Aussie Open Has Gearhouse Broadcast Serving Up More EVS Servers

By Ken Kerschbaumer

Demand for instant-replay servers at the Australian Open tennis tournament, which runs through Feb. 1, has Gearhouse Broadcast stepping up its commitment to EVS, with the purchase of 10 additional XT[2] servers. Six of them are HD and four are SD servers, but all 10 will give Gearhouse Broadcast more flexibility to meet clients’ needs.

“The new HD XT[2] EVSs transform the possibilities of all our productions,” says Managing Director Eamonn Dowdall. “With native codecs of all the mainstream editing systems and two completely independent network protocols, this increased flexibility makes it hard to stretch its [capabilities], even in HD. And, of course, the powerful and consistently reliable replay functionality that made the EVS famous remains.”

Dowdall points to XT[2]’s GigE-network capabilities, integration into Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid nonlinear editing systems, and ability to work with external data-storage devices as additional key features.

“With our range of IP Directors, Xfile[2]s, Clean Edit, Final Cut Pro, and Avids,” he says, “we can offer the most complete suite of onsite tapeless workflows available in the market today.”

The purchase, which totals more than $1.5 million, is also a commitment to HD. “This takes our HD stock inventory to more than 60%,” says Dowdall.

Gearhouse Broadcast has a number of other events where the XT[2]s will be used this year by both its Rental and Project Solutions divisions, including the BBC’s Rugby Union Six Nations Championship and ITV’s SportChampions League.