HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (WORLDWIDE- Q4 2005)
-------------N. Amer./Asia/Eur./Aus./-Totals
Full-scale- in use- 53 / 16 / 23 / 00 / - 92
Smaller- in use--- 20 / 13 / 22 / 01 / - 46
In Construction-- 03 / 00 / 01 / 00 / - 04
Announced Only--01 / 01 / 03 / 02 / - 07
--------------------------------------------
Grand Totals---- 77 / 30 / 49 / 03 / - 159


HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (N. AMERICA)
53- full-scale- in use.
20- smaller or not good for sports- in use.
03- full-scale- in construction.
01- full-scale- announced for 2006 construction.

Compares with, per fejman on 11/10/03, "a TOTAL of 184 production trucks in the country (not B units, not uplink trucks that carry cameras, but including everything from Alaska Mobile Productions in Anchorage, which is a very unique truck, all the way to HD4 and the 4 edit trucks that do have switchers in them). Of those, 99 are analog trucks, 67 are digital and 18 are HD. Those 184 trucks produce EVERYTHING you see live."

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-LIST (N. AMERICA)
No./ When/ Size/ Production Co.- Truck Name/ Projects- Past & Current
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
01. Q3'92/ Small/ NHK- K1/
02. Q1'97/ Full/ NMT- HD1/ ‘04 Super Bowl half;‘02 Olympics
03. Q4'98/ Full/ NMT- HD3/ ‘02 Olympics
04. Q3'99/ Full*/ Jonas Jensen- Unnamed/ Original Panasonic; *not good for sports
05. Q2'00/ Small/ Linman- Xtreme Digital II/

06. Q3'01/ Small/ HDNet- HD-1/
07. Q3'01/ Small/ HDNet- HD-2/
08. Q3'01/ Small/ Video One- Unnamed/ Hollywood projects
09. Q3'01/ Full/ NEP- Nova/ CBS NFL
10. Q4'01/ Full/ Sweetwater- Unnamed/

11. Q?'02/ Small/ Mobile- 5HDX/ Rangers, Astros, Spurs, Mavericks, Stars
12. Q3'02/ Full*/ NHK- K-2/ *not good for sports
13. Q3'02/ Small/ Shulman- MU1/ Hollywood projects
14. Q4'02/ Full/ AMV- Resolution/ CBS NFL, Blue Collar Comedy Tour

15. Q1'03/ Full/ NEP- SS20HD/
16. Q1'03/ Full/ Comcast- Unnamed/ Flyers, 76ers, Phillies, Capitals, Wizards, Orioles
17. Q1'03/ Full/ Coredigital- Bonnie & Clyde/ CBS SEC football
18. Q2'03/ Full/NEP- SS-26/ ABC MNF, Stanley Cup, NBA finals, Reagan funeral
19. Q3'03/ Small/ Bell ExpressVu- Unnamed/
20. Q4'03/ Full/ Trio- Tango/ WGN & Fox Sports Net North
21. Q4'03/ Full/ NMT- HD5/ InDemand
22. Q4'03/ Full/ Mobile- 7HDX/ Coyotes, Diamondbacks, Mighty Ducks, Kings, Padres
23. Q4'03/ Full/ Mobile- 8HDX/ Rockets

24. Q1'04/ Full/ NMT- HD6/ New England Sports Network
25. Q1'04/ Full/ Turner- TS#1/ Atlanta Hawks; TNT-HD
26. Q1'04/ Full/ Cox- Unnamed/ SD Padres
27. Q2'04/ Full/ NEP- SS-27/ ESPN or Fox NFL
28. Q2'04/ Full/ GameCreek- Yankee Clipper/ YES Network- NY Yankees & NJ Nets
29. Q2'04/ Full/ GameCreek- Patriot/
30. Q2'04/ Full/ NCP- NCP-V/ ESPN Sat. Night College
31. Q2'04/ Full/ Turner TS#2/ TNT-HD
32. Q2'04/ Full/ Dome- Majestic (prev. Pioneer)/ Toronto Bluejays
33. Q2'04/ Full/ Mobile- 9HDX/
34. Q3'04/ Full/ NEP- SS-28/ Fox NFL
35. Q3'04/ Full/ NEP- SS18HD/ Fox NFL; ‘05 Super Bowl, '05 Daytona 500
36. Q3'04/ Full/ NEP- SS24HD/ ‘05 Final Four, '05 Triple Crown
37. Q3'04/ Full/ F&F- GTX-11/ Fox NFL
38. Q3'04/ Full/ F&F- GTX-12/ Fox NFL
39. Q3'04/ Small/ Greene- HDV-3/ "ROUTE 66 - The Marathon Tour"
40. Q3'04/ Full/ NEP- Denali Silver/ Academy Awards
41. Q4'04/ Full/ NEP- ND-1/ Fox Nascar
42. Q4'04/ Full/ NCP-VII/
43. Q4'04/ Full/ Trio- Phoenix/ WGN, Comcast SportsNet Chicago
44. Q4'04/ Full/ Mira- M-5/
45. Q4'04/ Full/ Mobile- 6HDX/ Cardinals, Rockies

46. Q1'05/ Full/ CBC- Unnamed/
47. Q1'05/ Full/ Corplex- Platinum HD/
48. Q1'05- Full/ AMV- Celebrity/
49. Q2'05/ Full/ NMT- HD10/ San Francisco market
50. Q2'05/ Full*/ HD Ready- HD Roadie/ *For PBS's Sound Stage series
51. Q2'05/ Full/ Lyon- MU-6/
52. Q2'05/ Full/ NCP- IV/
53. Q2'05/ Full/ Mobile- 10HDX/ Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Dodgers, Angels
54. Q2'05/Full/ AMV- Cinetour/
55. Q2'05/ Small/ AMV- Matrix/
56. Q2'05/ Small/ Clear Channel- Unnamed/
57. Q2'05/ Small/ LMG- HD-1/ Trade shows, entertainment
58. Q2'05/ Full/ Dome- Unnamed/
59. Q2'05/ Side Unit/ NMT- SB1/
60. Q3'05/ Full/ Coredigital- SundanceKidHD/
61. Q3'05/ Full/ NEP- SS19/
62. Q3'05/ Side Unit/ NMT- SB2/
63. Q4'05/ Full/ TV Azteca- Unnamed/
64. Q4'05/ Full/ SB/
65. Q4'05/ Full/ NMT- HD11/
66. Q4'05/ Side Unit/ NMT- SB3/
67. Q4'05/ Full/ Game Creek- Freedom/
68. Q4'05/ Full/ TPS- Unnamed/
69. Q4'05/Full/ Shook- unnamed/
70. Q4'05/ Small/ LMG- HD-2
71. Q4'05/ Full/ Mobile- 11HDX/ Cardinals, Blues, Brewers, Twins
72. Q4'05/ Full/ Mira- M-4/
73. Q4'05/ Full/ F&F- GTX-14/

74. Q1'06/ Small/ MHD- Pegasus/ MTV's new HD music channel
75. Q1'06/ Full/ Mira - M-4/
76. Q1'06/ Full/ F & F Productions - GTX14 /
77. Q1'06/ Small/ Liman - Newstream /
78. Q2'06/ Full/ Dome- Trillium/
79. Q2'06/ Full/ Mobile- 12HDX/ Twins, Brewers, Wild, Lynx (WNBA)
80. Q2'06/ Full/ AMV Titan/
81. Q3'06/ Full/ NCP - VIII/
82. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-14/
83. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-17/
84. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-25/
85. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - ND3/
86. Q3'06/ Full/ Corplex- Cobalt/
87. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
88. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
89. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
90. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/???
91. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/???


HD PRODUCTION TRUCK COMPANIES (N. AMERICA)

-All Mobile Video (New York, NY) ("AMV") has 4 trucks: Resolution, Celebrity (retrofit), Cinetour (retrofit) & Matrix. See: http://www.allmobilevideo.com/ & http://mixonline.com/mixline/mobile-celebrity-studer/

-Bell ExpressVu (Canada) has 1 truck, per here: http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/article_view.asp?action=view&idnumber=516

-Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ("CBC") has 1 truck, per article above.

-Clear Channel has 1 truck, a smaller unit built to be able to park on smaller side streets, per here:http://www.hdtvbuyer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=33075

-Comcast SportsNet (Philadelphia, PA) has 1 truck. pg. 17 of pdf (from prior avs post): http://www.sportstvproduction.com/issues/stvp_04.2003.pdf

-Coredigitaltech (Tempe, AZ) has 1 truck: "Bonnie & Clyde." per link below. Being rebuilt in 2005, per here: http://www.presentationmaster.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=30284 Also upgrading their "Sundance Kid" truck to HD, per here: http://www.coredigitaltech.com/ & posts 151, 152 & 159 below.

-Corplex TV (Northfield, IL) has 1 truck: Platinum HD per link here: http://www.corplex.tv/platinum.htm Truck was featured truck in March April 2005 sportstvproduction issue. Also building Cobalt, scheduled for completion in August 2006.

-Cox Communications (San Diego, CA) has 1 truck. per link below.

-Dome Productions (Toronto, Ontario) has 2 trucks: Majestic (prev. Pioneer) Canada's first: http://www.appliedelectronics.com/eng/brdcst_install.html#featured1 & here: http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?id=147610&story_id=2820123641&issue=&PC= & here: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1080861011360&call_pageid=969907739730&col=970081600908 & here: http://www.appliedelectronics.com/eng/images/Dec2004.pdf
Dome is also have another constructed, scheduled for completion in April 2006, per here: http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=3688

-F&F Productions (Clearwater, FL) has 3 trucks, GTX-11, GTX-12 & GTX-14, per here: http://www.fandfproductions.com/ & post #162 below.

-Game Creek Video (Hudson, NH) has 3 trucks: Yankee Clipper, Patriot & Freedom. pg. 19 of pdf here: http://www.gamecreekvideo.com/specs.html & post 121 below.

-Greene HD Productions (Arlington, TX) has 1 truck: HDV-3: http://home.earthlink.net/~greenevideo/HDTV/mobile.html

-HDNet (Denver, CO) has 2 trucks: HD-1 & HD-2. See here: http://www.hd.net/mobileunits.html

- HD Ready/(HD Roadie?) (St. Charles, IL), has 1 truck, HD Roadie, built specifically for HD entertainment production rather than sports, per here: http://www.reelchicago.com/archive.cfm?storyID=746

-Jonas Jensen Studios (Seattle, WA) has 1 truck, per link here: http://www.jonasjensen.com/Homepage.htm (which has a cool list of the events it has done over the years, at the end of the "current projects" link) ( Was the original Panasonic truck. See here: http://www.pharis-video.com/p3150.htm and here: http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/news/N_Big_games.shtml & here: http://www.icommag.com/december-1999/december-1999-page-13.html)
Reportedly not well-suited for sports.

-Linman Video Rental (LVR) has 1 truck, Xtreme Digital II, per here: http://www.sportstvproduction.com/2004/03/03truck.pdf

-LMG Inc has 2 units, HD-1 & HD-2, which both function as a "truck in a box" per here: http://www.hdtvbuyer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=33589&afterinter=true & post 117 below.

-Lyon Video (Columbus, OH) has 1 truck, MU-6, per here: http://www.lyonvideo.com/images/lvimu6.pdf

- MHD has 1 truck in construction, Pegasus, specifically being built for music purposes. See post 160 below.

-Mira Mobile Television (Portland, OR) has 2 trucks, M-5 & M-4. http://www.avvideo.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=25546 & http://www.miramobile.com/. & post 156 below.

- Mobile Television Group (Denver, CO) has 7 trucks, with 1 announced: 5HDX, 6HDX (retrofit), 7HDX, 8HDX, 9HDX, 10HDX, 11HDX & 12HDX (mid 2006). The "divisions" within the company include Lone Star, Mountain and Western Mobile. See: http://www.coloradostudios.com/sm_8hdx_mwfs.html & http://www.mountainmobiletv.com/ & posts 155 & 171 below.

-National Mobile Television (Torrance, CA) ("NMT") has 9 trucks: HD1, HD3, HD5, HD6, HD10, HD11, SB1, SB2 & SB3 (sold HD4, HD7 & HD8 to NEP- now NEP SS-26, SS-27 & SS-28). http://www.nmtv.com/facilities/fac_trucks.asp & posts 113 & 115 below.

-NEP Supershooters, LP (Pittsburgh, PA)("NEP") has 10 trucks: SS18HD, SS19, SS20HD, SS24HD, Nova, Denali Silver, ND1, SS-26, SS-27 & SS-28 (Bought NMT HD4, HD7 & HD8- now NEP SS-26, SS-27 & SS-28).
http://guardian.nepinc.com/packages/index.html (Nova was previously the ASEM truck, Columbia, per here: http://www.telecast-fiber.com/Press-ASEM.html & here: http://broadcastengineering.com/ar/broadcasting_nab_hd_airbut/
& here: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-21-2004/0002256052&EDATE=
HD4 was previously HD Vision/ WRAL HDV-5. See here: http://web-star.com/hdtv/hdvision01802newsrelease.html, and is featured here at pg. 12 here: http://www.sportstvproduction.com/issues/stvp_06.2003.pdf ) & post 118 below.

-New Century Productions (Allentown, PA) ("NCP") has 3 trucks, NCP-IV, NCP-V & NCP-VII. http://www.ncpvideo.com/truck-frameset.html & http://hugecgi.com/cgi-bin/ep_release02.cgi?db_id=3789

-NHK Enterprises America (Park Ridge, NJ) ("NHK") has 2 trucks: K1 & K2. See links here:
http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Professional/docs/press_releases/b&ppr4-7-02a.pdf & http://quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/aw/Bco-shibasoku.RnGp_DlU.html Reportedly K1 is smaller and not well-suited for sports.

- Shook Mobile Technology (San Antonio, TX) is planning to build 1 truck, unnamed, per here: http://www.leitch.com/custserv/press.nsf/wp/IndustrysHDTVTransition

-Shulman (Hollywood, CA) has 1 truck: MU1, shown here: http://schulmanmobilevideo.com/mu1.htm
Reportedly this is a Hollywood truck, not suited for mobile work.

-Sweetwater Digital (Van Nuys, CA) has 1 truck. See here: http://www.svptv.com/Sweetwate_Brochure.pdf & here: http://web-star.com/hdtv/fujinonnewsrelease.html

- Total Production Services (TPS) has 1 unit, unnamed, per post 122 below.

-Trio Video (Chicago, IL) has 2 trucks, Tango & Phoenix, per here: http://www.triovideo.com/news.html

-Turner Broadcasting (Atlanta, GA) has 2 trucks: TS#1 & TS#2-- conversions from existing trucks. http://bth.broadcastengineering.com/ar/broadcasting_turner_rolls_new/

-TV Azteca (Mexico City) has 1 truck constructed by VSG, NMT subsidiary, per here: http://www.creativecow.net/forum/read_post.php?postid=111236933377209&forumid=105 & here: http://www.vsg.tv/pdf/news_TSG-aliance_04-07-05.pdf

-Video One (Van Nuys, CA) has 1 truck, not sure if suited for sports production here: http://www.videoonela.tv/


HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (EUROPE)
23- full-scale- in use.
22- smaller or not good for sports- in use.
01- in construction.
03- announced for 2005/6 construction.

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-LIST (EUROPE)
No./ When/ Size/ Production Co.- Truck Name/ Projects- Past & Current
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
01. 1998/ Small/ Alfacam- OB05HD/

02. 2001/ Full/ Alfacam- OB10HD/
03. 2001/ Full/ Alfacam- OB11HD/
04. 2001/ Full/ Outside-Broadcast- HD Unit 8/

05. 2002/ Small/ Alfacam- OB04HD/
06. 2002/ Small/ Alfacam- OB08HD/
07. 2002/ Small/ Alfacam- OB12HD/
08. 2002/ Full/ Telegenic- T8/
09. 2002/ Full/ Bow Tie- Unit 2/

10. 2003/ Small/ Alfacam- OB13HD/
11. 2003/ Small/ Alfacam- OB14HD/
12. 2003/ Full/ Alfacam- OB16HD/
13. 2003/ Small/ Cinevideogroep- OBV12/
14. 2003/ Full/ Visions- HD1/ '04 NBC Olympics
15. 2003/ Full/ Outside-Broadcast- HD Unit 9/

16. 2004/ Full/ Alfacam- OB18HD/
17. 2004/ Full/ Alfacam- OB20HD/
18. 2004/ Full/ Alfacam- OB21HD/
19. 2004/ Full/ Primevision- HD30/Copenhagen Grand Prix, Athens Olympics
20. 2004/ Full/ Visions- HD2/
21. 2004/ Full/ BBC- HD OB/
22. 2004/ Small/ Eumovil- Unit 2/

23. 2005/ Full/ TopVision- GmbH/
24. 2005/ Full/ Alfacam- OB22HD/
25. 2005/ Small/ Host Broadcast Services/ '06 World Cup
26. 2005/ Small/ Host Broadcast Services/ '06 World Cup
27. 2005/ Small/ Host Broadcast Services/ '06 World Cup
28. 2005/ Small/ Host Broadcast Services/ '06 World Cup
29. 2005/ Small/ Host Broadcast Services/ '06 World Cup
30. 2005?/ ?/ Eumovil- Unnamed/
31. 2005?/ ?/ Host Broadcast Services/ '06 World Cup
32. 2005?/ ?/ Host Broadcast Services/ '06 World Cup
33. 2005?/ ?/ Media Movil- Unnamed/
34. 2005?/ ?/ Eurasia Entertainment- Unnamed/
35. 2005/ Small/ Neon Broadcast- Unnamed/ Small venues/ spaces
36. 2005/ Small/ Bow Tie- Unit 3?/
37. 2005/ Full/ TPC- Unnamed/ 2006 Winter Olympic Games
38. 2005/ Small/ Mediapro- Unnamed/ Real Madrid Soccer
39. 2005/ Small/ Videotime- Unnamed/
40. 2005/ Small/ Wige- HD-1/
41. 2005/ Small/ TTC Ostankino- Unnamed/
42. 2005/ Full/ Mediapro- Unnamed/
43. 2005/ Full/ BBC- Unit 12/
44. 2005/ Full/ Cinevideogroep- OBV10/
45. 2005/ Small/ Cinevideogroep- OBV11/
46. 2005/ Full/ Tpc- Unnamed/
47. 2005/ Full/ TVN- TVN-Ü3HD/

48. 2006/ Full/ Studio Berlin- Unnamed/
49. 2006/ Small/ Wige- Unnamed/
50. 2006/ Full/ SBP- Unnamed/

HD PRODUCTION TRUCK COMPANIES (EUROPE)
- Alfacam (Belgium) has 12 trucks, OB04HD, OB05HD, OB08HD, OB10HD, OB11HD, OB12HD, OB13HD, OB14HD, OB16HD, OB18HD, OB20HD & OB21HD, per here: http://www.alfacam.be/ & here: http://www.ebu.ch/trev_288-alfacam.pdf They have also announced plans to construct OB22HD in 2005.

-BBC (UK) has 2 trucks, HD OB and Unit 12 (HD-ready), per here: http://www.bbcresources.com/about/archive/040908_proms.html & Sneals2000 post #107, below.

