Broadcast Solutions builds super-sized OB truck for South Africa’s Supersport

Media system integrator Broadcast Solutions has delivered a new super-sized outside broadcast truck, known as IP1, to South Africa’s Supersport.

Broadcast Solutions said that South Africa’s traffic regulations had enabled it to construct what was “probably” one of the largest outside broadcast vehicle ever built.

The trailer is 16m long, 4.3m high and 2.6m wide while travelling, 5m when expanded.

Production facilities include a Sony XVS 9000 4 M/E switcher, a 64 fader Calrec Artemis audio mixer, and space for as many as 14 EVS replay operators. The truck is wired for 30 cameras, including Sony 3500 Ultra HD, 5500 super-motion and 4800 ultra-motion cameras.

Internal connectivity uses SMPTE ST2110 throughout. Imagine Communications SNPs provide SDI/IP conversion as well as video processing.

Overall control throughout the truck uses the hi human interface system developed by Broadcast Solutions, providing auto discovery and auto configuration of all the systems. Broadcast Solutions recently retro-fitted hi to two other OB units at Supersport.

The new truck was built in Broadcast Solutions’ workshops in Bingen am Rhein, Germany, then driven under special permission to Hamburg for sea transfer to South Africa.

Dheshnie Naidoo, head of production operations at Supersport. “We needed to be able to cover a lot of those events in Ultra HD for world feeds, so we needed a new truck which would have all the tools we need, and which we could very quickly configure to each job. We spoke to systems integrators everywhere, and Broadcast Solutions impressed us with their understanding of our requirements, their skills in IP networking, and the simple way we control everything using the hi human interface.”

JP Delport, managing director of Broadcast Solutions UK said: “Using IP and software tools, the Broadcast Solutions design team is able to pack huge amounts of production ability into outside broadcast trucks now. What makes Supersport IP1 so exciting is that we were allowed to make the coachwork bigger than would be allowed in Europe, so we were able to create much more working space. Everyone is together in one truck, but they still have comfortable working space.”