Vitec Videocom Continues To Innovate in the Sports Space

The Sports Video Group is pleased to welcome Vitec Videocom as a corporate sponsor. The Broadcast Division of The Vitec Group brings together some of the most respected, innovative, and sought-after brands in the industry, including Anton/Bauer, Autocue, Autoscript, Litepanels, OConnor, Sachtler, and Vinten. Known for durability and precision, the company’s brands have been behind the scenes and on the sidelines of major sports events around the country from the NHL to MLB to the Olympics.

At the 2016 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, major broadcasters from almost every continent — including the BBC, ITN, NBC, NHK, RTV, and CCTV China — were supported by Vitec Videocom brands. Vinten and Sachtler camera-support systems, as well as Anton/Bauer batteries for power, were the equipment of choice for the main press center.

“A mix of Sachtler and Vinten was used at every venue capturing ringside and game footage in the venues,” says Paul Dudeck, VP, strategic accounts in the Americas. “The Vector head was the most popular, closely followed by the Vision 250 and some Vision 100s. My conservative guess would be that Vinten was used by over 90% of the broadcasters covering the games.”

He cites the curling venue as an “example of how our brands delivered invaluable support from every angle. Of all the tripods on the court, Sachtler was the most dominant tripod for ENG use: there were nine Sachtler Video 18 models, and the other was a Vinten Vision system. Beyond the curling floor, there were an additional 10 tripods in the stands, which were all Vinten Vectors or Vision 250 heads,” he adds. “I’m proud to say the Vitec Videocom’s products and services were well-represented, and our international appeal was very obvious.”

According to the company, users of Vinten, Sachtler, and Anton/Bauer brands range from production-truck companies and sports teams to sports stadiums and arenas. The Vinten brand continues to be the go-to tripod for professional and collegiate sports because of its perfect balance and its compatibility with long lenses and cameras. It continues to be the preferred choice for sports coverage and is 4K-ready. The Sachtler and Anton/Bauer brands can be seen across the globe in applications requiring portability.

“As cameras become more powerful, the supports around them become more critical,” says Dudeck. “This applies to 4K-ready camera supports and batteries that last and are dependable. Vitec Videocom continues to be a leader in this field. We believe this partnership with SVG will allow us to hear directly from our customers so that, together, we can continue to innovate.”