-Betanews (Italy) has 1 unit completed, “Esterna 10,” and 1 unit in construction, a remodel, per these articles: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?ID=46276 &
http://webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?SESSIONID=&aId=6056

-Bow Tie Television (UK) has 2 trucks, Unit 2 & Unit 3?, per here: http://www.bowtietv.com/index.htm & here: http://www.bowtietv.com/UNIT2text.htm
& here: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?ID=28487

- Cinevideogroep (Netherlands) has 3 trucks, OBV10HD, OBV11HD and OBV12HD, per here:
http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/news/2003/20030923-Vinevideogroep.html and http://www.cinevideogroep.nl/mobile_facilities.htm

-Eumovil (Madrid, Spain) has 1 truck, Unit 2, per here: http://www.euphonix.com/news/news2004/050804_aes_eumovil.htm
& is constructing another, per here: http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/cgi-bin/framed.pl?p=/news/2005/20050416-sort99-NAB_Summary_Release.html

-Eurasia Entertainment (Moscow, Russia) is building 1 truck, per here: http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/cgi-bin/framed.pl?p=/news/2005/20050416-sort99-NAB_Summary_Release.html

- Host Broadcast Services (HBS)(Switzerland) has 5 trucks, effective June 2005, & has announced plans for construction of up to 2 more trucks for FIFA 2006 World Cup, per here: http://www.hostbroadcastservices.com/news.php?idnews=6&page=2 & here: http://broadcastengineering.com/news/Thomson-World-Cup/

- Media Movil (Barcelona, Spain) is building 1 OB unit, per here: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_4592.shtml

- Mediapro (Madrid, Spain) has 1 unit and is building another, per here: http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/news/2005/20050124-sort45-OB_Major_Orders.html

- Neon Broadcast Service (United Kingdom) is building 1 truck, designed for use in smaller spaces where large trucks can't physically fit, per here: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_4729.shtml

-Outside Broadcast (Belgium) has 2 trucks, HD Unit 8 & HD Unit 9, per here: http://www.outside-broadcast.be/index.html

- Primevision (Denmark) has 1 truck, HD30, per here: http://hd30.com/

- SBP (Italy) has 1 large unit in construction, per here: http://www.infocomm.org/index.cfm?objectID=86B43512-899C-484E-915276F64C4E1FD6 & here: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?ID=47807

-Skyline Television (Germany) has 1 unit, unnamed, per here: http://www.tv-skyline.de/download/Datenblatt_UE5.pdf

- Studio Berlin Adlershof (Berlin, Germany) has announced 1 truck, per here: http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/news/2005/20050124-sort45-OB_Major_Orders.html

-Telegenic Broadcast (United Kingdom) has 1 truck, T8, per here: http://www.telegenic.co.uk/htm/Outside_Broadcast_Units_T8.html

-TopVision (Germany) has announced construction of 1 van, per here: http://pro.sony.com.hk/pr20040910h.htm

-Tpc (Switzerland) has 1 truck, per here: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_6454.shtml

- TTC Ostankino (Moscow, Russia) has Russia's first unit in construction, per here: http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/news/2005/20050124-sort45-OB_Major_Orders.html

-TVN (Germany) has 1 truck, TVN-Ü3HD, per here: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_6575.shtml

- TV Productioncenter (Zürich, Switzerland) (TPC) is building 1 van, per here: http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/archive_uk/111104.html

- Videotime- Mediaset Group (Italy) is building 1 unit, per here: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_4505.shtml

- Visions Outside Broadcasting (UK) has 2 trucks, HD1 & HD2, per here: http://www.broadcast-technology.com/projects/visions/ & here: http://www.visions-ob.com/Truck%20Details/Digital%20Scanners%20&%20High%20Def/HD1.htm

- Wige Television GmbH (Cologne, Germany) has 1 unit, HD-1, and 1 in construction, due April 2006, per here: http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/news/2005/20050124-sort45-OB_Major_Orders.html and http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_6688.shtml



HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (ASIA)
16- Full-scale- in use.
13- Small- in use.
01- Announced for 2006
(NHK truck size est. @ 1/2 full, 1/2 smaller)

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-LIST (ASIA)
No./ When/ Size/ Production Co.- Truck Name/ Projects- Past & Current
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
01. NHK
//
24. NHK
25. 2001/ Small/ MBC/
26. 2002/ Full/ TeleTECH- HD-102/
27. 2002/ Full/ TeleTECH- HD-107/
28. 2004/ Full/ TeleTECH- HD-105/
29. 2005/ Full/ Tianjin TV- Unnamed/ 2008 Olympics
30. 2006/ ?/ Beijing TV- Unnamed/


HD PRODUCTION TRUCK COMPANIES (ASIA)

-Beijing TV (BTV) (China) will have 1 unit, planned for 2006, per here:
http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_6645.shtml

- Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)(Korea) has 1 truck, per here: http://pro.sony.com.hk/pr20010422u.html

-NHK Broadcasting (Tokyo, Japan) has 24 trucks, per here: http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/english/annual/2004/04page_05.html

-TeleTECH Co. (Tokyo, Japan) has 3 trucks, HD-102, HD-105 and HD-107, per here: http://www.teletech.co.jp/teletech/e50.htm

-Tianjin TV (China) has 1 unit, to be used for 2008 Olympics, per here: http://www.sony-asia.com/corporate/news/regional/2005/aug/25.htm

- Totsu Co., Ltd. (Japan) has 1 truck, per here: http://www.canon.com/bctv/topics/totsu.html


HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (AUSTRALIA)
01- small- in use.
02- full-scale- announced, but on hold.

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-LIST (AUSTRALIA)
No./ When/ Size/ Production Co.- Truck Name/ Projects- Past & Current
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
01. 2004/ Small/ NBN- OB1/
02. 2005?/ Full/ ABC- Unnamed/
03. 2005?/ Full/ ABC- Unnamed/

HD PRODUCTION TRUCK COMPANIES (AUSTRALIA)
- Australian Broadcast Company ("ABC") has announced plans for consruction of two trucks, but put plans on hold three times.

-NBN Television (Newcastle, Australia) has 1 truck,OB1, per here: http://www.dba.org.au/uploads/documents/NBN_HighDefinitionOBU_pressrelease.pdf & here: http://www.one80digitalpost.com.au/OB.pdf

and here: http://www.chyron.com/news/newsroom/newsroom/2005/Chyron_Duet_HyperX_in_First_All_HD_Truck_in_Australia_200510 14.html


HUMOR
Don't know what will happen to this truck, now that VOOM (& its STB's) is gone. See here: http://peach.mie.utoronto.ca/people/tsangc/lego-tvtruck-index.html

COSTS:
7-10 million dollars is often quoted.
- ASEM's "Columbia" cost 10 million per article here: http://bssc.sel.sony.com/news/network/issue5/hdtv.html
-Coredigital's "Bonnie & Clyde" cost 7 million per article here:http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Professional/markets/sports/files/sony_cbs.pdf
-Mark Cuban says each HDNet unit cost 5 million here: http://www.digitaltelevision.com/2001/november/feature1.shtml

MANUFACTURER:
Gerling & Associates (Sunbury, OH) is the primary N. American manufacturer. See here: http://www.gerlinggroup.com/homePage.html

NON-HD PRODUCTION TRUCK LINKS (N. AMERICA):
Here are two links to other video production truck sites, most not HD: http://tvtrucksonline.com/links.html & http://users.bestweb.net/~tvman/link1.htm

NON-HD PRODUCTION TRUCK LINKS (EUROPE):
Here are two links to most European OB van companies, most not HD: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/brieflisting.asp?scategory=199&company=7308&start=0 & here: http://www.mandy.com/1/services.cfm?c=obrd&t=eur&p=2

Originally posted by thall85
I have often read here that a major bottleneck to more HD live-event coverage is the lack of HD mobile trucks. I was curious as to how many are now available in North America, so I did a search of this site and other sites.

..............

Seriously, can anyone in the industry provide additional information regarding more HD trucks now or soon available?

From what I have heard that is a pretty good number. I know there are more trucks being built as we speak, but they take months to build and test out. Trucks being built today wouldn't be ready until late spring or early summer of next year.

Thanks, Foxeng, for your reply. May I ask an additional question- would there be times when 2 or more of these 12 "A" trucks would be at the same sports event, or could we assume that up to 12 sports events can be produced at the same time- 1 truck for each event? Thanks in advance for your insights.

Originally posted by thall85
Thanks, Foxeng, for your reply. May I ask an additional question- would there be times when 2 or more of these 12 "A" trucks would be at the same sports event, or could we assume that up to 12 sports events can be produced at the same time- 1 truck for each event? Thanks in advance for your insights.

It depends on the production. With the Grammys there were 2 trucks because it was such a large production. Football games usually use one truck, but a Super Bowl might have 2 trucks depending on what the client (network) wants to do.

Also you can count on at least 3 to 4 days setup and rehearsal (again depending on the event) and up to one day tear down and then transport time. Trucks usually run on a one week per event schedule, unless it is a large production then it might run into two weeks.

Comcast has an HD truck as well in the Philly/New England area.

you can add this one to the list also

http://www.nadeauproductions.com/index.html

Here's some more,
http://www.coredigitaltech.com/bonnie.html

Wow KWhite thats a pretty impressive truck 6 Christie Cube's thats gotta be nice:)

The Nadeau link did not show a truck that I saw. Did not see it in a google search or in a search on this site either. Did I miss it?

Trio Video of Chicago, main truck supplier to WGN and Fox Sports Net Chicago, currently has an HD truck under construction, due to hit the streets in early '04. They also supply truck on occasion to ESPN, Fox network, and other networks.

Originally posted by Jeremyfr
Wow KWhite thats a pretty impressive truck 6 Christie Cube's thats gotta be nice:) Yeah, but it's got a Sony switcher in it. :( That's like having great kidneys and lungs, but a baboon heart. Not the worst, but there are better options (at least it's not an Ampex).

What does one of those units cost to build?

Originally posted by Ernie Smith
What does one of those units cost to build?

Just the TV equipment alone can run into several million depending on how fancy the truck is to be outfitted.

(edited by poster)

Thanx for the illuminating responses gentlemen.
Those are some major outlays.
I will never take HDTV for granted and I think we must be patient while these folks go thru what they have to go thru.
I am in awe of the picture quality every time I watch Monday Nite Football, or of most HDTV productions for that matter. Granted some are better than others, but I can accept that for now.
:D

The ASEM truck was sold to NEP in February and renamed Nova

The SDTV truck is not an HD truck.

The WRAL truck was sold some time ago and is NMT HD4.

The original Panasonic MNF truck is now the Jonas Jensen truck.

Western Digital (a division of Colorado Studios, a sister company or parent company, depending on who you ask) has one new truck, with a rumored two more to be added.

The Christie Light Cubes in Bonnie are very good at causing massive headaches!!

Cost to build one of these ranges from $4mil to $8mil (actual cost of ASEM truck was $8mil, but it looks better if you say it was more expensive!!).

Trio has a truck coming online in December, there are others in the works. It takes anywhere from 6 to 9 months to build one of these things after you find the money.


Originally posted by thall85
8. So, Comcast has 1 truck. See here at pg. 17 of pdf (from prior avs post): http://www.sportstvproduction.com/issues/stvp_04.2003.pdf

9. Coredigitaltech has 1 truck: “Bonnie & Clyde,” per prior link.

10. Action Sports and Entertainment Mobile TV (ASEM) has 1 truck: Columbia. See here: http://www.telecast-fiber.com/Press-ASEM.html

11. Satellite Digital Teleproductions (SDTV) has 1 truck: Expandolink. See here at pg. 21 of pdf: http://www.sportstvproduction.com/issues/stvp_08.2003.pdf

12. HD Vision/ WRAL has 1 truck: HDV-5. See here: http://web-star.com/hdtv/hdvision01802newsrelease.html

13. Sweetwater Digital has or will soon have 1 truck. See here: http://www.svptv.com/Sweetwate_Brochure.pdf & here: http://web-star.com/hdtv/fujinonnewsrelease.html

Apparently the original Panasonic truck was reconfigured into one of the NMT trucks. See here: http://www.pharis-video.com/p3150.htm and here: http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/news/N_Big_games.shtml

The Nadeau link did not show a truck that I saw. Did not see it in a google search or in a search on this site either. Did I miss it?

Here is another good link to TV Production trucks, but don't find anymore HD trucks: http://users.bestweb.net/~tvman/link1.htm

Counting the Comcast, Coredigital, ASEM, HD Vision & SDTV trucks, are there currently 17 HD trucks in use?

Gerlig & Associates seems to be the principal manufacturer. See here: http://www.gerlinggroup.com/news/frameset-deliveries.html

Also, to those with more knowledge, what companies currently have trucks “under construction” and when will these trucks come into use? (Links if possible) Thanks. http://www.coloradostudios.com/wm_index_1.html (http://) http://www.coloradostudios.com/wm_index_1.html

fejman, thank you for your authoritative information.

Found confirmation on the 16 trucks in fejman's post of 6-10-03 in another thread. ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2311355#post2311355 )

Turner Broadcasting Field operations is in the process of converting their trucks now.They started on the first one last month.Both should be complete by spring of '04.

I forgot NHK K1 & K2....

Loved the VOOM truck!!

(edited by poster)

Originally posted by thall85
Thanks, Foxeng, for your reply. May I ask an additional question- would there be times when 2 or more of these 12 "A" trucks would be at the same sports event, or could we assume that up to 12 sports events can be produced at the same time- 1 truck for each event? Thanks in advance for your insights.

Upping the number to 18, not all of these trucks are "A" trucks.

Cinetour is an edit truck and not capable of live productions.

While HDNet does some fantastic productions, the reality is that they are very small trucks not suited to even a medium sized production.

The Jonas Jensen truck is 720P only and not suited to sports at all (although it has done some great concert stuff!!)

NHK K1 is very small and designed to provide pictures to Japan. It's audio capabilities (i.e. announcer setup) is severely lacking.

NMT HD5 is also very limited in what it can do.

The Schulman truck is a Hollywood lot truck designed more for episodic production than live stuff.

The rest of the trucks are doing basically one event per week (Nova is the CBS NFL "A" truck, HD4 is the MNF truck), some of the others can certainly do more than one show a week. Most NBA & NHL shows are one day set/shoot/strikes, college sports tend to have one set day. Obviously travel is also an issue.

In the case of the Grammys, there was one HD truck there, but several SD trucks as well. The only time that I know of more than one HD truck being at an event are the NFL playoffs, when one truck does the pregame show and one truck actually does the game.

To put this in perspective, by my count there are a TOTAL of 184 production trucks in the country (not B units, not uplink trucks that carry cameras, but including everything from Alaska Mobile Productions in Anchorage, which is a very unique truck, all the way to HD4 and the 4 edit trucks that do have switchers in them). Of those, 99 are analog trucks, 67 are digital and 18 are HD. Those 184 trucks produce EVERYTHING you see live, from the start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race (yes, that would be Alaska Mobile Productions), to the Superbowl (I think they're using Nova this year). On any given day, all the Fox, ESPN and three letter networks are using these trucks to produce thousands of shows a year. The number of HD trucks is small, but there are alot of people talking about building them, since we all see this as the furture of live television.

Sorry to ramble, hope this helps.

On the last Ultimate Fighting Challenge, we used 3 trucks. An SD truck from Century productions for the Pre-Show, the Denali SD truck for the live feed, and the Jonas Jensen HD truck for the HD delayed broadcast. The HD program was ghost switched and replays came in SD from the live truck. Graphics were SD upconverts.

I did the Mr. Olympia show for iN Demand out of the Schulman HD truck. It was the first year for this show to be done in High Def, so most of the tape elements from prior years and the open was upconverted SD. Again, the graphics were SD from the Chyron infinite and upconverted.

As long as we have to provide the 4x3 SD feed along with the HD, there will be this hodge podge of multiple trucks and cross converting every which way. Some of the "A" trucks can handle the whole thing, but there is still a sacrifice in shot composition trying to satisfy both.

Thank you fejman (& J_Nemeth) for your extremely insightful posts.

I saw the small NHK truck in the truck dock area at the Rose Garden for the Blazers home opener against Cleveland November, 1. The truck is a silver-grey color with a black NHK logo. I believe that the game was seen in HD on NBA TV.

I was lucky enough to tour the HDNet studios last week with some others from the AVS forum.

5. HDNet has 2 units: HD-1 & HD-2. See here: http://www.hd.net/mobileunits.html

15. Western Digital/ Colorado Studios has 1 truck: "7HDX", per your prior link.

In addition to the two HDNet trucks, there are 2 others owned by Colorado Studios (HDNets main partner), that are used for HD production. Colorado Studios has some different divisions, one of which is Western MOBILE Television (Western Digital makes hard drives).

They also have another trailer under construction. Their goal is to have 45 trucks eventually. They start work on a new one as soon as the one is complete.

While HDNet does some fantastic productions, the reality is that they are very small trucks not suited to even a medium sized production.

True for the HDNet only trucks, which must be linked up with a regular SD truck to do a production. The new trucks can be run standalone. They even have a satellite uplink on the back of some of their trailers.

All in all, a very impressive set up.

Eric

I didnt see this new Trio truck on the list. Not on the road yet I guess.

Mobile Production company Trio Video is completing work on its first high-definition-capable mobile production truck, designed to provide live coverage of a range of Chicago-area and national sports teams and entertainment events. The new 53-foot rig, called “Tango”, will hit the road at the end of the year with a full complement of SD and HD gear that includes nine Grass Valley LDK 6000 mkII HD cameras outfitted with nine different HD studio- and ENG-style lenses from Fujinon.

Although Trio Video currently does most of its projects in SD resolution, the company has been getting an increasing amount of requests for HD production. According to Trio Video owner Jack Walsh, they’ll acquire in HD resolution (mostly 1080i) and downconvert the signal for their sports and entertainment clients. The Fujinon lenses will remain the same for either type of production.

Trio has taken delivery on five XA87x9.3ESM and four HA22x7.2BERD ENG-style HD lenses, as well as Fujinon’s XA101x8.9BESM extra long-range HD lens.

For more information visit www.fujinonbroadcast.com.

(edited by poster)

Originally posted by hd-head
I saw the small NHK truck in the truck dock area at the Rose Garden for the Blazers home opener against Cleveland November, 1. The truck is a silver-grey color with a black NHK logo. I believe that the game was seen in HD on NBA TV.

Yes, the game was in HD, as per another thread in this fourm.

It's a nice little truck but not at all suited to doing a full blown NBA game!!

Originally posted by J_Nemeth
On the last Ultimate Fighting Challenge, we used 3 trucks. An SD truck from Century productions for the Pre-Show, the Denali SD truck for the live feed, and the Jonas Jensen HD truck for the HD delayed broadcast. The HD program was ghost switched and replays came in SD from the live truck. Graphics were SD upconverts.

Just wondering if you mean the Ultimate Fighting Championship?
Also, do you know where/when the HD version was broadcast?

Thanks

You're right, it's "Championship", I'm getting confused in my old age. The live cast and recent replays have been in SD. The High Def show will air in December on one of iN DEMAND's iNHD channels.

*sigh* I wish they would show it on D*! I have always wanted to see one of those in HD... I'm thinking the improvement will be similar to boxing.

BTW: It used to be called UFC with challenge instead of championship (I think) From a google, it seem that was the name when they were a sport illegal in most states with no rules.

Expect To see 28 HDTV Production Trucks On The Street Next Year, or double the amount currently.

Because analog trucks are no longer being built.

i found this on this following website

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/106907376561090.xml

Originally posted by thall85
Thanks, Foxeng, for your reply. May I ask an additional question- would there be times when 2 or more of these 12 "A" trucks would be at the same sports event, or could we assume that up to 12 sports events can be produced at the same time- 1 truck for each event? Thanks in advance for your insights.

