NEP Australia taps Sony for Key Role at Andrews Hubs

NEP Australia has chosen Sony HDC-4300 cameras, Sony XVS-6000 and XVS-8000 IP-capable, SMPTE ST 2110-ready switchers, as well as a wide range of Sony OLED and LCD monitors, for its new, unique IP-based remote production solution. NEP’s new Andrews Hubs, the first of their kind in Australia, will connect 29 sporting venues via a new high bandwidth network. Four new all-IP outside broadcast trucks and seven legacy SDI trucks with new IP layers will complement the two production hubs, which are located in Sydney and Melbourne.

Sony HDC-4300 cameras will play a key role for NEP Australia’s new Andrews Hubs.

NEP Australia’s Director of Technology, Marc Segar says NEP has had a successful relationship with Sony for many years.

“NEP committed to an all-IP ecosystem at the Andrews Hubs and our new trucks at the beginning of this project,” he says. “We are therefore very pleased to be partnering with Sony on switchers and camera technologies that complement the rest of our fleet. The 36 new HDC4300 cameras will join the 48 in our current inventory.”

NEP’s Andrews Hubs will enable multiple simultaneous outside broadcasts from one facility, so while the Sony HDC-4300 cameras will be located at the venues, event production teams will be based at the production hubs. The HDC-4300 is part of Sony’s widely acclaimed HDC Series family of live production solutions and is fully compatible with a wide range of existing products and workflows, including viewfinders, large lens adaptors and camera control units. The HDC-4300 platform enables productions to handle 4K, HD and super slow motion, delivers uncompromised image quality and integrates seamlessly with HD infrastructures and accessories as well as the world’s most advanced 4K live and IP-based production workflows. The cameras can also capture 4K, 2x and HD 8x super slow motion as required with just a simple software activation key.

Ten of Sony’s new and most advanced XVS series production switchers will also be used for the NEP project, providing the familiar style that so many operators are accustomed to in the Australian OB industry. From an operator’s point of view there is essentially no difference if the switchers are being used in the new IP-based environment with the traditional SDI-based infrastructure or a combination of both. From the entry level XVS-6000 up to the top of the range XVS-8000, the switchers can be configured to meet NEP’s specific requirements and are paired with the modular, customisable ICP-X7000 control panel. The control panel connects to the main switcher processor across the network and allows for an operator to be in the same facility or remotely located from the main processor. The flexibility of the XVS series of switchers allow them to be utilised in HD, 4K, SDI or IP-based environments.