar XR and SR line of audio-over-IP (AoIP) mixing consoles and will show the offering at th...
14/02/2025
Puget Systems Returns to HPA Tech Retreat 2025 with New Analysis Tools for Puge...
14/02/2025
Glass Animals: Tour of Earth Uses Blackmagic Live Production Workflow
Brie Clayton February 14, 2025
0 Comments
80six deploys Blackmagic URSA Broadcas...
14/02/2025
A dispute between Paramount and Youtube TV that would have pulled CBS stations and Paramount's cable channels from the streaming service has been temporaril...
14/02/2025
Colourist Deidre (Dee) McClelland details how she helped shape the distinct look and feel of whimsical Oscar-nominated stop-motion film, Memoir of a Snail
By C...
14/02/2025
BitFire said it intends to introduce forward-looking services that simplify the launch of live production workflows, and enhance real-time collaboration
By Jen...
14/02/2025
The claim by the liquidators is the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the companys collapse at the end of 2021
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: February 14, ...
14/02/2025
A carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Paramount could come to a head today (Feb. 13), with the virtual pay TV provider threatening to pull all of the progra...
14/02/2025
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. LG Electronics USA has opened a new in-house, state-of-the-art virtual production studio at its 360,000-square-foot North American headqu...
14/02/2025
NEW YORK In a bid to help local broadcasters find new ways of monetizing their content, the Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and TVB have relea...
14/02/2025
WASHINGTON Three Democratic U.S. Senators have sent a stern letter blasting FCC Chair Brendan Carr for the weaponization of the agency for attacking broadcast...
14/02/2025
Years after launching the streaming service Apple TV+ in November of 2019, Apple has finally released a version of its steaming app for Android devices....
14/02/2025
FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif. Red Digital Cinema will make its V-RAPTOR [X] and KOMODO-X camera systems available with Nikon's premier Z Mount, providing filmmaker...
14/02/2025
DAYTONA, Fla. The Fox Sports production of this year's Daytona 500 will see the addition of a few new tech elements and the continued unfolding of the broad...
14/02/2025
Watch Bryson Battles Blind Audition on The Voice Get a Four-Chair Turn Michael Bubl said the Boston Conservatory at Berklee musical theater senior might have...
14/02/2025
2025 Daytona 500: FOX Sports Looks To Ride Super Bowl LIX Momentum Into NASCAR S...
14/02/2025
14 Feb 2025
VEON's Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation Raise USD 2....
14/02/2025
Max Renews THE PITT, Starring Noah Wyle, For A Second Season
Max
Warner Bros. Television Group
The Pitt
New Episodes Of The Medical Drama From John...
14/02/2025
This year, Technicolor proudly celebrates 110 years of shaping the magic of cinema pioneering color, visual effects, and innovation that bring unforgettable l...
14/02/2025
NBA All-Star: More Games, More Teams, More Music, More Sound From the Court Turner Sports' team will deploy familiar tech to capture all the audio By Dan D...
14/02/2025
LIV Golf Continues To Innovate With Drones, Data-Driven Graphics, and All-Access...
Paris 2024: NBC Sports' Ultra-Complex Transmission Scheme Connects Paris, Stamford, and Beyond Production teams are backed by facilities across the country By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S. 