This year's Superbowl will be on CBS in Houston. Our HDTV "A" unit for the game is NEP Nova (formerly AsEM Columbia) Additionally, we'll be adding AMV Resolution for extra HD cameras and tape machines, and CoreDigital Bonnie & Clyde will probably be there for the pre-game studio show. At this time it's unclear which truck will cut halftime entertainment but I'm sure it'll be HD. So for that one event there are at least 4 HDTV trucks I can think of.
The game trucks will arrive in Houston directly after the AFC champship (wherever that is) and continue to set and rehearse, which is about 9 days before the Big Game.

Hey All,

I posted about this in a seperate thread, but got no responses. The Boston Globe mentioned in an article late last week that NESN (the cable station responsible for Red Sox and Bruins coverage, including home games in HD) recently received its own new truck.

It was just a one sentence blurb in a "media notes" article, so it didn't elaborate. Not sure if its a new truck, or bought from someone else. Anyone have any info?

The NESN HD truck is actually NMT HD-6 (Formerly DX-12/A-34).

TRIO GOES HI-DEF - Press Release Update

http://www.triovideo.com/news/11_07_03.htm

After reading some of the ESPN threads, I updated this old thread with newer information re: Turner, Western Mobile & Game Creek and new information on the Canadian trucks. (as of 3/04, 22 trucks in service, 5 in construction & 3 in service, but not well-suited for sports)
For the experts, what additional HD production trucks will be coming on-line between now and September?
Finally, will NBC's HD Olympic coverage move mobile production trucks from North America, or use European (or Japanese) trucks only?

Do you already have this one on your list?

Cox Communications Channel 4 San Diego Digital Truck (http://sportstechnologyupdate.broadcastengineering.com/ar/broadcasting_channel_san_diego/index.htm)

Note: The part of the article that says the college baseball game was the first ever done in high definition is not accurate. Both ESPN HD and HDNet had college baseball in high definition last year.

Word is that Trio will be upgrading one of their existing SD trucks to HD by this fall to help meet the demand which will be created by the new Chicago Comcast sports network.

Fran

Funny this thread pops up today. I passed one of these HD production trucks this morning on the NY State Thruway in Rockland County...... only thing I noticed was it said ESPN HD on the side.... there was other writing, but I passed him too fast to read it.

Here's a link to the TNT HD truck (provided by SonomaSearcher in another thread)...

TNT Truck (http://www.turnerstudios.com/FOTS1frameset.htm)

Firehawk295 Your lucky, to see one of these babies:)

Found this to be of interest. Per the FOX Sports HD football agreement, five new HD broadcast trucks are being built by National Mobile Television, F&F Productions and NEP Supershooters, per here: http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=1971

Also found reference to Trio Video's 2nd HD truck, per here: [http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=25333

By my count, as of 5/1/04, that is 23 in service, 10 in construction & 3 in service, but not well-suited for sports. Thus there will be over 30 by football season. I updated the first post in this thread, if interested in which companies: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=311694

Originally posted by Firehawk295
Funny this thread pops up today. I passed one of these HD production trucks this morning on the NY State Thruway in Rockland County...... only thing I noticed was it said ESPN HD on the side.... there was other writing, but I passed him too fast to read it. Wow, you must have been flying. Those trucks are huge and hard to miss.

- With the CBS announcement, thought I'd update this old thread, after doing additional research.
- NMT now lists their 2 new trucks, HD7 & HD8, on their site. Presumably complete.
- Game Creek's Yankee Clipper is complete, but could not find confirmation on its 3d truck, Patriot.
- F & F's 2 trucks were scheduled for the first to be delivered in the latter part of June; with the second, in mid-July. Couldn't find anything on whether these were completed on time or not.
- Turner's 2d truck was scheduled to be completed by now, but I could find no confirmation on this.
- NEP's SS18 was scheduled to debut at a preseason football game, Aug. 19 in Charlotte, N.C. (NY Giants at Carolina?) Couldn't find if this is still on track.
- Mira's new truck was scheduled for completion in November 2004.
- NCP's VII was also scheduled for completion in November 2004.
- Trio's new truck was not scheduled for completion until "the end of the year."
- These "confirmed" trucks bring the current totals to 27 in service, 13 in construction (& 4 in service, but not well-suited for sports).
- The full list of the trucks is in the first updated post in this thread.
- Perhaps the true experts with first-hand knowledge will chime in and give us even better information.

thall85,
I really appreciate the work you do on this list.

There is one more thing I'd like to see - if possible. How about a quarterly tally of how many trucks are available. If you can go back in a little in time too that would be cool -- so we can see how the growth in the number of trucks coincides with the amount of HD programming delivered.

Like:

Date Trucks Available
1/1/2004 20
4/1/2004 22
7/1/2004 26
10/1/2004 28
1/1/2005 32 (projected)

etc. (my numbers are just used for the example)

Here is the press release (about a month old) regarding the NEP Supershooter 18 and Supershooter 24.

As mentioned in earlier posts, the 18 is for Fox's NFL "A" game. It will be used for the NFC championship, the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500.

The 24 is being used by CBS for its NFL "A" game. It will also be used for the NCAA Men's BB Final Four.

21 September 2004, 3:15pm ET

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- NEP Broadcasting, LLC, General Partner of NEP Supershooters, LP, the nation's leading provider of remote television broadcast facilities for the sports and entertainment industries, recently announced the launch of two High Definition (HD) mobile production trucks.

Supershooter 18 and Supershooter 24 were built by NEP to facilitate the broadcast of the "A" NFL football games for FOX Sports and CBS Sports in HD respectively. These games are broadcast by each network nationally and generally represent the most intriguing match-up of the weekend.

Supershooter 18, a multi-format truck, was upgraded from Digital to High Definition over the course of 8 weeks. NEP kept only the original trailer, audio, and intercom structures, swapping everything else out for the new HD equipment. The truck, which FOX has used for their NFL "A" game broadcasts for several years, will produce football games in 720p, FOX's network distribution standard. Thomson/Grass Valley is supplying this truck with LDK-6000 mk II Worldcam HD cameras with Canon lenses, a Kalypso HD duo video switcher, and a Trinix SDI/HD router. In addition, this truck features a Calrec Alpha 5.1 Digital Audio Console with full compliment of audio processing in one of the largest audio suites on the road. Supershooter 18 will also be outfitted with a number of conversion products to allow for multi-format operation in order to serve a wide variety of clients. The truck is slated to broadcast the NFC Championship Game as well as the Superbowl.

Already used for recent broadcasts with FOX, Bill Brown, Senior Producer for FOX, commented, "We are very happy that we have negotiated a long term deal with NEP to provide FOX Sports with our lead NFL mobile unit and NASCAR mobile unit. Knowing NEP will be providing the technical facilities for FOX Sports on Super Bowl XXXIX and the Daytona 500 gives us the confidence we will have the best technical facilities possible."

Supershooter 24 represents a giant leap in the mobile industry's conversion to High Definition technology. The new truck built for CBS Sports is the largest HD unit in the country. NEP's team of veteran designers determined that they would utilize two trailers to accommodate the HD equipment while providing additional space for the production team. The state-of-the-art twin units boast the largest control room on the road today with 138 color monitors in a 30-ft control room, a Sony MVS 8000 Switcher with internal DVE and an HD DVEous, generous seating and a kitchen to accommodate client needs along with several other interior amenities. The "A" unit contains the production control room, transmission area, and graphics room while the "B" unit houses the audio, video, main transmission, and record/playback room.

"The separation and system design allows graphics to begin loading as soon as the truck is powered, and during teardown the tape melt can occur while the production trailer is disconnected, closed, and packed, allowing for maximum setup and teardown efficiency," says George Hoover, Sr. Vice President of Engineering. Ken Aargard, Senior Vice President of Operations & Production Services for CBS Sports added, "NEP has once again come through for CBS Sports and built a truck worthy of our "A" NFL game as well as other big events for CBS. Our production and technical team are excited about working in this superbly designed remote facility."

Supershooter 24 recently opened the NFL season with a nationally televised game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, NEP's headquarters. It is also slated to handle CBS Sports' coverage of the NCAA Men's Championship, including the Final Four and Championship game. In addition, SS24 is scheduled to broadcast all three Triple Crown events for NBC. SS24 is the 56th truck designed and built by NEP to meet the demands of the industry and its clients. NEP is one of the few mobile production companies that has the resources and engineering talent to build its own trucks as they continue to add to their fleet of 25 mobile units and 20 support units.

NEP Broadcasting, LLC, of Pittsburgh, PA, provides a wide range of services to the sports and entertainment industries. NEP Supershooters, LP, is known worldwide as the top provider of remote broadcast facilities, management personnel, and engineering expertise for high-profile television events presented by the sports and entertainment industries. NEP can provide camera, audio, graphics and switching equipment in both digital and high- definition formats within their mobile production facilities. NEP also boasts the industry's deepest engineering staff in terms of expertise, creativity and technical savvy. NEP Screenworks, located in California, is the leading provider of mobile video systems and indoor and outdoor LED screens. NEP Image Group of New York City provides studio facilities and NEP Post provides post-production services for a wide range of clients.

Specification sheets and photos of these trucks are available on NEP's website at http://www.nepinc.com .

Originally posted by blitzen102
thall85,
I really appreciate the work you do on this list. Indeed.

Sonoma-
Jerry Gepner, NMT's CEO, in a great article discussed in the thread here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4466389#post4466389
states where NMT's trucks are "deployed":

"Gepner: HD7 and HD8 do Fox. HD6 does primarily for New England Sports Network -- that's its primary client and it works primarily in the Boston market, it's just finishing up the Red Sox season which went HD this year. HD5 works primarily for In Demand -- that's a straight 53-footer. HD4 is used by ABC for Monday Night and it's been used by ABC for other things and ESPN, too. But between August and mid-January or whenever ABC's season for the NFL closes, HD4 works exclusively for Monday Night Football. In the off-season, it has done the Stanley Cup finals last year, the year prior to that it did the NBA finals and playoffs for ABC/ESPN. So it works a lot of people. It was part of the coverage of Ronald Reagan's state funeral. It did the coverage from the Capitol Rotunda. "


blitzen102-
I just read your comments. Thanks. I will try to do the chronology you suggested.

Blitzen102-
The chronlogy of HD trucks in N. America woud need to start with this:
"Fifteen years ago, on a cold winter’s night in December, 1989, a host of television production trucks parked on the empty, wind-swept grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition in downtown Toronto.
Outside the small theatre on the Exhibition grounds was a unique 36-foot television mobile with satellite uplink equipment (Telesat Canada). Inside the small theatre, the lights went down, the image came up and several hundred attendees for this history-making event watched the start of the Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran boxing match beamed live from the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.
This was the first live satellite transmission of a program in the revolutionary new high definition television (HDTV) format. It was also the first North American event licensed for high definition television broadcast."

Source: http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/article_view.asp?action=view&idnumber=516

Then go here:
"CBS Television will broadcast four football games, beginning November 8 (1998) with a game between Buffalo and New York. NMT's HD truck will originate full 1920 x 1080 HDTV, which CBS will transmit, signifying the first live terrestrial transmission of a professional football game in digital high definition."
Source: http://www.digitalproducer.com/pages/cbs_unveils_hdtv_programming.htm


The FULL-SCALE trucks seem to have been added in roughly the following order:

Q1'97- 1 cumulative (1- NMT HD1)
Q4'98- 2 cumulative (1- NMT HD3) (HD2 returned)
Q3'01- 3 cumulative (1- NEP Nova)
Q4'01- 4 cumulative (1- Sweetwater)
Q4'02- 5 cumulative (1- AMV Resolution)
Q1'03- 8 cumulative (3- NEP SS20HD, Comcast, Coredigital Bonnie & Clyde)
Q2'03- 9 cumulative (1- NMT HD4)
Q3'03- 10 cumulative(1- GameCreek Southern Cross)
Q4'03- 14 cumulative(4- Trio Tango, NMT HD5, WMTV 7HDX & 8HDX)
Q1'04- 17 cumulative (3- NMT HD6, Turner TS#1, Cox unnamed)
Q2'04- 24 cumulative (7- NMT HD7, GameCreek Yankee Clipper & Patriot, NCP-V, Turner TS#2, Dome Pioneer, WMTV 9HDX)
Q3'04- 29 cumulative (5- NMT HD8, NEP SS18HD & SS24HD, F&F 2 trucks unnamed)

Announced, but not yet finished:
Q4'04- 32 cumulative (3- NCP-VII, Trio Phoenix, Mira M-5)
Q1'05- 33 cumulative (1- CBC unnamed)
Q?'05- 36 cumulative (3- NMT HD9?, HD10?, HD11?)

(Question for fejman, foxeng, NetworkTV or any other insider with first-hand knowledge- should NHK K2 (Q3'02) be added to this list or any of the 3 WMTV trucks be removed?)

The SMALLER &/or ENTERTAINMENT, NOT SPORTS TRUCKS were added in this order:

Q3'92?- 1 cumulative (1- NHK K1)
Q3'99- 2 cumulative (1-Jonas Jensen)
Q2'00- 3 cumulative (1-Linman)
Q3'01- 6 cumulative (3- HDNet HD-1 & HD-2; Video One)
Q?'02- 7 cumulative (Lone Star 5HDX)
Q3'02- 9 cumulative (NHK K-2; Shulman)
Q3'03- 10 cumulative (Bell ExpressVu)

I'm sure it varies widely, I'm curious roughly what it costs to hire one of these units for an HD event. (No, I'm not planning on renting one.:p ) Does the owner of the unit provide an engineering/production crew too, or is that up to the company renting the truck?

FYI:
Mira's M5 is currently scheduled for completion (at least it was a couple of weeks ago) in mid December. It is booked for Sacramento Kings home games for Comcast and local TV.

-I did additional research on the # of HD production trucks, and found the following:

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (WORLDWIDE- Q3 2004)
-------------N. Amer./Asia/Eur./Aus./-Totals
Full-scale- in use- 29 / 15 / 15 / 00 / - 59
Smaller- in use--- 11 / 13 / 06 / 01 / - 31
In Construction-- 05 / 00 / 01 / 00 / - 06
Announced Only--03 / 00 / 09 / 02 / - 14
--------------------------------------------
Grand Totals---- 48 / 28 / 31 / 03 / - 110

-Undoubtedly I missed some, but this should be almost all of them.

-The detailed totals, list of trucks and production company links are set out in the updated first post in this thread, for those who are interested.

-I was surprised by the large number of HD trucks now in use in Europe (21), with 10 more planned for completion by the end of next year (in preparation for World Cup 2006 & the 2006 Winter Olympics).

-Thus much more HD content is being produced; some for immediate broadcast, with most for archival purposes.

-Either way, this HD content should eventually be available for the N. American market. (2 examples: (1)the soccer matches on Voom are being produced by these trucks & (2) the Alfacam trucks are doing projects in China, such as the Forbidden City concert.)

-The links to the N. American, European, Asian & Australian production companies include photos, layouts and technical specs for the various trucks and "ob vans."

Originally posted by thall85
-I was surprised by the large number of HD trucks now in use in Europe (21), with 10 more planned for completion by the end of next year (in preparation for World Cup 2006 & the 2006 Winter Olympics).

-Thus much more HD content is being produced; some for immediate broadcast, with most for archival purposes.

-Either way, this HD content should eventually be available for the N. American market. (2 examples: (1)the soccer matches on Voom are being produced by these trucks & (2) the Alfacam trucks are doing projects in China, such as the Forbidden City concert.)

-The links to the N. American, European, Asian & Australian production companies include photos, layouts and technical specs for the various trucks and "ob vans."

Whilst the European HD trucks will be recording quite a few shows in HD - it is also worth bearing in mind that not every show recorded using an HD truck is recorded in HD - at least in Europe.

What is happening in the UK facilities market is that a number of new OB scanners (aka production trucks) are being commissioned - and companies are deciding to use this opportunity to go HD - rather than build new trucks that are SD only and may quickly become obsolete.

However the trucks themselves can almost universally also work in SD - either using SD camera channels (it isn't uncommon for trucks not to have permanent camera loads - so SD camera channels can be deployed) or HD camera channels but taking the SD outputs. This may seem less sensible than shooting in HD and downconverting the output - but if you are working on live sport, or a music production which requires lots of ISO feeds to be recorded, it may make financial sense to run in SD and use SD VTRs / Disc Recorders etc. Given that a lot of the work these trucks do is still for SD only outlets - running the truck SD has financial benefits for some productions.

Certainly the BBC run their HD truck in both HD and SD depending on the production. It is a medium sized truck (good for parking in London!) which is aimed at music production - it does the Proms, and also does a lot of the weekly religious music programme "Songs of Praise" I believe.

High profile stuff (The Proms, Carols from Kings etc.) that is likely to be sold to HD coproduction partners is shot in HD, domestic productions that don't have the budget to edit HD (or even to downconvert to SD from HD VT) will shoot SD in the same truck. (They still benefit from the HD cameras and improved picture quality over SD cameras)

That said - the more HD production facilities there are in Europe - the easier it is to shoot HD when you actually want to - and there is a significant amount of HD stuff being shot here.

(The Beeb have also said they are unlikely to be buying any more SD cameras for their main London production studio centre - which has 12 general studios of various sizes, and 4 news studios. However they had just bought 24 new SD cameras - including a number of digital radio cameras to eliminate triax cabling issues - from Sony...)

Blitzen102-
The chronlogy of HD trucks in N. America woud need to start with this:
"Fifteen years ago, on a cold winter’s night in December, 1989, a host of television production trucks parked on the empty, wind-swept grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition in downtown Toronto.
Outside the small theatre on the Exhibition grounds was a unique 36-foot television mobile with satellite.......


Wow, thall85, everything I was looking for and more! I don't know about anyone else, but I think the chronology list is very cool to look back on and ahead to.

Thanks!

I see the Trio Phoenix rolled out December 3rd...

http://www.triovideo.com/

TRIO CONTINUES HI-DEF FLEET EXPANSION
WITH INTRODUCTION OF PHOENIX - 12/04/04

Trio Video continues its high definition expansion with the addition of Phoenix, Trio's second high definition mobile unit, which was rolled out earlier today from its national headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. Phoenix comes online less than a year after Tango, which was introduced in December of last year.

"In addition to WGN's decision to go hi-def and our new relationship with Comcast SportsNet Chicago and their high-def needs, it was immediately obvious that one truck wasn't going to be enough," says Jack Walsh, Trio's managing partner. "The addition of Phoenix to our fleet not only allows us to fully service WGN and Comcast, but also provides us with the added inventory to offer our national clients."

NEP BROADCASTING AQUIRES SOME NATIONAL MOBILE TELEVISION ASSETS...
including broadcasting trucks HD4, HD7 and HD8. The release mentions NEP will be doing at least some golf in HD for ABC.

NMT has begun construction of their first of FIVE (not three) new trucks for this year.

http://www.nmtv.com/about/Press_Details.asp?ID=30

NEP BROADCASTING AND NATIONAL MOBILE TELEVISION ANNOUNCE ASSET AQUISITION ---1/7/2005


NEP Broadcasting to acquire mobile units and exclusive production services contracts as part of package from NMT

PITTSBURGH, PA: — NEP Broadcasting, LLC, General Partner of NEP Supershooters, LP, announced today along with National Mobile Television (NMT), that NEP has agreed to purchase certain assets and contracts from NMT. NEP and NMT are the two of the nation’s leading providers of remote television broadcast facilities for the sports and entertainment industries.

The contracts include an exclusive agreement with ABC Sports, Inc. to facilitate their Monday Night Football, college football, golf and other sports broadcasts, an agreement with FOX to provide facilities for their NFL “B” and “C” game broadcasts and a contract with ESPN to utilize one HD mobile unit. NEP will also acquire three HD mobile units used to support these agreements (NMT’s HD4, HD7 and HD8) and certain other SD operations and mobile units in Hawaii as well as related support units and tractors. It is expected that most of the NMT employees who act as the dedicated crew on each of these mobile units will transition to NEP, keeping a continuity of expertise and know-how on each specific truck.

