JVC Cameras Assist BlueFrame Technology's Collegiate Workload
BlueFrame Technology provides its services to more than 30 collegiate athletic conferences, spanning all levels of competition (NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III; NAIA; NJCAA), and as of the 2019-20 academic year, approximately 70-percent of all NCAA Division II members relied on BlueFrame’s advanced features and technology to power their video streaming efforts. To handle this heavy workload, the company is relying on JVC Professional Video’s wide range of cameras.
JVC Enables REMI-Style Productions
BlueFrame’s Production Truck software allows one producer to manage multiple cameras, graphics, replays, social sharing, picture-in-picture and more. In addition, BlueFrame’s cloud-based content management system orchestrates the management of its clients’ broadcasts. To capture the high-quality video, BlueFrame relies on various cameras from JVCKENWOOD, including the GY-HM250SP sports production camcorder, which the company predominantly uses for streaming, as well as its GY-HM180, which is being used for traditional productions.
Dan Skirpan, JVCKENWOOD’s National Sales Manager, Sports, initially introduced BlueFrame to the company’s GY-HM250SP and GY-HM180 solutions. Not only does the company recommend JVC cameras to its clients, but it also uses them as part of its own production workflows.
“We use the JVC GY-HM250SP cameras a few different ways, depending on the clients’ need and workflow,” says BlueFrame Technology CEO Benjamin Kant. “We have integrated the streaming capability of the cameras into our patented production software, giving us the ability to stream using IP infrastructures. We can also bring the camera feed in over SDI or HDMI using a third-party converter. We have also used it with our mobile application that connects directly to the camera in order to manage all streaming configurations, resolutions, and encoding. Using this approach, the JVC camera feed can be pushed directly to our content management system, with no production truck.”
With Great Features Comes Great Flexibility
Kant finds that using JVC gives BlueFrame and its clients the flexibility to scale the workflow, helping the transition to IP and saving on overall costs and resources. For clients that require a fuller featured production, BlueFrame provides the multi-camera switching and graphics options. In other cases, a client may prefer a simple camera solution to stream directly to BlueFrame’s candidate management system.
“JVC’s cameras are very utilitarian tools,” continues Kant. “For instance, with the GY-HM250SP sports production camcorder, customers can integrate the graphics directly into the JVC camera. This flexibility is very important to our Division II school clients that don’t have the budgets or luxuries to have unlimited hardware. We provide a nice quality image that gives them a simple streaming solution. I think most of our clients like that we can offer the ability to scale their productions to any size. This includes not only flexibility but also ease-of-use and being able to connect it to other options.”
Since JVC cameras already support RTMP, RTSP and Zixi protocols, Kant also recognizes the cameras’ IP-related benefits. “For many organizations looking to transition to an IP workflow, if they’re not using something like a JVC camera, they’re usually using an external converter. That’s a much more cumbersome set up – including power supplies, cable, and equipment – than necessary.”
Perfect for College and High School Sports
When choosing cameras, Kant found that cost and ease of use to be very important factors. “Price point plays a big part of it,” says Kant. “Most entry-level SDI cameras are usually much more expensive than the JVC GY-HM250. We find that camera to be very attractive for the clients who are specifically looking for a 3G-SDI solution. Using the JVC cameras helps streamline our clients’ workforce, and that makes good business sense.”
For more information on JVC Professional Video, please contact Dan Skirpan at [email protected].