SVG Sit-Down: Dome Productions' Mary Ellen Carlyle and Mike Johnson on New 1080p HDR Trucks, the Promise of the Cloud, What's Ahead in 2024 The Canadian facilities/distribution provider has opened a new facility in Toronto By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 - 2:48 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
2023 was a busy year for Dome Productions, which exited its longtime home at the Rogers Centre for a new facility in midtown Toronto and built a pair of state-of-the-art IP-based mobile units, Titan and Empire. In addition, the company's facilities and distribution services were as busy as ever, while its production services continued to add clients.
SVG sat down with Dome Productions GM/SVP Mary Ellen Carlyle and Director, Engineering, Mike Johnson to discuss the duo of new IP-based mobile units, the maturation of the IP production ecosystem, the 1080p-vs.-4K debate, the evolution of the company's REMI business, the growth of the company's Productions Services division, the rise of alternate broadcasts, the evolving role of the cloud, and what's on Dome's 2024 calendar.
Dome Productions GM/SVP Mary Ellen Carlyle and Director of Engineering Mike Johnson
Besides opening the new facility [HYPERLINK AGAIN], you rolled out two brand-new IP mobile units in 2023. Why the aggressive truck-building year for Dome?
Carlyle: To be honest, COVID set us back a bit in terms of building trucks, so we needed to catch up. We ended up building two trucks [in 2023]. The last time we built back-to-back trucks like this was the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, so this was a pretty special year.
Johnson: We got Titan on the road at the beginning of August and Empire on the road at the end of December. They are nearly identical 1080p HDR trucks with a lift-up path to get to 4K. Our shows are only getting bigger, so they have a lot of capacity and the capability to add new services.
Both are all IP from the core, which is an Evertz NATX system, and are Evertz throughout all the frame syncs and other IP devices. We like that because of the interoperability it offers. It gives us better assurance that everything is talking to everything else, instead of having a lot of different vendors involved. Both trucks started taking shows right away, so we didn't have any pause in terms of coverage.
[Both have] all Sony cameras and Canon lenses, EVS and Evertz DreamCatcher [replay], Grass Valley K-frame XP switcher - all the latest and greatest [equipment].
In your view, has the IP production ecosystem achieved full maturity? Will all future Dome trucks be IP?
Carlyle: We did our first IP truck in 2019, and we continue to improve our skills and awareness on that front. I think our engineers are well-versed in IP at this point, and we feel comfortable working with IP.
Mike tells the group this all the time in terms of the engineering: We aren't going to go backwards. We're going to stay IP going forward because it's the right thing to do, but, in terms of operations, we don't really need to be IP: you don't get to charge more for it, and it doesn't mean anything to the operators. But we're not moving backwards. We're going to continue to build IP trucks and continue to train our engineers. Even on the distribution side, it's not going backwards. We see our future being IP.
Johnson: SDI was a robust environment: you could suffer some different problems and get a resolution very quickly. [With] IP, a problem can manifest itself in so many ways; there's uncertainty about where the problem is originating from. But we're figuring that all out. It's part of the learning process; we work with our partners and when we learn something new, we know one more thing to avoid [in the future].
IP is not a technology that's causing us to replace trucks. It's not like anybody comes screaming to us, Hey, I got to have your IP truck. If it's SDI, I don't want to see it. We still have a lot of HD SDI trucks. We're keeping those trucks running a bit longer, and I think you'll see SDI for a long time to come.
Empire was one of two new Dome Productions Mobile units to hit the road in 2023.
Both of your new trucks are 1080p HDR. Where is 4K on your roadmap?
Johnson: Right now, we're not seeing a lot of [requests] for 4K because it really cuts down on the volume of cameras and technology you can have on a show. As our shows keep growing, it makes more sense to stay in 1080p and upconvert to 4K toward the end [of the production chain]. That helps make it more economical and feasible when you want to deliver lots of camera angles and replay [channels] and things like that. IP supports that [workflow] because of the single-link capability. It's what will allow you to deliver that 12-gig or 1080p signal.
Carlyle: We were on the 4K path all the way back in 2016 when we did 4K using the quad-3G [production model]. At this point, the switchers are there for 4K, the cameras are there, the EVS [replay systems] are there, but it's hard to match the ease of operation that you get with 1080p HDR upconverted [to 4K]. The industry is moving in the direction [of 1080p], and we are always going to give the client whatever flavor they want. If the client wants native 4K, we can do native 4K. If they want to go 1080p upconvert, we can do that. But we certainly see a trend more toward 1080p upconverted to 4K.
How has the REMI portion of your business evolved over the past year?
Carlyle: It's certainly part of our business, but I have not seen any major growth in REMI. Right now, 100% [of our] trucks can do REMI if needed. Let's put it this way: before COVID, I had many REMI events, and today I have the same amount. It's all about the flavor of the day: if you want to do onsite, we&
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...
SVG Sit-Down: Dome Productions' Mary Ellen Carlyle and Mike Johnson on New 1080p HDR Trucks, the Promise of the Cloud, What's Ahead in 2024 The Canadian facilities/distribution provider has opened a new facility in Toronto By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S. 