Debra Honkus, President of NEP Supershooters stated, “We are very excited that upon closing this transaction, NEP will be the exclusive provider of television production facilities and services to ABC and we will also be able to expand our current relationships with FOX and ESPN. NMT has solid mobile units and talented employees and we are very happy to be acquiring these assets and expanding our team.” The closing of the transaction should occur over the next month, subject to customary closing conditions being fulfilled.


Mark Howorth, CEO of NMT explained that NMT will use the proceeds from the transaction to position itself for future growth and to expand its regional sports business. “In addition to our continued support of CBS, ESPN and Fox as they grow their HD programming, NMT will increase its focus on regional sports networks in all markets, particularly in New York, Florida, Boston, St. Louis, Los Angeles and San Francisco. NMT’s locations across the country are well positioned to serve the regional networks, including many of the Rainbow Regional Sports Networks, FOX Sports Net, New England Sports Network, as well as new broadcasters like iNDEMAND and CSTV. To provide additional service for the RSN’s, NMT is currently building the first of five new HD mobile units due to debut in 2005, with the first one slated for the San Francisco area in April.” Mr. Howorth further notes, “In these days of rapid technology growth and demanding production budgets, companies must take every opportunity to position themselves for growth and flexibility. We have enjoyed our working relationship with ABC and expect we will continue to work with FOX and ESPN in the future.”

Management at both companies has assured customers with upcoming events using these mobile units that the transition will not affect their productions. Ms. Honkus assures, “We want this transition to be absolutely transparent to the customer. We expect most of the staff on these mobile units to be the same people the networks have worked with in the past. We selected these assets because they fit so well with the NEP fleet.” NEP expects to open a field shop in New Jersey to support FOX and ABC in the near future.

About NEP
NEP Broadcasting, LLC, of Pittsburgh, PA, provides a wide range of services to the sports and entertainment industries. NEP Supershooters, LP, is known world-wide as the top provider of remote broadcast facilities, management personnel, and engineering expertise for high-profile television events presented by the sports and entertainment industries. NEP can provide camera, audio, graphics and switching equipment in both digital and high-definition formats within their mobile production facilities.

For more information on NEP, visit www.nepinc.com

About NMT
National Mobile Television, with offices in Torrance, CA and Somerville, NJ, provides mobile television facilities for the production of television broadcasts from remote locations, such as stadiums, arenas, and conference halls. In 2004, NMT has provided facilities and services for more than 5,000 events, including major sporting, entertainment, distance learning, and corporate events for major broadcast networks, cable networks and independent producers including ABC Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox News, Fox Sports Network, and New England Sports Network.

Also, Western Mobile Television's site shows a new truck - 10HDX - launching summer of 2005 with southern California it's primary region.

http://www.mobiletvgroup.com/

thall85, I hope you don't mind my unsolicited "help".

Blitzen, where in there does it say golf will be in HD on ABC?

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Blitzen, where in there does it say golf will be in HD on ABC?

I admit it's not there in black and white but....

The contracts include an exclusive agreement with ABC Sports, Inc. to facilitate their Monday Night Football, college football, golf and other sports broadcasts, an agreement with FOX to provide facilities for their NFL “B” and “C” game broadcasts and a contract with ESPN to utilize one HD mobile unit. NEP will also acquire three HD mobile units used to support these agreements (NMT’s HD4, HD7 and HD8) and certain other SD operations and mobile units in Hawaii as well as related support units and tractors. It is expected that most of the NMT employees who act as the dedicated crew on each of these mobile units will transition to NEP, keeping a continuity of expertise and know-how on each specific truck.

Blitzen102-
Not only do I not mind, I really appreciate your mutual interest in updating this information. I have not had much time lately to do this research. I will try to update it at least once each quarter. I have added your new information to the first post in this thread.

Thus it looks like this at the end of 4th Quarter 2004:

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (WORLDWIDE- Q4 2004)
-------------N. Amer./Asia/Eur./Aus./-Totals
Full-scale- in use- 31 / 15 / 15 / 00 / - 61
Smaller- in use--- 11 / 13 / 06 / 01 / - 31
In Construction-- 03 / 00 / 01 / 00 / - 04
Announced Only--05 / 00 / 09 / 02 / - 16
--------------------------------------------
Grand Totals---- 50 / 28 / 31 / 03 / - 112

(Again, there are undoubtedly some errors in these figures or information in the first post. Anyone with insider knowledge, please post the corrections, so we can show more accurate information).

I don't think you have 6HDX covered - Mountain Mobile Television - in Denver (part of Mobile TV Group).

http://www.lonestarmobiletv.com/mtg_frameset.html?menu=mtg_menu.html&page=mmt_6dx_gear.html

That's a retrofit of 6DX..good truck

Got it.

Jan 14, 2005 8:00 AM, Sports Technology Update

NEP Broadcasting has agreed to purchase HD and SD teleproduction assets and contracts to provide teleproduction facilities for broadcast of several national sports events from National Mobile Television (NMT).

NEP, which is a general partner of NEP Supershooters, and NMT are two of the nation’s biggest providers of remote teleproduction facilities for the sports and entertainment industries.

The contracts include an exclusive agreement with ABC Sports to facilitate “Monday Night Football,” college football, golf and other sports broadcasts; an agreement with FOX to provide facilities for its NFL “B” and “C” game broadcasts; and a contract with ESPN to use one HD mobile unit.

NEP also will acquire three HD mobile units — NMT’s HD4, HD7 and HD8 — used to support these agreements and certain other SD operations and mobile units in Hawaii as well as related support units and tractors.

Most of the NMT employees who act as the dedicated crew on each of these mobile units are expected to make the transition to NEP, which will provide continuity of expertise and know-how for each specific truck.

The agreement will make NEP Supershooters the exclusive provider of television production facilities and services to ABC and expand the company’s existing relationships with FOX and ESPN.

According to NMT CEP Mark Howorth, proceeds of the transaction will be used to expand the company’s regional sports business and position it for growth in the future.

NMT will increase its focus on regional sports networks in all markets, particularly in New York, Florida, Boston, St. Louis, Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to the company. Its locations across the country are well-positioned to serve the Rainbow Regional Sports Networks, FOX Sports Net, New England Sports Network and new broadcasters like iNDEMAND and CSTV, he said.

To provide additional service for the regional sports networks, NMT is building the first of five new HD mobile units scheduled to debut in 2005. The first is slated for use in the San Francisco area in April.

The closing of the transaction between NEP and NMT is expected next month, according to the companies.

Sports technology update

http://broadcastengineering.com/newsletters/sports/20050114/#

More HD truck building and retro-fitting SD trucks to HD capacity...

Venue Services Group, Inc. (VSG) Moves to New, 12,000 Square Foot Facility:

Moonachie, NJ: Venue Services Group, Inc. (VSG) continues their corporate expansion with the relocation to a 12,000 sq. ft. facility. The new building offers a centralized east coast base, minutes from New York City. VSG is a national systems integration firm that provides engineering, design and installation of television facilities and mobile production trucks. The new corporate headquarters will provide enough space for in-house mobile production truck construction, system pre-integration, design, engineering and fabrication.

“VSG’s new facility helps position us as one of the leading systems integrators in the business,” says company President Dave Shaw. “In addition, we now have the flexibility to build, upgrade or service up to four mobile units at once on the east coast adding to our capabilities in Seattle and Los Angeles. As the broadcast industry continues the transition to HDTV, we have both the staff capability and now the physical space to upgrade multiple mobile units in one location. Our new location, which includes its own wood and metal fabrication shop, gives us the opportunity to work on multiple jobs simultaneously.”

This announcement comes only months after the opening of VSG’s Northwest Office in Redmond, WA. “With our expanded nationwide presence and our growing roster of diverse projects we’re able to lead the charge toward HDTV not only for mobile units, but also in fixed facilities, landmark sporting arenas, and the development of broadcast quality infrastructure at Houses of Worship and corporate conference rooms,” Shaw notes.

VSG’s recent projects include HD mobile unit construction of National Mobile Television’s HD7 and HD8; fixed facilities of Arrowhead Pond’s arena control room and Free Chapel Worship Center sanctuary; cabling infrastructures at Fenway Park and Fleet Center; conference rooms at Microsoft and the Port of Tacoma, and consulting jobs for The Lightship Group and Fox Sports Net Chicago.

About VSG
Venue Services Group, Inc. (VSG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Mobile Television. VSG is a systems integration, engineering, design and consulting firm with extensive experience in the television broadcast industry, concentrating heavily on High Definition Television (HDTV). VSG is specifically experienced in every facet of systems integration, including: building new HDTV mobile units; retro-fitting older trucks to become ready for HDTV broadcasting; laying new cable or re-cabling, for stadiums and arenas; designing new, or re-designing, in-house television control rooms; consulting with television groups, arenas, stadiums and teams on the newest television technology; as well as designing and maintaining high-end audio and visual conference rooms. For more information on VSG, visit www.vsg.tv.

What, they bought the auto dealership next door...? Hey, I used to spend some time out there....lol.
George

NMT's HD10 will roll out in April per here....

http://www.nmtv.com/

-(Blitzen102, made the addition to the initial post).

-I would think that there will be announcements which should provide insight on plans for additional trucks timed to the nab2005 convention, April 16-21, 2005. http://www.nabshow.com/default.asp
-The major HD equipment manufacturers/ exhibitors are all in attendance- Canon, EVS, Fujinon, Ikegami, Leitch (Videotek), Nvision, Pesa, Sony, Tektronix and Thomson (Grass Valley), as well as Gerling & Associates, the major buider of the trucks. They seem to provide press releases of their sales with the various truck companies as they are consumated. These give several months lead-time on the actual completion of the trucks (of course assuming that the transactions occur and the truck is built).

10HDX (Western Mobile) is going to roll in May '05 per here:

http://broadcastengineering.com/newsletters/sports/20050325/Leitch-mobile-tv-20050325/

TNT...

"It converted an existing studio to handle the NBA HD telecasts and associated studio shows last year. Turner bought one HD mobile truck in 2004 and “we’re just about to go online with a second mobile HD unit that we will own and operate,” he says."

per here...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=526598

thall85, I know you have two trucks currently listed for TNT. I wonder if they sold one??

6 new HD production trucks now bring the N. American total to 50 (or 58 w/ announcements), up from 17 trucks just 2 years ago, per announcements associated with NAB 2005. These are:

- All Mobile Video has given its “Celebrity” truck an HD upgrade, per here:
http://mixonline.com/mixline/mobile-celebrity-studer/

- HD Roadie, built specifically for HD entertainment production rather than sports, here: http://www.reelchicago.com/track.cfm

- Lyon Video's MU-6, per Blitzen102's post #74 below.

-NCP-IV, converted to HD, per Blitzen102's post #77 below.

- Shook Mobile Technology is planning 1 new truck, per here: http://www.leitch.com/custserv/press.nsf/wp/IndustrysHDTVTransition

-TV Azteca (Mexico City) has 1 truck in construction, being built by NMT's VSG subsidiary, per Jorge Pickering, Director of Production Services, here: http://www.creativecow.net/forum/read_post.php?postid=111236933377209&forumid=105 & here: http://www.vsg.tv/pdf/news_TSG-aliance_04-07-05.pdf

(Blitzen102- can't tell if this is about a 3d TNT truck, or simply the 2d one announced last year, now finally being completed for use)

Thus there are HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (N. AMERICA)
37- full-scale- in use.
13- smaller or not good for sports- in use.
02- full-scale- in construction.
06- full-scale- announced for 2005 construction.

(See first post in thread for details of other HD trucks worldwide)

New truck for Lyon Video?

Lyon Video Showcases New HD Truck with Grass Valley Mutli-Format Production Equipment at NAB 2005

Las Vegas (National Association of Broadcasters Convention—Booth #SU7823), April 18, 2005 —Mobile production company Lyon Video, based in Columbus, Ohio, is showcasing its new high-definition (HD) Mobile Unit 6HD (MU-6) multi-format expando unit, with a full complement of Grass Valley™ multi-format production equipment from Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB 2005) convention.

With an overall estimated price tag of more than $7 million, the new 53-foot truck, Lyon Video's first HD unit, includes 11 Grass Valley LDK 6000 mk II WorldCam HD cameras, a Grass Valley Kalypso™ HD Video Production Center, a Grass Valley LDK 6200 HD Super SloMo camera, a Grass Valley Ethernet-based LDK C2IP camera control panel, a Grass Valley Trinix™ video routing switcher, and a Grass Valley Concerto™ Series stereo audio router.

A long-time Grass Valley customer, Lyon Video maintains four Mobile Production Units in its fleet that all include Grass Valley digital production switchers; in addition to the new HD unit, MU-3 and MU-5 have Kalypso SD switchers and MU-4 includes Grass Valley Model 3000 switchers.

"We built this new HD truck with the future in mind," said Bob Lyon, president of Lyon Video. "As our clients ask for more HD content, we are working hard to satisfy that demand. It was important to select equipment that would carry us for the next few years."


Lyon Video (http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/media/press/detail.jsp?pressId=1113482594822&showId=1098910860746)

don't forget about the New Sony HD truck that was shown during CES show this year :)

The Sony truck that was at CES was not a mobile production truck, but instead was a "...truck that showcases the latest Sony high-definition professional and consumer equipment. The tour’s goals are to provide a hands-on showcase for Sony’s line of professional and consumer HD products, and also to drive market adoption. On the road since July 2004, the “HD: Like No Other” truck tour has visited consumer electronics retailers, sports and entertainment events, national trade shows, film festivals, movie studio lots and leading professional customer sites..."

Sources: http://news.sel.sony.com/ces05/breaking.htm#trucktour &
http://www.uemedia.net/CPC/videography/article_11207.shtml & http://news.sel.sony.com/filestorage/download/ces_2005/CES%20truck%20fact%20sheet.doc?version_id=170969

(There is also a European HD ob van/truck owned by Primevision (Denmark) sometimes called "Sony HD30", which is featured here: http://hd30.com/
- but this is a different truck from the truck displayed at CES).

NCP IV is HD now, no? Maybe not full HD?

http://www.ncpvideo.com/truck-frameset.html

The web page for NCP IV was updated on 4-25-2005 so maybe it's a recently completed conversion.

NMT has a new HD truck page on their web site - truck is SBS1.

http://www.nmtv.com/facilities/fac_equipment.asp?ID=91

Blitzen102, I had seen information on the SBS1 truck, but did not include it originally as I was unsure if it was truly an A unit, or if it was a B unit.

This information is from the VSG website, which also has a picture:

"Design and Construction of SBS1-

In April 2005, VSG constructed the new SBS1 unit. The SBS unit is a new concept in mobile sports broadcasting, providing audio, graphics and engineering in a separate truck for the visiting team. This “Side-by-Side” truck is a smaller, 30 foot truck which gives the visiting team all of the camera feeds and replay functions of the main truck.

This concept was developed by NMT’s Jerry Gepner and includes all digital multiformat HD and/or SD. On board networking capability interfaces to the host router, switcher, communications and EVS systems. SBS1 features its own Sony switcher, Audio board with surround sound mixing capabilities, HD/SD EVS and Chyron Graphics.

SBS1 will serve Fox Sports Net Bay Area delivering HD broadcasts of all San Francisco, CA bay area professional sporting events."

Source: http://www.vsg.tv/hdmobile.asp

Perhaps someone with inside information can tell us whether this qualifies as an A unit (to be added to the list) or a B unit.

Originally posted by thall85
Blitzen102, I had seen information on the SBS1 truck, but did not include it originally as I was unsure if it was truly an A unit, or if it was a B unit.

This information is from the VSG website, which also has a picture:

"Design and Construction of SBS1-

In April 2005, VSG constructed the new SBS1 unit. The SBS unit is a new concept in mobile sports broadcasting, providing audio, graphics and engineering in a separate truck for the visiting team. This “Side-by-Side” truck is a smaller, 30 foot truck which gives the visiting team all of the camera feeds and replay functions of the main truck.

This concept was developed by NMT’s Jerry Gepner and includes all digital multiformat HD and/or SD. On board networking capability interfaces to the host router, switcher, communications and EVS systems. SBS1 features its own Sony switcher, Audio board with surround sound mixing capabilities, HD/SD EVS and Chyron Graphics.

SBS1 will serve Fox Sports Net Bay Area delivering HD broadcasts of all San Francisco, CA bay area professional sporting events."

Source: http://www.vsg.tv/hdmobile.asp

Perhaps someone with inside information can tell us whether this qualifies as an A unit (to be added to the list) or a B unit.

Ahhhhh......... SBS stands for Side-By-Side? Sounds more like a B unit to me.

No, this is a unit for putting people out of work. The way I read this is that This truck will be able to take the camera signals from the primary feed truck into it's video switcher and the director can then call his show using the other feeds camera's. For the past few years the fox refgional have been trying something called the clean feed split in which the visiting team takes a feed of the home team's show without the graphics and many of the effects, and then has one camera and one tape machine to cover shots and effects from the home team feed. It has met with much resistance around the country fron remote technicians, but there's not much one can do about it. This concept just takes it one step further by giving the director more control over the shot's he chooses.

Typically, in remote production an "A" unit houses the main control room, audio and video. The "B" unit typically houses graphics and vidoetape, or sometimes is just a rolling maintanence and storage unit.

Fran

Sounds like the concept the Beeb have used since the early 90s. Their Type 8 standard definition units had two vision mixer crates, allowing a second truck with just a sound desk, duplicate monitor stack, some talkback and second vision mixer panel to access the same sources - to either create a second mix for other broadcasters, a unilateral mix as well as a pool/core feed, a screen mix etc.

Rather than send two trucks, with two sets of vision engineers, two sets of VT operators etc. you can share. In some cases this makes economic sense, in other cases you're still better off with two trucks.

(It also guaranteed a degree of redundancy)

Originally posted by Fran O'Hern
No, this is a unit for putting people out of work.


:rolleyes:

Originally posted by Fran O'Hern
No, this is a unit for putting people out of work.
Fran

Feel sorry for those guys :(:rolleyes:

Not to be argumentative, but wouldn’t trucks like that have a place right now helping RSN’s get HD away games as a stop gap measure until there ae enough all HD trucks and cameras, wiring etc at the venues to provide both teams their own HD.
Serious question- curious to hear the answer.

I also don’t understand how the second truck’s director can really run the boat- doesn’t the first director talk to the camera people and tell them what HE wants? Won’t the second truck just be picking up “scraps” that the first director leaves around?

I could imagine that opposing RSN’s in particular might want much different shots of the same events. For examples do Red Sox fans want to watch 12 camera angles following Jeter after he makes a great play rather then maybe a dugout shot of their team? (Sorry for the week example- put hopefully you ge the gist)

I get to work the maiden voyage of SBS1 on Monday in San Francisco for Pirates baseball. We'll be taking a share from Bay Area to send back to Pittsburgh, we'll add our own announcers, graphics, a couple of camera angles, etc. We are currently in Houston doing the same thing, but it's all in one truck. Michael, it's not really getting scraps from the other show. They care enough to make sure we don't get hung out to dry when taking a share, and we do the same when we do it at home. Also, as I said earlier, we have a couple of cameras so if our announcers are talking about something specific the home show isn't showing, we can put it up quickly.
I'll try to post more on Tuesday to let you guys know how it went. If someone can email me f they see this thread to remind me if I've not done so yet, please feel free.
And Fran, hi there! See you at Wrigley in July!

thanks for the information.

