SVG Year in Review: October

When the calendar flipped to October, the Ryder Cup was already well under way in Medinah, IL. The biennial event pits 12 golfers from the U.S. against 12 golfers from Europe and requires that each continent have a production that meets the needs of viewers.

While the U.S. ultimately lost in heartbreaking fashion, the domestic broadcast – helmed by NBC Sports – was a success.  Sky Sports and BBC Sport covered the Ryder Cup for fans in the UK (with CPG and Dome Productions contributing to the former’s 3D production), PGA.com was on hand to deliver coverage of select holes,  and CP Communications handled fiber requirements across the course.

The cooler temperatures of October mean playoff baseball, and the 2012 MLB Postseason got off to a great start with the league’s new distribution deals with Fox, Turner Sports, and MLB Network.  Turner Sports broadcast the first-ever Wild Card games, and MLB Network joined in the fun with its first division series games. Turner and Fox Sports – not to mention, NBC Sports and MLB Productions — ramped up their audio.  During the World Series, high-speed cameras took center stage for Fox Sports.

SVG traveled to Japan for CEATEC 2012, seeing firsthand the latest and greatest developments in 4K technology.  CLICK HERE for Managing Editor Jason Dachman’s live reports from the floor.

In venue news, the University of Minnesota upgraded TCF Bank Stadium, TCU constructed a new HD control room, and South Carolina debuted a new video board in Williams-Brice Stadium.

Felix Baumgartner made history on Oct. 14, when the daredevil successfully completed a 24-mile skydive.  Red Bull Media House, with the help of Riedel Communications, captured the Stratos space jump, which garnered a record-breaking number of concurrent streams on YouTube.

On Oct. 23, more than 130 industry leaders traveled to Miami for SVG’s annual Sports Venue Technology Summit at Marlins Park. Attendees were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the technology deployed at the stadium: visits to the control room, truck bay, and data center were followed by an afternoon of panel discussions and presentations on the latest trends in multiscreen video, in-venue connectivity, and control-room design. CLICK HERE for a recap of the event.

Fox Sports secured NASCAR rights through 2022, CBS Sports Network carried college soccer with the help of Kitay Productions, Florida State continues to see 3D differently, and the New York Islanders announced their move to the Barclays Center.

October closed on a tumultuous note when Superstorm Sandy walloped the Northeast, sending broadcasters, networks, and venues across the region into scramble mode.