THat's pretty grownup and wise that the home team doesnt hang out the visiting team's TV folks. Kind of an anomaly in this day and age for something of competitors to help each other out.

Nice to hear.

Honestly, not a matter of being grown up...those of us who travel from city to city doing these shows know the other crews well and we're all friends. We're also professionals who realize no matter your feelings about these dual feeds (I'm not the biggest fan of them because of logistics when you are the 2nd show in those trucks, but it's what we are given, so you make the best of it), you still are getting paid and you do your best to provde a quality product. I don't care if 100 or 100,000 people are watching, you still give 100%. Have I thrown out enough cliches for you?

I am new to this thread and scanned it quickly, but unless I missed something, one very prominent mobile unit is missing from the list.
NEP/Denali's "Silver" was upgraded to HD a year ago and this February reclaimed its place as the mobile unit of the Academy Awards.

NEP's Denali Silver added, per Allan Wells' information. (I had been confused by the reference to "Denali Gold" being a "twin" unit, and the fact that Gold shows only as a digital unit). I also added NEP's ND1. Please post if this is incorrect.

With these additions, there is now a count of 52 HD production trucks in N. American (or 60 w/ announcements), up from 17 trucks just 2 years ago.

(Anyone else with inside information, please post if anything in the first post is incorrect or incomplete, so that it can be corrected).

You know there was a thread on HD Trailers that could probably be merged with this one. :p

It appears that five of Host Broadcast Services' HD trucks go "live" in June to cover the "FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005" - June 15th-19th.

http://www.hostbroadcastservices.com/2005-ccup.php

Originally posted by Mark Vidonic
Honestly, not a matter of being grown up...those of us who travel from city to city doing these shows know the other crews well and we're all friends. We're also professionals who realize no matter your feelings about these dual feeds (I'm not the biggest fan of them because of logistics when you are the 2nd show in those trucks, but it's what we are given, so you make the best of it), you still are getting paid and you do your best to provde a quality product. I don't care if 100 or 100,000 people are watching, you still give 100%. Have I thrown out enough cliches for you?


Just to be clear- I didn’t mean to sound like I thought the actual people doing the broadcast wouldn’t be professional and do their jobs fine. I just figured some mucky mucky suit back at RSN HQ would lay down some rule not to help the competition.

no go back to work and 'take one for the gipper'. ;)

When these dual feeds are being done, the other feed isn't the "competition." These are anly done when one Fox rsn is side by side with another. It is RSN headquarters who orders that this be done, to save money for the RSN.

Fran

It appears tthat All Mobile Video now has another HD truck - "Cinetour".

"AMV’s “Cinetour” mobile unit, originally a High Definition / Standard Definition editorial mobile unit has now entered its second phase of development as a High Definition mobile production truck."

http://www.allmobilevideo.com/mobil/Cinetour_p.htm

NEP rolls out SS19 in August, 2005.

http://guardian.nepinc.com/packages/ss19/index.php

Also, NEP has given their website a new look.

All Mobile Video's "Matrix" is now HD:

http://www.allmobilevideo.com/mobil/Matrix.htm#

Does anyone have an updated list of HDTV trucks in North America, and the source of the data they are referencing?

Thanks!

BobAV

Look at the first post on page 1 of this thread for the updated list and links to the sources of the data. The best estimate at this time is as follows:

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (WORLDWIDE- Q2 2005)
-------------N. Amer./Asia/Eur./Aus./-Totals
Full-scale- in use- 40 / 15 / 20 / 00 / - 75
Smaller- in use--- 13 / 13 / 13 / 01 / - 40
In Construction-- 04 / 00 / 07 / 00 / - 11
Announced Only--06 / 00 / 03 / 02 / - 11
--------------------------------------------
Grand Totals---- 63 / 28 / 43 / 03 / - 137

my rant:

i'm sick of all the professional apologists for ESPN/FOX/etc having so little true HD content

if i am watching a live women's softball game on InHD and at the same time there is a live SD widescreen MLB game of the week on Fox then, baldly, THE TRUCK AT THE COLLEGE SOFTBALL GAME IS NOT AT THE MLB GAME.

that means someone somehow paid the truck more money to be at the softball game with limited distribution than at the MLB game for national broadcast.

please stop apologizing for the BS scam artists at Fox who refuse to pay for HD.

"Does anyone have an updated list of HDTV trucks in North America, and the source of the data they are referencing?"

Yes this would be helpful, knowing how many are left, I destroy these trucks on sight. YMMV........ ROFLOL!

To thall85,


I had a couple of additional questions on your posting, could I contact you directly? If yes feel free to email me at

bobav2005 at hot mail


Cheers,

Bobav

my own rant (re cjv123: "i'm sick of all the professional apologists for ESPN/FOX/etc having so little true HD content..."

I am sick of people who know nothing about the economics or technology of TV screaming like spoiled children when their favorite event isn't in HD.

What Fox MLB game was broadcast to the entire country?

The fact is none was that weekend. (Or except for the opening night Red Sox-Yankees game, there has been no national game this season so far. Most weekends there are four separate games broadcast, (two at 1 PM ET, twio more at 4 PM ET, which allows for an insurance policy if either the early or late primary game faces weather problems.) And the fact is that, although MLB out-rated ESPN's softball, the softball game had more viewers (a 1.8 national rating) than any of the individual Fox regional MLB games.

Again, to be plain: the NCAA World Series softball games were for national distribition. The Fox MLB games were not.

And the ESPN truck wasn't necessarily paid more money. The trucks work on contracts - usually contracted in advance -- way in advance. The owners don't put them on EBay on a weekly basis.

If you would take a little time to learn just a few facts about what upsets you so much maybe your blood pressure would subside.

And certainly your posts, easily as ill-tempered as they are ill-informed, might just be more relevant to the real world.

my rant:

i'm sick of all the professional apologists for ESPN/FOX/etc having so little true HD content

if i am watching a live women's softball game on InHD and at the same time there is a live SD widescreen MLB game of the week on Fox then, baldly, THE TRUCK AT THE COLLEGE SOFTBALL GAME IS NOT AT THE MLB GAME.

that means someone somehow paid the truck more money to be at the softball game with limited distribution than at the MLB game for national broadcast.

please stop apologizing for the BS scam artists at Fox who refuse to pay for HD.

it doen't have to do with the trucks. the truck that covered this weekend's Red Sox/Phillies game was NMT's HD6 -- the same truck that covers all the Sox games for NESN in HD. whether a decision was made not to "side convert" the truck's native 1080i to a Fox compatible 720P or if there just wasn't the bandwidth available to push more than a widescreen SD back to the network, i don't know. but it's not a matter of moving the truck from the softball game to MLB game.

my rant:

i'm sick of all the professional apologists for ESPN/FOX/etc having so little true HD content

if i am watching a live women's softball game on InHD and at the same time there is a live SD widescreen MLB game of the week on Fox then, baldly, THE TRUCK AT THE COLLEGE SOFTBALL GAME IS NOT AT THE MLB GAME.

that means someone somehow paid the truck more money to be at the softball game with limited distribution than at the MLB game for national broadcast.

please stop apologizing for the BS scam artists at Fox who refuse to pay for HD.

You are so wrong on so many aspects on this post.

Apparently, It's "HD Ready" not HD Roadie....

http://www.hdready.com/about.htm

I believe you may be able to add a second BBC OB unit to the Europe list. I'm told that Unit 12, sister unit to Units 10 and 11, has been build HD-ready, and can be deployed with an HD camera and VTR/Server load.

The BBC Resources website doesn't mention HD in relation to this truck - but a friend of mind worked in it recently and said it was most definitely HD capable.

Rough spec : 12-16 cabled cameras, 6 radio cameras (though these may be SD digital), up to 16 VTRs, 8 SlowMo positions, separate 3/4 machine edit area, 51 input DVS 9000 Sony mixer, 48 channel Calrec Sigma sound desk etc.

This is the kind of truck that would be deployed for presentation at somewhere like Glastonbury, where you need multi-camera "OB studio" presentation, and a LOT of VT turnaround (say of various performance areas) It could also cover a reasonably sized sporting event - like a football or rugby match etc.

1. blitzen102- I re-read my original source, which stated that the truck owner was HD Roadie. (See here: http://www.reelchicago.com/archive.cfm?storyID=746 ) Guess the company is actually "HD Ready" and the truck is named "HD Roadie." Made these changes to the first post in this thread. Thanks.

2. sneals2000- added the BBC OB van to the Europe list, upon your information. Thanks. (Please check the listings on the other European trucks to see if there are inaccuracies or omissions. I added several more to the list in the last few months, after doing additional internet searches).

3. Clear Channel has re-entered the HD truck market, adding a 32-ft. unit built to manuver and park in smaller alleys and side streets, per here:http://www.hdtvbuyer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=33075 Per the article, they had at one time owned (obtained from the Ackerley station group) the Panasonic truck- the original MNF truck (now the Jonas Jenson truck).

4. LMG Inc. has created a unit, HD-1, which is shipped to a site in containers, and then functions as the first video production "truck in a box" per here: http://www.hdtvbuyer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=33589&afterinter=true

5. Dome Productions (Canada) should have now completed their second 53-foot truck per here: http://www.appliedelectronics.com/eng/images/Dec2004.pdf

6. The totals shown in the first post in this thread (details therein) are now:

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (WORLDWIDE- Q2 2005)
-------------N. Amer./Asia/Eur./Aus./-Totals
Full-scale- in use- 41 / 15 / 21 / 00 / - 77
Smaller- in use--- 15 / 13 / 13 / 01 / - 42
In Construction-- 04 / 00 / 07 / 00 / - 11
Announced Only--06 / 00 / 03 / 02 / - 11
--------------------------------------------
Grand Totals---- 66 / 28 / 44 / 03 / - 141

Venue Services Group is also an HD truck manufacturer...

http://www.vsg.tv/index.asp

it doen't have to do with the trucks. the truck that covered this weekend's Red Sox/Phillies game was NMT's HD6 -- the same truck that covers all the Sox games for NESN in HD. whether a decision was made not to "side convert" the truck's native 1080i to a Fox compatible 720P or if there just wasn't the bandwidth available to push more than a widescreen SD back to the network, i don't know. but it's not a matter of moving the truck from the softball game to MLB game.
There are a lot of HD trucks working on shows that only send an SD feed for broadcast, even when the station or network they are sending it to could do HD. It isn't always a technical issue. Sometimes it's a bean-counter issue. For whatever reason (and I am not apologizing either way) they choose not to air HD.

Fox has decided not to do HD on their Saturday games. It was their choice to do this. I don't know what the apologists are apologizing for, but it was a decision by Fox to do SD only (rather than a mix-and-match of HD and SD, I assume.) Maybe it's too much trouble, but Fox can't say they can't do HD. They just don't choose to, at least for Saturday games. All-Star and Playoff games are HD, BTW.

Sorry to continue with this OT thread diversion.

Coastal Satellite (http://www.coastalsatellite.com) has two small HD trucks - "Truck Three" and "Truck Four".

I hate to throw a wet blanket but I'm questioning whether NMT will roll out any more HD trucks this year.

The initial press release that I see (from 2004) noting new trucks for this year mentions HD7 and HD8 - which have now been sold to NEP.

NMT HAS rolled out HD10, SBS1 and now SBS2 this year. I'm wondering if this is the "five new trucks".

:confused:

NMT rolls out their second side-by-side unit - SBS2 - and announces that construction will begin soon on HD11, expected to roll out in April 2006.

also...

"Additionally, the new SBS2 unit can operate completely stand-alone in an SD or HD environment, providing the capabilities of a much larger truck at a size and price that is appropriate for smaller events."

http://www.nmtv.com/about/Press_Details.asp?ID=34

Also, thall85, NEP's SS19 has rolled out so NEP now has 10 HD trucks.

National Mobile Television rolls out SBS2 HD/SD mobile unit

Oct 5, 2005 2:25 PM
HD Technology Update e-newsletter


National Mobile Television has launched its newest side-by-side HD mobile production unit, SBS2.

NMT’s side-by-side concept provides full mobile production facilities for a visiting team, only in a smaller 30ft truck. The new SBS2 unit can also operate completely stand-alone in an SD or HD environment, providing the capabilities of a much larger truck.

Built by Venue Services Group (VSG) in Moonachie, NJ, SBS2 is the second of three trucks developed by NMT in 2005, joining SBS1 which rolled out earlier this year.

SBS2 will serve the Florida market out of NMT’s Orlando office. NMT’s board of directors also recently approved construction of HD11, a new 53ft Expando HD truck.

NMT's SBS3 is now listed on their website as well and appears to be operational.

Cinevideogroup (The Netherlands) operates a total of 3 OB Vans (OB 10: 20 Camera HD, OB 12: 8 Camera HD, OB 11: 5 Camera HD).

Videohouse (Belgium) operates one OB Van (24 Camera HD).

Cheers

Hans

LMG to build second HD truck-in-a-box

Nov 1, 2005 3:24 PM
HD Technology Update e-newsletter



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HD-2 is LMG’s second HD, multi-format truck-in-a-box.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LMG is building its second HD, multi-format truck-in-a-box.

Upon completion in January, LMG will own the HD-1 and HD-2, each valued at $1.5 million.

LMG is custom building HD-2, which is modeled after HD-1. Both were designed around the Snell & Wilcox Kahuna switcher. The technology enables technicians to intermix HD and SD sources in the same switching system. For ease of use, the rack layouts are specially designed to roll into place.

NEP's SS19 became operational in August of this year.

FWIW, i get this trade related mag TV PRODUCTIONS (IIRC) and each month, they have an article of TRUCK OF THE MONTH.

amazing stuff in those things.

LMG to build second HD truck-in-a-box

Nov 1, 2005 3:24 PM
HD Technology Update e-newsletter



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HD-2 is LMG’s second HD, multi-format truck-in-a-box.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LMG is building its second HD, multi-format truck-in-a-box.

Upon completion in January, LMG will own the HD-1 and HD-2, each valued at $1.5 million.

LMG is custom building HD-2, which is modeled after HD-1. Both were designed around the Snell & Wilcox Kahuna switcher. The technology enables technicians to intermix HD and SD sources in the same switching system. For ease of use, the rack layouts are specially designed to roll into place.

One advantage of the SD/HD mixed input capability of the Kahuna is that there is no differential delay between HD and SD feeds, which is not the case when you upconvert SD to HD externally and introduce a delay in the process AIUI.

Game Creek Video has a new truck - "Freedom" - per here...

http://www.gamecreekvideo.com/specs.html

It was rolled-out in May.

New Addition
http://www.tpsweb.com/html_site/trucks.htm

Game Creek Video has a new truck - "Freedom" - per here...

http://www.gamecreekvideo.com/specs.html

It was rolled-out in May.

interesting that as late as Sept 2002, they are/were still producing SD (albeit digital) trucks. is there any information on the ratio of HD to SD trucks being produced now?

Gerling and Associates of Sunbury Ohio has been a major supplier of custom television trailers in the US and around the world for many years http://www.gerlinggroup.com/home.htm . Check with them about ratio of SD to HD.

All Mobile Video apparently has a new HD truck under construction -- so far unnamed.

http://mixonline.com/news/headline/all-mobile-studer-110105/index.html

"All Mobile Video Takes in Another Studer Board

Nov 1, 2005 3:02 PM


Manhattan-based mobile production services provider All Mobile Video recently purchased another Studer Vista 8 digital audio console; AMV previously installed a Vista 8 (though a smaller version) in its 53-foot triple expando Celebrity unit. Scheduled for delivery this month, the 72-fader desk was purchased for AMV’s unnamed new HD video vehicle.

At just under 10 feet wide, the new console will comprise 96 mic/line inputs, 80 pairs of AES inputs, 56 bi-directional MADI I/Os (plus 56 more for connection with DASH multitrack machines), 120 analog line outputs and be accompanied by an extensive outboard DSP rack. An additional 24 analog line and 16 AES inputs on a remote I/O unit at the end of 500 feet of hardened fiber cable will allow the desk to be used with other OB vehicles. The console will be integrated lengthwise within the truck rather than in the standard perpendicular orientation.

“Aside from the fact that All Mobile Video already has a Vista 8, Chelsea Television Studios, AMV’s sister division, is now also using one of these desks on the set of Martha,” notes Clayton Blick, Studer U.S. national sales manager. “So the fact that this is really the organization’s third purchase within the past year truly underscores how pleased they are with the Vista platform and how solid it has been for them”."

As someone who knows nothing about any of this, when do we get to the point where every stadium and arena for sports, and every TV studio, has their own HD production facilities, so a truck won't be necessary?

As someone who knows nothing about any of this, when do we get to the point where every stadium and arena for sports, and every TV studio, has their own HD production facilities, so a truck won't be necessary?

You don't. It's too expensive to build and maintain a facility like that for broadcast. The only place left (that I know of) that has facilities in-house is where the Flyers and Sixers play in Philly (Wachovia Center). That control room also has fiber connects so it is the control room for Phillies games in Citizens Bank Park. That room works almost 200 days a year, so it is cost-effective.
That said, yes, it would be great if we didn't have to pack a truck almost each time, but it's just what we have to do.

I'm sure questions like this have been asked before but I'm asking anyway...

1. What is the reason why Flyers/Sixers/Phillies home games are in HD and the road games are not if a truck is being used? Is it because of what the previous poster said, that a truck is not needed for these home games due to the facilities at the Wachovia center. Is this unique to Philly (meaning, only home games shown in HD) or is this common in other cities as well?

2. Also, does anybody know why only home games (and maybe Daily News Live) is shot in HD on Comcast SportsNet in Philly? If they have the production facilities, why is their such limited HD programming?

3. And last, there is a dedicated digital channel for Comcast SportsNet (CSN-HD). Why is it that the rebroadcast of Flyers/Sixers/Phillies games (in the early morning hours) aren't in HD when the live broadcast only a few hours before was? They've got a 24/7 digital channel and the game was just shown in HD only a few hours earlier? What gives?

I'm sure there's got to be a good reason for why they are doing things the way they are doing them but I can't figure it out so hopefully somebody knows! :)

I'm sure questions like this have been asked before but I'm asking anyway...

1. What is the reason why Flyers/Sixers/Phillies home games are in HD and the road games are not if a truck is being used? Is it because of what the previous poster said, that a truck is not needed for these home games due to the facilities at the Wachovia center. Is this unique to Philly (meaning, only home games shown in HD) or is this common in other cities as well?

2. Also, does anybody know why only home games (and maybe Daily News Live) is shot in HD on Comcast SportsNet in Philly? If they have the production facilities, why is their such limited HD programming?

3. And last, there is a dedicated digital channel for Comcast SportsNet (CSN-HD). Why is it that the rebroadcast of Flyers/Sixers/Phillies games (in the early morning hours) aren't in HD when the live broadcast only a few hours before was? They've got a 24/7 digital channel and the game was just shown in HD only a few hours earlier? What gives?

I'm sure there's got to be a good reason for why they are doing things the way they are doing them but I can't figure it out so hopefully somebody knows! :)

I can't speak for individual stations, but I can help you out with a few answers:

1) It has nothing to do with the truck. The number of HD distribution paths, especially satellite, is very limited at this point. Most of them are being used for network programming, and there simply aren't enough for RSNs like CSN to use them. Hell, some weekends, FOX can't even get enough to do the handful of NFL games they do. For home games, there are dedicated paths that connect the sporting venues to Comcast, which is why they're able to bring you the home games in HD on CSN.

2) Partially answered in #1. As for why the rest of their programming isn't shot in HD, it does come down to the capabilities of their trucks and willingness to invest in mobile HD units.

3) The equipment to record HD streams is expensive, and if Comcast didn't install it when they did their initial HD upgrade it's unlikely to be high on their priority list.

You also forget,
#1 that there are not enough HD trucks available yet
#2 The trucks are booked all way in advance
#3 The trucks cant travel fast from location to location

1) It has nothing to do with the truck. The number of HD distribution paths, especially satellite, is very limited at this point. Most of them are being used for network programming, and there simply aren't enough for RSNs like CSN to use them. Hell, some weekends, FOX can't even get enough to do the handful of NFL games they do. For home games, there are dedicated paths that connect the sporting venues to Comcast, which is why they're able to bring you the home games in HD on CSN.

OK, that makes sense.



2) Partially answered in #1. As for why the rest of their programming isn't shot in HD, it does come down to the capabilities of their trucks and willingness to invest in mobile HD units.

But in the case of shows actually shot in the studio at the Wachovia center, why are they not in HD? They don't need a truck for that, right? And how about the post game shows after the home game they just showed in HD? Why aren't they HD also? I assume this has nothing to do with the satellite distribution paths since it's local only and they are supposed to have an HD production facility at the Wachovia center, right? So, no truck needed.



3) The equipment to record HD streams is expensive, and if Comcast didn't install it when they did their initial HD upgrade it's unlikely to be high on their priority list.

So, are you saying they don't record the HD home games at all?!?! Meaning, it's just shown live and there will never be HD archive footage for the game? If this is true, then how is SportsCenter able to show HD clips from NHL games?

ESPN has recording capabilities, since it is a new HD facility. I think surf_fun meant that Comcast didn't incorporate those capabilities, yet.

ESPN has recording capabilities, since it is a new HD facility. I think surf_fun meant that Comcast didn't incorporate those capabilities, yet.

I probably just don't understand how all this stuff works. But, if Comcast is shooting/producing the game in HD, wouldn't they need to be recording it for ESPN to be able to show a clip on SportsCenter? How would ESPN be recording it if they aren't producing it?

I probably just don't understand how all this stuff works. But, if Comcast is shooting/producing the game in HD, wouldn't they need to be recording it for ESPN to be able to show a clip on SportsCenter? How would ESPN be recording it if they aren't producing it?


ESPN just records it themselves.

I probably just don't understand how all this stuff works. But, if Comcast is shooting/producing the game in HD, wouldn't they need to be recording it for ESPN to be able to show a clip on SportsCenter? How would ESPN be recording it if they aren't producing it?

The games are being uplinked to a satellite. ESPN is recording it off a sat. The same way you would record Directv or Dishnetwork with a VCR. They just have a very expensive VCR. :)

The games are being uplinked to a satellite. ESPN is recording it off a sat. The same way you would record Directv or Dishnetwork with a VCR. They just have a very expensive VCR. :)

That makes sense except, why would a local HD broadcast be uplinked to satellite in the first place? Just for the sole purpose of allowing ESPN to record it? Doesn't this contradict the notion that there are only a limited number of HD distribution paths? I thought the whole reason I'm ONLY getting home games in HD is because they don't have to use a satellite distribution path (hence, why I don't get road games in HD).

But in the case of shows actually shot in the studio at the Wachovia center, why are they not in HD? They don't need a truck for that, right? And how about the post game shows after the home game they just showed in HD? Why aren't they HD also? I assume this has nothing to do with the satellite distribution paths since it's local only and they are supposed to have an HD production facility at the Wachovia center, right? So, no truck needed.

Same reason your local newscasts aren't shot in HD. The cameras and equipment have to be replaced for HD, and even when that's done, the studio has to be setup for 16x9 framing. Most of these studios (furniture, backgrounds, etc) were designed with 4x3 in mind.

So, are you saying they don't record the HD home games at all?!?! Meaning, it's just shown live and there will never be HD archive footage for the game? If this is true, then how is SportsCenter able to show HD clips from NHL games?

To be honest, I'm not sure what Comcast's policy is on recording. I would think the situation is most likely that they're recording in HD, but simply not playing back. HD requires more personnel to run the equipment in Comcast's control center, and it's likely most of them only work during the first run of the event. It would be much easier for them simply to slave the digital broadcast to the analog, and just have one or two engineers running the whole thing. I would expect this to change as the transition to digital progresses, and the digital output becomes the primary concern, instead of the analog.

As for ESPN, again, it's hard to say, as I'm not sure where they're getting their content in this case. Keep in mind, though, they don't need a specialized distribution path to send the material back to their studios, as it doesn't have to go out live. Hell, if they wanted, they could e-mail the transport stream back to themselves (although you're going to have trouble finding a provider that accepts 18GB attachments ;) ),

Same reason your local newscasts aren't shot in HD. The cameras and equipment have to be replaced for HD, and even when that's done, the studio has to be setup for 16x9 framing. Most of these studios (furniture, backgrounds, etc) were designed with 4x3 in mind.

However, I believe Daily News Live on Comcast SportsNet in Philly has been in HD in the past. In fact, a reply to a post on dslreports.com says it is in HD when there "isn't" a home game...

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,14991773

I haven't confirmed this since I'm never home when the show airs. I guess I should set my Comcast DVR up to record it and confirm.

Daily News Live is shot in the same studio (located in the Wachovia Center) as the post game show is.

Does anyone know what company is providing the services for the HD broadcast of the Alamo Bowl? Any info such as company name, truck name, arrival date etc. would be beneficial!

Thanks,
....jc

Are you looking to work the game?

Are you looking to work the game?
I wish! No, I was just looking for info to pass on to the Husker fan base. I believe that this will be the 1st Husker game in HD.

BTW, how does a software guy get into the business w/o any experience? Is there a 'back door'?

Thanks,
....jc

I wish! No, I was just looking for info to pass on to the Husker fan base. I believe that this will be the 1st Husker game in HD.

BTW, how does a software guy get into the business w/o any experience? Is there a 'back door'?

Thanks,
....jc
Depends...a lot of stuff is software driven now, like the clock and score machines and interfaces to graphics machines...
To be honest, also, I'm not sure what good knowing which truck it is and when it will be there will do for Husker fans. It's not like people will be able to get in there for a tour or such before or during the game.

interesting that as late as Sept 2002, they are/were still producing SD (albeit digital) trucks. is there any information on the ratio of HD to SD trucks being produced now?
It really doesn't make sense to build an SD truck anymore. You CAN produce and SD show out of an HD truck and just down convert it, whily you can't produce an HD show out of an HD truck.

You'd be surprised at the number of SD shows that are produced out of HD trucks.

To be honest, also, I'm not sure what good knowing which truck it is and when it will be there will do for Husker fans. It's not like people will be able to get in there for a tour or such before or during the game.
No. But most people don't have any idea on what goes on behind the scenes. The technolgy, the costs, the people. I thought that it would be a nice bit of info for the uninformed(it's not like I know all that much ;) ).
....jc

I believe that this will be the 1st Husker game in HD.

Thanks,
....jc

Actually this will be the second game in HD for the Cornhuskers.

HDNET did the Nebraska vs. McNeese State game in 2002.

No. But most people don't have any idea on what goes on behind the scenes. The technolgy, the costs, the people. I thought that it would be a nice bit of info for the uninformed(it's not like I know all that much ;) ).
....jc
I can give you some generalizations.... Obviously some productions are larger than others. For a college football game that has 12 cameras, (a "decent" sized on on ESPN, but not their largest), the crew required for the game is around 80, including 20-30 local hire utilities, usually college kids who work only the game itself as cable pullers/parab operators. An ABC show typically would have more "professionals" in terms of the utilities. In the truck, there are producers, a director, Technical Director, Tape operators (replay), Video operators (shaders of the cameras), an audio mixer, graphics operators, graphics producers, tape producers, assosicate directors, technical manager, operations producer, Engineer in Charge, Maitnenance Engineers, Outside the truck are the camera guys, the utilities, the audio assistants, perhaps the generator operator. that's not to mention the personell in the offices for the Network or truck company, and the all important drivers. If it wasn't for the drivers getting the 10 million dollar egg to the location safely, we'd never make it on the air.

Actually this will be the second game in HD for the Cornhuskers.

HDNET did the Nebraska vs. McNeese State game in 2002.
And this game was broadcast live?

Kearney? That's pretty funny. My wife is there tonight. Hmmm. :eek:

And this game was broadcast live?

Kearney? That's pretty funny. My wife is there tonight. Hmmm. :eek:

Yes, it was live and www.huskers.com used the feed for their HuskersNside internet video stream to which I was a subscriber. Kevin Kugler and Larry Punteney provided the PBP and color. I did not see it live on HDNET but did manage to slip into the local appliance store and caught some of the replay.

NET (Nebraska Educational Television) has been doing many collegiate sporting events in HD since they got their truck going in February. Wrestling, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, football (Div II) and basketball. Plus they did the high school All-Star games this summer and the state high school volleyball and football championships in HD this fall.

You'd be surprised at the number of shows that WANT to be in HD that aren't because of lack of a truck!

It really doesn't make sense to build an SD truck anymore. You CAN produce and SD show out of an HD truck and just down convert it, whily you can't produce an HD show out of an HD truck.

You'd be surprised at the number of SD shows that are produced out of HD trucks.

This web site is rather strange.

They don't really list any trucks, just refer to vauge specs and trucks. What's really strange is that the layout at the bottom of the page is of a SWTV/Core Digital truck, but the pics to the right are from the interior of AMV "Resolution".

There are still two HD trucks in limbo; the former SWTV/Core Digital trucks "Bonnie" & "Sundance". I'd love to know what happened to "Sundance"....

New Addition
http://www.tpsweb.com/html_site/trucks.htm

This web site is rather strange.

They don't really list any trucks, just refer to vauge specs and trucks. What's really strange is that the layout at the bottom of the page is of a SWTV/Core Digital truck, but the pics to the right are from the interior of AMV "Resolution".

There are still two HD trucks in limbo; the former SWTV/Core Digital trucks "Bonnie" & "Sundance". I'd love to know what happened to "Sundance"....

I think Sundance went to NMT. They opened an office in Arizona and a couple of Core Digital employees now work for them. The units booked out of that office will be mainly for local events in Phoenix.

No, Sundance is gutted and locked up in Pittsburgh. Bonnie is gutted and sitting locked up at VSG in NJ.


I think Sundance went to NMT. They opened an office in Arizona and a couple of Core Digital employees now work for them. The units booked out of that office will be mainly for local events in Phoenix.

It really doesn't make sense to build an SD truck anymore. You CAN produce and SD show out of an HD truck and just down convert it, whily you can't produce an HD show out of an HD truck.

You'd be surprised at the number of SD shows that are produced out of HD trucks.

Hmm - in the US maybe. In many other regions (like the UK) it makes sense to build an SD truck that is easily upgradeable to HD.

In other words, you fit an HD upgradeable vision mixer (aka switcher), and an HD-SDI compatible router. If you have an existing bank of SD cameras then you design a truck that will cope with their CCUs etc., though if you are buying a new camera and lens load you'd be mad not to consider HD cameras (as they will run SD in an SD truck). Given that your VTR load and your EVS load is likely to be a bookable item, as - in some cases - are your camera channels - then this makes a lot of sense. Don't spend more than you need just yet - but don't lock yourselves out of an upgrade path.

You WOULD be mad to build an SD-only truck for anything other than a contract that is SD only for a time to come, or if you are working in a region, or marketplace within a region, that is likely to stay SD for a while to come.

Over here - you'd have been mad not to have been equipping for 16:9 SD since the late 90s though. The only major network area still 4:3 is the ITN News operation for ITV/Channel Four.

No, Sundance is gutted and locked up in Pittsburgh. Bonnie is gutted and sitting locked up at VSG in NJ.

Is Sundance at NEP?

Mobile Television Group has a new truck - 11HDX - listed.

http://www.mobiletvgroup.com/mtg_frameset.html?menu=mtg_menu.html&page=mg_11hdx_gear.html

No primary region listed for it yet.

Come on, Mobile, base it in Minneapolis!! We are starving for a truck.

No.

Is Sundance at NEP?

Not sure who owns each one - but this month a UK broadcast publication (can't remember which) lists over 25 HD Mobiles based in the UK, with well over 30 expected to be on the market by the end of 2006. (By which time the BBC and Sky should both have HD services on the air)

Mira Mobile has a new HD truck - M-4 - I believe it is a retrofit.

http://www.miramobile.com/page_detail.php?page_id=1&category_id=3

Bonnie & Clyde were stripped and re-wired during the month of July, 2004 to allow the use of light-weight fiber bundles rather than the hundreds of twisted pair and coax cables used to interconnect them previously. A new made-for-golf "C" unit carried a number of portable long distance fiber connected short racks. Each short rack was powered by a small Honda generator and placed on or near camera positions around the golf course to relay HD camera, microphone and intercom signals back to the TV compound. The fiber idea was a good one but apparently just a little ahead of it's time as Bonnie & Clyde's first and last golf tournament in Kohler, WI in Aug, 2004 was to be a history making disaster.

M(TV)HD is building a new truck.

From HD Update(B&C Multichannel News)

MHD Rocks (As A Truck Rolls) in HD

MTV's MHD service doesn't kick off until Monday, Jan. 16, but the network this week is hard at work recording music concerts in Colorado that promise to get the service off to a rocking start. Cox Cable is the only operator that has agreed to carry the service but the network is in discussions with all the major cable and satellite operators to strike deals.

MTV, always one to buck the system, is doing it again by building its own massive 54-foot production truck, one of the largest in the nation. The vast majority of networks rent their trucks from truck vendors as maintenance and other issues make it cost-prohibitive to own a truck unless it's in use every day. But MTV faced a challenge when it began looking around for a mobile unit suitable for its production needs.

"One of the issues we have is that most remote TV production is for sports but we're only doing entertainment," says Steve Kaufman, SVP, MTV Networks Production Operations and Technology. "We had problems finding trucks suitable for entertainment, as there were only a couple in the country."

Not surprisingly, MTV's audio needs are the big difference between MTV's truck and the typical sports truck. Live programs, for example, will be mixed for both stereo and Dolby Surround Sound. Pre-recorded programs will be recorded in stereo and then the Surround mix will be derived from a 48-track audio recording. Other gear in the truck includes a full complement of Ikegami HD cameras with Fujinon lenses and a Sony MVS-8000 production switcher.

Vail, Colo. will serve as a home to MTV's HD service until mid-April. Then it's off to another beautiful location that will serve as the home base for MHD during the summer. "We'll be using Sony HDV camcorders to record the VJ links and other interstitials," says Kaufman. "The material looks great and it's easy to handle the HDV gear."

Hi all,
I setup a web page a year ago or so that attempts to keep track of all the HD Mobile Units in the US.
http://www.colindeford.com/hd/HD.html

The site links to each OB operator’s main web page as well as the individual trucks that they operate.
Please let me know if you see any errors.. I don’t have the HD Ready, Roadie truck listed since I cannot seem to find their web page.

I also have a forum built with hopes that we who use the mobile units and those who operate them can share info on each unit. On this forum, users can post pictures of the mobile units as well.

As a tech manager in the industry, I have collected a significant amount of data on trucks that I have used in the past, in an attempt to help me remember the good things, the traps, pitfalls and joys of each OB.
I am going to work on writing these notes into the forum so we can all share in that info.

So, if you have info that you would like to share on your experiences on each unit, or if you are an EIC or sales, please dump your data here..

http://www.colindeford.com/forumHD/

Thanks for the help,
( () |_ | |\|

F & F Productions has a new HD truck - GTX 14 - and a new web site....


http://www.fandfproductions.com/

73. Q3'04/ Full/ F&F- GTX-12/ Fox NFL

I think you mean GTX-14.

I think you mean GTX-14.

No, GTX-12 has been doing Fox NFL the last 2 seasons.

Mark Vidonic, you are absolutely correct as to your information, as always. Thank you for the authoritative information you share regularly.

Blitzen was just correctly pointing up my mistake (re the 2005 addition of GTX-14) in the table in post #1, which I have corrected.

Thanks to you both.

You're the one we should be thanking - that list is very informative.

I'll have one more to add once the news is released. It involves NFL for fall 2006. I don't think the company involved has issued a formal statement, but a few people on this particular crew are involved in the design process.

So I'm new to everything HD and I have to ask: how much do one of these trucks cost to build and how much is a SD truck for comparison purposes? Thanks.

It can range anywhere between 6 amd 12 million for an SD or HD truck.
I honestly can't think of anyone building an SD truck right now.

Several additional HD trucks/ ob vans were recently completed or are in construction, including:

1. Betanews (Italy) has 1 unit completed, “Esterna 10,” and 1 unit in construction, a remodel, per these articles: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?ID=46276 &
http://webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?SESSIONID=&aId=6056

2. Skyline Television (Germany) has 1 unit, unnamed, per here: http://www.tv-skyline.de/download/Datenblatt_UE5.pdf

3. Tianjin TV (China) has 1 unit, to be used for 2008 Olympics, per here: http://www.sony-asia.com/corporate/news/regional/2005/aug/25.htm

4. Tpc (Switzerland) has 1 truck, per here: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_6454.shtml

5. TVN (Germany) has 1 truck, TVN-Ü3HD, per here: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_6575.shtml

6. WIGE Television (Germany) has 1 truck, HD-1, and is planning a 2d truck for April 2006, per here: http://www.broadcastbuyer./tvpublish/article_6688.shtml

7. Beijing TV (BTV) (China) will have 1 unit, planned for 2006, per here:
http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_6645.shtml

8. Totals are now:

HD PRODUCTION TRUCKS-TOTAL (WORLDWIDE- Q4 2005)
-------------N. Amer./Asia/Eur./Aus./-Totals
Full-scale- in use- 53 / 16 / 23 / 00 / - 92
Smaller- in use--- 20 / 13 / 22 / 01 / - 46
In Construction-- 02 / 00 / 00 / 00 / - 02
Announced Only--00 / 01 / 03 / 02 / - 06
--------------------------------------------
Grand Totals---- 75 / 30 / 48 / 03 / - 156

9. Please post corrections, additions or deletions.

Thanks for the data on HD moble trucks -- I have been trying to find something on this for a while. Does anyone know if there is any official data out there or some trade publication where you can get published data, or does it all tend to be informal?

Thank you!

Michael

Mobile Television Group has a new truck - 11HDX - listed.

http://www.mobiletvgroup.com/mtg_frameset.html?menu=mtg_menu.html&page=mg_11hdx_gear.html

No primary region listed for it yet.

Come on, Mobile, base it in Minneapolis!! We are starving for a truck.

Woo hoo!! My dream has come true!!

Mobile Television Group will be launching 12HDX in mid 2006. Its primary region is Minnesota and Wisconsin.

I have to believe this truck will be used extensively by FSN-North which does regional sports in ------ Minnesota and Wisconsin.

http://www.mountainmobiletv.com/

Also, 11HDX now has a primary region listed - "Midwest U.S.".

NEP's "Vision" division has two HD trucks - HD1 and HD2.

http://www.visions-ob.com/Truck%20Details/truckmain.htm

Harris Corporation’s Latest HD Conversion Platforms Chosen by All Mobile Video for New HD Truck

February 16 , 2006 - Cincinnati
Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) today announced that its comprehensive Leitch high-definition (HD) conversion portfolio has been selected for a new HD truck by All Mobile Video (AMV), a key player in the mobile production industry. This sale — which includes several of the company’s newest high-definition products — is the latest in a series of Leitch infrastructure installations on HD trucks that provide on-site production capabilities for live sports, news, entertainment and other events.
"The Leitch HD platform was selected because its control system gave us the advanced features and flexibility we needed in our new HD truck," said Richard Duke, vice president, AMV. "The control system can be customized for individual events and easily reconfigured from event to event at the push of a button, simplifying our operations immensely."

AMV’s new HD truck incorporates the Leitch NEO XHD series of modular HD up/down/cross converters; the Leitch 6800+ series of HD downconverters; and NUCLEUS, a user-configurable real-time control panel to centralize the operational control of processing, branding and routing equipment.

“We evaluated the top HD conversion equipment in the market and found the Leitch technology and portfolio offered by Harris to be the most advanced and flexible for our needs,” added Lee Blanco, director of mobile operation, AMV. “The Leitch team was also able to respond to a number of our specific needs.”

“Our HD conversion portfolio continues to be the solution of choice for new mobile units and those converting to high definition, and we’re pleased that AMV chose to equip its new HD truck with Leitch-branded products from Harris,” said Tim Thorsteinson, president for Harris Broadcast Communications Division’s Leitch Business Unit. “The key players in the mobile production market are fast becoming HD-ready, and they need versatile, scalable and reliable solutions to meet the rigorous demands of mobile environments — exactly the type of solutions that Harris delivers.”


Harris’ comprehensive SD/HD conversion portfolio allows broadcasters to do more with less equipment, while meeting all current and evolving conversion and control requirements. For maximum system design flexibility, the Leitch NEO™ XHD™ family of HD converters includes broadcast-quality up-converter, down-converter and cross-converter modules in a compact design. The new Leitch 6800+™ HD down-converter can be used in both monitoring and on-air applications. It features a minimum delay operation — an industry first — which allows it to transparently bridge a facility’s HD and SD infrastructure. The modules also serve as a distribution amplifier (DA) for the HD-SDI or SD-SDI input signal.

At the center of operations is NUCLEUS™, which offers user-configured, real-time control and monitoring of any Leitch CCS Protocol™-enabled device, including products within the NEO™ and 6800+™ platforms. NUCLEUS™ provides more knobs for parameter adjustments, more buttons to quickly invoke parameter value changes, an enhanced display and the ability to quickly store and recall device presets.


About All Mobile Video
All Mobile Video is the country’s premier provider of end-to-end video and audio solutions for entertainment, sports, and news programming and events. All Mobile Video offers the full spectrum of services — from spacious Manhattan-based sound stages with full post-production capabilities to mobile production and editing trucks and extensive uplink solutions that travel worldwide — as well as an extensive equipment inventory that allows us to fully custom spec any facility or location. Additional information about All Mobile Video is available at www.allmobilevideo.com.



About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. With headquarters in Melbourne, Florida, the company has annual sales of over $3 billion and more than 13,000 employees — including 5,500 engineers and scientists — dedicated to the development of best-in-class assured communications™ products, systems, and services. The company's operating divisions serve markets for government communications, RF communications, broadcast communications, and microwave communications. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.

http://www.leitch.com/custserv/press.nsf/wp/AllMobileVideo

Details on the Mobile TV Group Trucks...


22. Q4'03/ Full/ Mobile- 7HDX/ Coyotes, Diamondbacks, Mighty Ducks, Kings, Padres
23. Q4'03/ Full/ Mobile- 8HDX/ Rockets
45. Q4'04/ Full/ Mobile- 6HDX/ Cardinals, Rockies
53. Q2'05/ Full/ Mobile- 10HDX/ Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Dodgers, Angels
71. Q4'05/ Full/ Mobile- 11HDX/ Cardinals, Blues, Brewers, Twins
77. Q3'06/ Full/ Mobile- 12HDX/ Twins, Brewers, Lynx (WNBA)

-blitzen102

It looks like NEP will be adding some HD trucks this year according to their website.
They list SS14, SS17, SS25, and ND3 as under construction for mid-2006. Hope this helps you keep this list updated.

Thank you very much for your work on this.

Awsome news

More HD Coming :)

NEP's "Vision" division has two HD trucks - HD1 and HD2.

http://www.visions-ob.com/Truck%20Details/truckmain.htm


NEP's "Vision" division is apparently building 3 more HD trucks - HD3, HD4 and HD5. They have recently been added to their website. No details or specs on them yet.

http://www.visions-ob.com/Truck%20Details/truckmain.htm

Liman (note correct spelling - it's not "Linman") Video Rental now has two trucks. The second one is Newstream and, as the name suggests, is better suited for news than sports.

Company's website:

http://www.lvrusa.com/

Hi guys! I'm new to this forum and I've had a blast reading up on your posts.

Two questions. The Sweetwater truck is equipped with Ikegami HK388WS and HL series cameras. According to Ikegami's website, these are SD cameras. So my question is whether or not the Sweetwater truck is really an HD truck? If so, how else do you identify an HD truck based on the equipment list?

I was looking at Shook Mobile and it appears to me that they are a manufacturer of trucks.

Does Shook actually own the trucks that they make or do they have standard configurations, customize the vehicles to customer specs and then transfer ownership?

If they don't own them, shouldn't they be excluded from the list?

The Video One truck only has SD capability...

vopinc com

From Radio-Canada/CBC :

"The Board approved a recommendation by management that CBC/Radio-Canada proceed with the construction of a second high-definition mobile, which will provide the capacity to meet internal demand at a lower cost than rental."

NMT's HD11 rolls out next month in Vegas.

It did not roll out 4Q 2005.

Some information I came by today.

The BBC have upgraded (or intend to shortly) a second unit to HD, alongside their earlier upgrade and their recent new build this means they now have three HD mobile units for production. Two large units and a medium sized unit. They've also announced a second HD links truck has been commissioned, to get the HD pictures back to base.

They've also announced the purchase of 14 Sony HDC 1500s to add to their existing Sony HD camera load.

I guess with the World Cup (which the BBC will present from Germany in HD, including BBC on-site studio presentation) and Wimbledon, as well as their regular HD music commitments, they've decided they can justify having more in-house HD facilities rather than relying on 3rd party facilities providers (like Bowtie, Telegenic, Visions etc. who all have HD trucks in the UK)

This means the BBC now have the following :

Unit 2 - Medium sized scanner (scanner is the "English" for Mobile video production or OB truck) - up to 12 HD cameras and 6 SD radio cameras. Up to 5 VTRs. This truck is mainly used for music and arts coverage, though also does sport ing events. (Sport often use a separate VT truck) Unit 2 was one of the 3xType 8 scanners built in the early 90s. Very popular design with production - good balance of facilities and internal space, but able to park relatively easily.

Units 10 and 12 - Large scanners - up to 16 HD cameras and up to 6 SD radio cameras, and up to 16 VTRs or Disc Servers. Used for sport and concert presentation. The extra VT operation means the trucks are larger - but you don't need a second truck for VT on many events you previously would have done.

Link 18 and Link 21 are both dual HD/SD capable satellite up link trucks - allowing both HD and SD material to be uplinked in tandem.

Game Creek Video Adding 3-6 New HD trucks

Game Creek Video has one new HD unit, "...being built to broadcast NFL games and NASCAR racing for FOX Sports. "

Additionally, this is either, "...the first in an expected series of three truck opportunities" or there will be "...an additional four to six new trucks they anticipate building later this year in support of other broadcast initiatives."

Sources: http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/releases/show.jsp?action=showRelease&searchText=false&showText=all&actionFor=587046 & http://www.sportstvproduction.com/articles/publish/printer_270.shtml

Mark Vidonic, is this the truck to which you referred in post #166? If so, can you now share any more details as to how these will be used?

I was looking at Shook Mobile and it appears to me that they are a manufacturer of trucks.

Does Shook actually own the trucks that they make or do they have standard configurations, customize the vehicles to customer specs and then transfer ownership?

If they don't own them, shouldn't they be excluded from the list?


I agree that Shook should be removed. They are a builder but from what I can see on their website they don't "own" or rent out a truck.

an eaiser link to the HD Mobile Unit Forum.

www.bloghd.com

URL has been fixed!

colin

an eaiser link to the HD Mobile Unit Forum.

www.bloghd.com

colin

Website Link not available

Game Creek Video Adding 3-6 New HD trucks

Game Creek Video has one new HD unit, "...being built to broadcast NFL games and NASCAR racing for FOX Sports. "

Additionally, this is either, "...the first in an expected series of three truck opportunities" or there will be "...an additional four to six new trucks they anticipate building later this year in support of other broadcast initiatives."

Sources: http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/releases/show.jsp?action=showRelease&searchText=false&showText=all&actionFor=587046 & http://www.sportstvproduction.com/articles/publish/printer_270.shtml

Mark Vidonic, is this the truck to which you referred in post #166? If so, can you now share any more details as to how these will be used?

It is, Thall...they are adding units for Fox NFL and NASCAR, that is the 3, and the others are believed to be ABC/ESPN NASCAR.

For Fox right now, the same truck does their NFL "A" game and NASCAR coverage. That was was built and is owned by NEP in Pittsburgh. Fox has decided to go with Game Creek now for the bulk of their NFL coverage.

1. New NEP Truck Features Array Of Sony HD Technology For Live Sports Coverage

(26th April, 2006)

"NEP Broadcasting’s newest mobile HD production unit features a range of Sony multi-format HD technology, including cameras, production switchers and displays.

The new truck, named ND3HD, will be used primarily for coverage of golf and prime-time football.

The truck, which will first hit the road in May..."

Source: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_7723.shtml


2. Also, additional information re NMT's HD11, "... scheduled for its inaugural broadcast May 20th, 2006. Scheduled events also include ESPN NCAA Football, ESPN MLB, NESN and Winnercomm..."

"...Although NMT’s HD-11 truck is making its industry debut, ESPN has already booked it for its Friday night NCAA college football game coverage throughout the Fall 2006 season, including select college bowl games. The games will be produced and broadcast in 720/60p HD on ESPN and ESPN2..."

located here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/4/prweb374706.htm & here: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_7823.shtml

3. "Sony has received its tenth order for an HD-ready outside broadcast truck from RTSI, Switzerland’s Italian-language broadcaster. Across the world in China, Sony has just delivered the country’s first ever HD OB vehicle for Tianjin TV.

RTSI, a subsidiary of the Swiss public broadcasting organisation SRG SSR, has chosen to replace one of its three analogue OB vehicles with a new, modular HD-ready unit, which is scheduled for completion early next year...."

Source: http://aveuro.useico.com/Newsletter.aspx?s=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&l=2&n=1&i=78&c=0&a=2408&o=0

4. "Continuing to prove its success in multiformat systems and production, Grass Valley will build a large outside broadcast unit, in a deal valued at approximately EUR 20 million for leading Italian operator Euroscena's fleet of HD trucks. The three identical articulated trucks are equipped for multi-format HD production facilities, for Sports and Entertainment. The fleet will be delivered in summer 2006."

Source: http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=40109

5. "LAS VEGAS, NAB 2006, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harris
Corporation (NYSE: HRS) today announced that NEP Supershooters (NEP) has
purchased 22 Videotek(R) TVM series video and audio signal analyzers to
outfit their latest top-of-the-line, high-definition (HD) broadcast trucks.
These newest additions to the NEP fleet of mobile broadcast facilities will
be on the road mid-2006 to broadcast coverage of golf's U.S. Open and the
National Football League's new lineup of Sunday and Monday night telecasts.

Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-24-2006/0004345523&EDATE=

6. Finally, while it doesn't qualify as as truck, since it can fit in 2 suitcases, VOOM HD Networks’ HDNews has a new miniature HD uplink:
"...This satellite earth station, developed by DCI is an innovative, miniaturized HD uplink technology that uses a 1 meter diameter antenna and electronic equipment approximately the size of two small carry on suitcases. It can be powered for up to two hours’ use with a standard 12 car battery or 85 to 265 volts AC
...
VOOM HDNews will send the first feed live over the DCI system from Death Valley, as part of the NAB/RTNDA official kick-off telecast on Monday, April 24th, from 8:00 am-10:00am. Additional liveshots will come from remote locations in and around Las Vegas on Tuesday, April 25th and Wednesday, April 26th. In addition, the VOOM HDNews crew on the ground will be shot from a high definition-capable helicopter, utilizing the miniature uplink. The path of the feeds will be via satellite to the DCI TOC in the nation’s capitol, and then fed via MCI/Verizon fiber to the NAB-HD control room at the HD Pavilion on the floor of the NAB convention. They will be viewable from numerous screens around the convention, as well as on the giant screens in the HD Pavilion and outside the convention center entrance..."

Source: http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=39668

I'm bored and hungover and not at all productive at work today. I thought I'd take a stab at updating the North America truck list for 2006...

74. Q1'06/ Small/ MHD- Pegasus/ MTV's new HD music channel
75. Q1'06/ Full/ Mira - M-4/
76. Q1'06/ Full/ F & F Productions - GTX14 /
77. Q1'06/ Small/ Liman - Newstream /
78. Q2'06/ Full/ Dome- Trillium/
79. Q2'06/ Full/ Mobile- 12HDX/ Twins, Brewers, Lynx (WNBA)
80. Q2'06/ Full/ AMV Titan/
81. Q3'06/ Full/ NCP - VIII/
82. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-14/
83. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-17/
84. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-25/
85. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - ND3/
86. Q3'06/ Full/ Corplex- Cobalt/
87. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
88. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
89. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
90. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/???
91. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/???

1. OB (Beijing Olympic Broadcasting) Signs HDTV OB Van Deal

(18th May, 2006)

"Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Company (BOB) has chosen Avitech MCC Multiviewers to equip their first HDTV outdoor broadcasting (OB) Van development...The new OB van is being outfitted with 42 Avitech’s MCC-8004 multi-image display processors – their latest generation multiviewer modules. The system also includes 14 Grass Valley LDK6000 cameras, a Concerto routing switcher / Jupiter control systems, and an HD Kalypso production switcher. This all-digital van is currently under construction and scheduled to operate in August / September, 2006..."

Source: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/printer_7965.shtml

2. New Century Productions Purchases UTAH-400 Router for Newest HD Production Truck

(May 23, 2006)

"Utah Scientific, a leading provider of routing and master control switching solutions, today announced the sale of a UTAH-400 router system to New Century Productions (NCP) to outfit its latest high-definition remote broadcasting truck, the NCP-VIII. With this purchase, NCP will be using Utah Scientific routers in six of its trucks.
...
The NCP-VIII rollout is slated for August 2006 and the truck will become the fourth HD-capable vehicle in NCP's fleet. The UTAH-400 HD and SDI routers will be used to cover major sporting events throughout the country in the 1080i and 720p HD broadcast formats and numerous SD formats. NCP-VIII's first major event will be the U.S. Open, starting on Aug. 28 in New York..."

Source: http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=43905&afterinter=true

3. The new All Mobile Video truck is named "Titan" per here: http://mixonline.com/news/headline/studer-vista8-titan-052206/

4. "German television production company TV Skyline has installed a UTAH-400 router in its newest HD mobile unit, the Ü5HD, which will be used to cover 2006 World Cup football in high definition...TV Skyline owns seven mobile broadcasting units, including Ü5HD...Aside from the World Cup, the Ü5HD handles a diverse range of events for TV Skyline, including sports, entertainment, and news broadcasting."
Source: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_8058.shtml

5. Globecast will deliver HDTV Fifa World Cup for Sky Italia

“MUMBAI: Global content management and delivery firm GlobeCast has been selected by Sky Italia to provide HDTV contribution for the World Cup of Football from the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) in Munich to Sky’s headquarters outside of Milan, Italy…This satellite coverage will guarantee a high level of reliability and service quality, especially with the inauguration of the latest HD-ready member of GlobeCast’s proprietary fleet of Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) vehicles. This particular truck is the first such all-HD vehicle in the Italian market…”

Source: http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k6/june/june29.htm

6. (07 June 2006)
Total Audio open new systems build facility & begin second HD OB truck for Arena TV

Europe’s largest HD-capable OB truck, Unit 7, which was built for outside broadcast specialist Arena TV, is as large as is permitted under EU legislation for trailers. At 17.5 metres long (the maximum permissible length under European on-road vehicle legislation) has full-length double expanding sides, the air-conditioned, self-levelling truck is in effect a bold statement by Arena of their complete commitment to HD broadcasting.
Designed to be capable of handling the largest OB events in full HD quality, and equipped on behalf of Arena by Bromsgrove-based HD video and audio specialist Total Audio, Unit 7 featured HD-capable VTRs, routers, vision mixers and space-saving LCD monitors to handle the vision, a Dolby 5.1-capable audio setup based around a Calrec Alpha 64 desk, and a 200 square-foot production gallery. Unit 7 went straight into service; its first two jobs were the BRIT and BAFTA awards, which went without a hitch.
However, Unit 7 is just the beginning of Arena’s HD-related OB plans. The next HD-capable OB truck, Unit 8, is planned on a similarly lavish scale (with an even larger Production area to accommodate extra crew on the larger shows), and as with Unit 7, Arena have turned to Total Audio to equip the truck and complete the interior. To achieve this, and to deal with forthcoming HD systems build projects, Total have opened a new dedicated Systems Warehouse at their headquarters in Bromsgrove, and are starting work on the Unit 8 chassis there in the next few weeks...

Source: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?ID=52254

7. Behind the scenes: kitting out a state-of-the-art HD OB truck

"...Broadcast TV systems integrator Neil Wilson Enterprises (NWE) has made use of high-density patch panels from Deltron Emcon in equipping two state-of-the-art high definition TV (HDTV) outside broadcast trucks for a leading UK broadcaster...
The leading broadcasters – BBC, Sky and Telewest among them – are working hard to get the new technology operational in their outside broadcast facilities in time for this summer’s sporting and other events...In this project, NWE was commissioned to design and fit-out two outside broadcast (OB) trucks; one was a complete refurbishment of a five-year old truck and the other was brand new. The trucks will be used for coverage of cricket at county and test level, as well as for a range of other OB duties including sporting events, music and light entertainment. The refurbished truck was completed in January 06 and the new one will be finished by the end of May 06.

“These state-of-the-art equipped vehicles cost over £4M each,” explains Neil. “They have to be capable of working wherever they are needed – from the Winter Olympics in Italy to cricket at Lords and the Glastonbury Festival.”

Indeed, as soon as the first truck was finished in January it was sent to cover the Winter Olympics. The complexity of the set up there required the engineer to use more than 250 patch cord connections. In other locations there may be completely different needs, such as broadcasting at frequencies other than the standard 50Hz, to get a particular effect. Each project has its own requirements, and the equipment must have the flexibility in terms of patching, to support them all..."

Source: http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2006/06/behind_the_scen.html

8. ABC Completes Initial Broadcast Voyage

(26 June 2006)
ABC has successfully completed the initial broadcast voyage of the network’s first mobile truck...the HD mobile unit began its broadcast career with the 26 May 'Good Morning America' broadcast. The truck will be deployed for the programme’s remote coverage, including its summer concert series running through to the end of August, featuring, among others: Prince, the Beach Boys, Mary J Blige, the Pussycat Dolls, Huey Lewis, and Lionel Richie...

Source: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?ID=52838

9. New HD-OB-Van for Triofilm

In December 2005 Triofilm, a technical service provider of TV broadcasts, ordered Broadcast
Solutions GmbH to plan and equip a 14-Camera HD-OB-Van.

The Van was delivered on the 31.05.2006, right on time for the Soccer World Championship.

...

The 16.50m long, 2.55m wide and 4.00m high OB van is equipped with a 10m extendable side wall that
increases the internal working area to 51m2. The different control rooms (prep room, slomo facility, video
and audio control), the VTR bay and the equipment room have space for up to 15 operators/engineers.

Source: http://www.broadcast-solutions.de/news_20060606_en.html

10. tpc Streamlines Camera Operations With Telecast

(12th July, 2006)

"TV production center Zürich (tpc), Switzerland’s largest and most comprehensive media production facility, has equipped its HD-1 outside broadcast truck with 10 sets of SHED (SMPTE hybrid elimination devices) and HDX adapters for its Sony HDC1500 cameras.

...

In addition to the 10 pairs of SHED and HDX units, the 45-foot HD-1 truck is equipped with a Probel 320x416 router, MVS8000 switcher, Stage Tec NEXUS audio distribution system, and RTS communication system to support its 24 cameras... "

Source: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/printer_8422.shtml

11. (14 July 2006) SCC International to invest in HD vehicle

"SCC International, which purchased the SNG business, previously known as ' Links 'n' Things', just over a year ago, has recently anounced that it will be investing in an HD capable truck.
SCC International's business has boomed and the company is now investing in an HD vehicle as well as additional video production equipment..."

Source: http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?ID=53295

12. Videotek Test and Measurement Products From Harris Corporation Equip Game Creek Video’s Latest HD Production Trucks

Harris Corporation
7/27/2006 4:18:20 PM

"CINCINNATI, July 27, 2006 — Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) today announced that its Videotek® TVM series of precision test instruments with integral LCD displays has been chosen by Game Creek Video for the company’s latest high-definition (HD) initiatives — the upgrade of its INTREPID mobile unit to accommodate HD signals and the new, all-HD truck it is currently building for Fox Sports.
Game Creek Video has purchased nine Videotek® TVM-900 multiformat HD/SD-SDI signal analyzers as part of the HD upgrade of its 53-foot INTREPID mobile production truck. Two Videotek® TVM-950-E multiformat HD/SD-SDI signal analyzers, each with an advanced audio analysis option, have been ordered for the new Fox Sports truck, which will be used to provide HD coverage of NASCAR racing and NFL football this year..."

Source: http://webwire.com/ViewPressRel_print.asp?SESSIONID=&aId=17491

13. Vancouver, Canada, July 26, 2006 --(PR.COM)-- Roger Williams, owner of Image Pacific Communications (IPC), Image Pacific Broadcast Rentals (IPBR) and Shooters Broadcast Services (SBS-Toronto) has announced that .... (SBS -Toronto) and IPBR (Vancouver) are in the development stages of building a mid-sized HD Mobile truck which will be on the road in 2007.

Source: http://www.pr.com/press-release/14595

14. AMP France HD OB Truck Takes To The Road With Chyron Hyperx System

(2nd August, 2006)

"Major French Outside Broadcast facility, AMP France has installed a Chyron HyperX HD/SD switchable Graphics System with Lyric software on its HD/SD OB truck, one of the largest of its kind in France.

Continuing its commitment to the HD transition, AMP France selected Chyron's flagship Graphics System, the Duet HyperX to provide high-quality graphics for a number of events including sports and opera. The Duet HyperX features up to two software-switchable HD/SD channels, either one of which may integrate a compressed HD/SD clip player.

Gilles Sallé, CEO, AMP France, commented, "At AMP France we wanted a graphics product that is as flexible and powerful as our HD/SD OB truck, we found both those qualities in the Chyron Duet HyperX. Chyron was our first choice because its products are highly adaptable for the sports arena, live shows, music concerts and opera."

David Ward, VP and general manager, Chyron EAME added, "2006 is a key year for European broadcasters who are making the jump to HD transmission. AMP France has been instrumental in moving the HD transition forward."

Source: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_8632.shtml

15. Ireland’s Largest Remote-Recording Vehicle Records The Irish Tenors with Studer

(Aug 1, 2006 5:37 PM)

"Observe, a mobile recording service based in Dublin, Ireland, is using its new high-definition outside broadcast unit to record ten HD TV specials featuring The Irish Tenors for broadcast on Ireland’s public service broadcaster, RTÉ.

HD1 is Observe’s new flagship vehicle (pictured), a 53-foot, triple-expander, semi-trailer truck with full studio facilities for live broadcasting, including 24 HD cameras and a 52-fader Studer Vista 8 digital live audio production console. The truck recently spent 10 days at Ardmore Studios in Bray, just south of Dublin, recording performances by tenors Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and Karl Scully, as well as guest artists including Hayley Westenra, Katharine Jenkins, Paul Carrack, Shayne Ward and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Observe’s Colm Flynn has also been recording a 30-piece orchestra, five-piece band and string quartet using the Studer Vista 8. “We have 80 mic line inputs built into the truck, plus 40 more in our [flightcase-enclosed] stage box, and I can bring in additional I/O if I need it,” Flynn says. Observe’s stage box, which is on a fiber-optic connection, was positioned inside Ardmore’s Studio A, more than 300 feet away from the Observe OBV.

“When specifying the HD1, we decided to go for the Vista 8,” Flynn continues. “We preferred the look of the console and the way it worked; in fact, the ergonomics was a key factor as it made the Vista 8 the easiest surface to learn for all the freelance engineers that will use the vehicle.

“When the truck was commissioned, we went straight into a live on-air show, and it all worked perfectly. The Vista 8’s EQ is incredible—very nice and sweet—and the desk has proved itself to be extremely user-friendly, even for those operators who’ve never used a Studer before.”

HD1 has full 5.1 surround sound capability, although it is not being used on The Irish Tenors recordings. Another notable feature of the truck is that its main control system also controls the Vista console’s audio router, which permits audio selection for VTR record machines and monitoring positions to be controlled from other areas..."

Source: http://mixonline.com/news/headline/studer-vista8-observe-080106/

16. Axon Saves Telegenic Space & Money

(1st August, 2006)

"Axon has supplied compact routing equipment to UK-based outside broadcast production company, Telegenic, which has enabled the company to save considerable space in its latest mobile broadcast truck.

The T14 high-definition, mobile broadcast truck, which Telegenic will primarily use to cover sporting events, is the most recent addition to its vehicle range. It incorporates a very large, 6-meter-deep, expandable, video-tape area, which would normally require the capacity of two vans. It wasn’t until Telegenic contacted Axon that it discovered that its extensive range of audio and video signal conversion and processing equipment includes products specifically designed with cramped spaces in mind, as found in outside broadcast vans..."

Source: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_8620.shtml

17. (Tue, 15 Aug 2006)

Sweden-based outside broadcast services provider Prisma has selected the Pro-Bel routing technology to sit at the heart of a brand new HD vehicle.

The primary contractor is Sony Professional Services with the order placed through Pro-Bel’s Swedish dealer TAURUS.

The brand new HD truck – HD-1 – has 34 operator seats with a maximum of 30 cameras. It is double expandable and occupies 75 sq metres, benefiting from two separate production control rooms with a true 5:1 mixing area for audio with room for two audio engineers. The monitor wall is fitted with 46” HD LCD screens with a multiview system for full flexibility.

Source: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/printer_8735.shtml

18. (Thu, 17 Aug 2006) In the field of Outside Broadcast and more specifically outside broadcast truck installations Gearhouse Broadcast is currently building three outside broadcast vehicles for a leading OB company 021 Television. (See Unit 8 and Unit 9).

Sources: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_8771.shtml & http://www.021tv.com/new_trucks.php

19. “The first Hawaii-based high-definition television mobile truck has reported for duty with John Guild manning the controls (9/10/06)… HAWAII'S FIRST locally owned high-definition television mobile production truck made its broadcast debut last week. John Guild Communications Corp. put the truck through its first real workout Thursday night at Hawaii Theatre, for the KGMB-TV live telecast of a 90-minute forum featuring candidates for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District… HDTV production has been available from several Hawaii companies for years, but previously, HDTV mobile trucks had to be shipped in from the mainland. Guild's truck is not as large as the 48-foot trucks commonly used at professional sporting events, but is more along the lines of a large van… Guild's truck cost about $1 million and moves his small company "up into the broadcast level, which we've never been in," he said. "We could probably do a whole basketball game." His company has specialized in providing video services for corporate events, the Sony Open and recording local concerts, at the Waikiki Shell, for instance. Guild believes his HD business will "blossom in six months." The company has 5 HD cameras, but the truck has inputs for as many as 16 cameras…

Mainland companies with state-of-the-art trucks equipped with more than a dozen cameras often have contracts with organizations such as the NFL, so the trucks will be in use, generating revenue 100 to 200 days a year, said Ruben Carrillo, co-owner of Honolulu-based Liquid Planet Studios LLC.

Liquid Planet is planning to buy a 48-foot, Expando HDTV mobile truck, that it will outfit with six full-size HD cameras, more in line with the smaller demand in Hawaii. It already has a 48-foot truck equipped for standard-definition TV.

Liquid Planet does work for local commercials and shows such as "Hawaii Stars," but it has also worked with national shows such as "29 Down" and "Beyond the Break." "We have our fingers in a lot of different things," Carrillo said.

Guild's company is smaller, but "we've always tried to be on the cutting edge and now we're on it again," he said.

Source: http://starbulletin.com/2006/09/10/business/story01.html

20. Newest HD truck for NEP houses PESA's award winning DRS audio system and Cheetah flexi-frame HD multi-rate video routing system
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 28, 2006 -- QuStream Corporation ("QuStream") (TSX VENTURE: QVC) announced today that it's wholly owned subsidiary, PESA Switching Systems, Inc. ("PESA"), has won another significant order from NEP, a major supplier of mobile trucks for distribution of HD content in sports and the entertainment industry. PESA hardware was chosen for its latest advancements in high definition video routing and award winning distributed audio routing gear. NEP's latest HD mobile unit, SS21 is scheduled to begin operations in February to produce remote HD content for major sporting events across the country. Total consideration for this contract will exceed US $1 million.
Source: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=167734

21. Venue Services Group, Inc. Moves into New Facility. (September 28, 2006)
Venue Services Group, Inc. (VSG) has moved its headquarters and integration facility to a new expanded 28,000 sq. ft. facility located in East Rutherford, NJ.
...
The new facility will be utilized immediately with the need to complete pre-integration for its projects working with City University of New York (CUNY) and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN). VSG continues to service its parent company, National Mobile Television, as it builds HD12, the newest HD mobile unit in the marketplace, a high-end three-truck complement for CBS' PGA coverage, due in December 2006. VSG is also building NMT's HD6 for New England Sports Network (NESN), by designing a new 53-foot HD mobile unit for the Boston area.

Source: http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/9/emw443141.htm

22. Sweetwater's Latest HD-Truck Will Roll Out With Riedel (Fri, 1st, Dec 2006)

"When Los Angeles-based Sweetwater Digital Productions’ new 53 ft. HDTV double-expando production truck hits the road it will have a Riedel Artist intercom system on board to guarantee pristine communications.

The unit, currently under construction and designed to accommodate large-scale concerts, awards ceremonies and other high-profile sports and entertainment applications, will install Riedel’s Artist 128. Sweetwater provides turnkey production system rentals..."

Source: http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv

Ok, now that HD mobile trucks are becoming less and less scarce, what is holding networks back from broadcasting more in HD?

For example, FSN North here in Minnesota has an HD truck (dual-feed) covering most of the rest of the Twins home games, but less than halff of the games will be shown in HD here locally. Is the shortage in infrastructure (getting the HD from the HD truck to FSN studios, or from the studios to the cable/sat providers), or is it a lack of $$$ that FSN is willing to pay to lease the infrastructure, or is it something else?

Also, other FSNs are producing HD games with HD dual-feed trucks in other markets (Texas, Los Angeles, etc.) and we are not geting ANY of these games in HD via FSN North.

What needs to happen for more HD?

74. Q1'06/ Small/ MHD- Pegasus/ MTV's new HD music channel
75. Q1'06/ Full/ Mira - M-4/
76. Q1'06/ Full/ F & F Productions - GTX14 /
77. Q1'06/ Small/ Liman - Newstream /
78. Q2'06/ Full/ Dome- Trillium/
79. Q2'06/ Full/ Mobile- 12HDX/ Twins, Brewers, Wild, Lynx (WNBA)
80. Q2'06/ Full/ AMV Titan/
81. Q3'06/ Full/ NCP - VIII/
82. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-14/
83. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-17/
84. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - SS-25/
85. Q3'06/ Full/ NEP - ND3/
86. Q3'06/ Full/ Corplex- Cobalt/
87. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
88. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
89. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/?
90. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/???
91. Q3'06/ Full/ Game Creek/???
92. Q1'07/ Full/ Mobile- 16HDX/Atlanta

Ok, now that HD mobile trucks are becoming less and less scarce, what is holding networks back from broadcasting more in HD?

For example, FSN North here in Minnesota has an HD truck (dual-feed) covering most of the rest of the Twins home games, but less than halff of the games will be shown in HD here locally. Is the shortage in infrastructure (getting the HD from the HD truck to FSN studios, or from the studios to the cable/sat providers), or is it a lack of $$$ that FSN is willing to pay to lease the infrastructure, or is it something else?

Also, other FSNs are producing HD games with HD dual-feed trucks in other markets (Texas, Los Angeles, etc.) and we are not geting ANY of these games in HD via FSN North.

What needs to happen for more HD?


Along those lines are we at the point were trucks are no longer the limiting factor?

Along those lines are we at the point were trucks are no longer the limiting factor?

Well, I'm back to partially answer my own question (on the Fox Sports Nets, anyway)...

http://www.town-center.com/news/may102006.cfm

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY FOR FOX NETWORKS
TECHNICAL FACILITY IN THE WOODLANDS

THE WOODLANDS, TX – (May 10, 2006) – Fox Networks Group has begun construction of a technical facility on 30 acres of land on Research Forest Drive just east of Technology Forest Drive, in the commercial Research Forest area of The Woodlands, according to Dan Leverett, vice president, commercial for The Woodlands Development Company. The facility will manage transmissions for Fox’s many regional sports networks and other programming services.

The facility will be called Fox Network Center-Houston, and will encompass transmission services to the greater Houston metro area and throughout the United States. The project should be completed by the third quarter of 2007. Integration of technical equipment and move-in of personnel will begin in either the fourth quarter of 2007 or the first quarter of 2008.

According to Fox Networks Group officials, the facility will act as master control for several of Fox Networks Group’s 28 owned-and-operated networks, including FSN Houston and FSN Southwest. It will feature entirely state-of-the-art design and equipment, ranging from high-definition programming transport to sophisticated digital media storage and management systems, as well as an MPEG-digital satellite distribution platform. The facility will have a 24-hour attended gated entrance and other on-site security personnel commensurate with other Fox operations.

The facility will employ approximately 500 people, roughly split between 125 managerial staff and 375 technical personnel. Many of the current 300-plus employees already have made tentative plans to move into the local area, and Fox estimates hiring another 100 to 200 people from the surrounding area rather than going out-of-state. This will include everything from entry-level positions to management. The facility is also built to accommodate twice the current size, so there will be more opportunity for employment as the facility is built out.

The architectural firm is Archcentric, a company specifically chosen for their experience in designing this type of facility. Archcentric is currently working with Gilbane in the early stages of construction planning.

Fox Networks Group currently manages 26 different networks and has added a new network every year for the past five years, including National Geographic Channel, FUEL TV, Fox Reality, Fox College Sports and other popular services.

It sounds like that when this facility is completed the FSNs owned by Fox will have much more capacity for HD -- and the lack of this capacity now is the limitting factor on how much HD there is on the Fox-owned FSNs.

:rolleyes:

Subject
Local channels and NESN HD

Discussion Thread
Response (Louella) 08/02/2006 07:11 PM
Dear Mr. Morelli,

Thank you for writing. I can understand your frustration regarding the picture quality on your HD System. In accordance with our company policy, we cannot give out the specifics of the resolution of our broadcast signal. This is partly because we are always fine-tuning our quality. The goal of our engineers is to design the very best transmission operation that will bring you extraordinary video, audio, and data along with the programming.

Though our engineers have very high standards, I'm sure you understand that our success as a business depends in part on carrying a wide selection of programming. Therefore, due to limitations in satellite space capacity we must balance our desire to provide outstanding signal quality with the demand for a wide selection of channels. We are proud of the job we do at delivering both.

To be able to keep enhancing our signal quality AND to bring our customers lots of choices, we are always working on upgrades to our broadcast infrastructure that let us transmit our programming more efficiently. In other words, we can add more channels without sacrificing picture quality, and we can improve picture quality without having to drop any channels.

We appreciate your patience as we adjust and fine tune our systems. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Sincerely,

Louella
DIRECTV Customer Service
Customer (Nick Morelli) 08/02/2006 03:40 PM
DIRECTV FEEDBACK MESSAGE



Details: I just thought that I would express my opinion of the Picture Quality of the channels I receive using the new Mpeg4 system. After waiting for what seemed an eterninty to receive NESN HD I must say I am dissapointed in the picture quality. The picture seems to be choppy when fast action occurs (i.e. The pitchers wind up and delivery.) I do not believe this to be due improper dish alignment as I am receiving 90 -95 % signal strength, but maybe to not having all the kinks worked out.
Fortunately I have decent OTA reception for my local channels.

Thanks for letting me express my opinion
Nick Morelli

as my man bill might have said:
Though protests too much

You never asked about resolution yet he replied he cant tell you what it is…



:rolleyes:

Subject
Local channels and NESN HD

Discussion Thread
Response (Louella) 08/02/2006 07:11 PM
Dear Mr. Morelli,

Thank you for writing. I can understand your frustration regarding the picture quality on your HD System. In accordance with our company policy, we cannot give out the specifics of the resolution of our broadcast signal. This is partly because we are always fine-tuning our quality. The goal of our engineers is to design the very best transmission operation that will bring you extraordinary video, audio, and data along with the programming.

Though our engineers have very high standards, I'm sure you understand that our success as a business depends in part on carrying a wide selection of programming. Therefore, due to limitations in satellite space capacity we must balance our desire to provide outstanding signal quality with the demand for a wide selection of channels. We are proud of the job we do at delivering both.

To be able to keep enhancing our signal quality AND to bring our customers lots of choices, we are always working on upgrades to our broadcast infrastructure that let us transmit our programming more efficiently. In other words, we can add more channels without sacrificing picture quality, and we can improve picture quality without having to drop any channels.

We appreciate your patience as we adjust and fine tune our systems. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Sincerely,

Louella
DIRECTV Customer Service
Customer (Nick Morelli) 08/02/2006 03:40 PM
DIRECTV FEEDBACK MESSAGE



Details: I just thought that I would express my opinion of the Picture Quality of the channels I receive using the new Mpeg4 system. After waiting for what seemed an eterninty to receive NESN HD I must say I am dissapointed in the picture quality. The picture seems to be choppy when fast action occurs (i.e. The pitchers wind up and delivery.) I do not believe this to be due improper dish alignment as I am receiving 90 -95 % signal strength, but maybe to not having all the kinks worked out.
Fortunately I have decent OTA reception for my local channels.

Thanks for letting me express my opinion
Nick Morelli

Mobile Television Group is having a new truck built - 16HDX set to roll out in "early 2007". It will be based in Atlanta.

NCP has a new HD truck - er, trailer, NCP VIII.

Lyon Video also has a new truck - MU-7.

If you have had any expirence with any of the North American Mobile Units, please tell your expirences at

www.bloghd.com

According to thier website, Mountain Mobile is building 16HDX for the Atlanta market in 2007.

According to thier website, Mountain Mobile is building 16HDX for the Atlanta market in 2007.

Didn't I just say that?

:confused:

New truck for Video One:

"To better accomodate our clients we will be rolling out a brand new double expanding production trailer in the fall of 2006. We are dedicated to the art of customer service and remain comitted to providing high end television facilities."

http://www.videoonela.tv/

So are we at the point yet where HD trucks are no longer the bottleneck?

Seems like anyone that wants one can have one and now maybe it's a matter of sattelite space?

So are we at the point yet where HD trucks are no longer the bottleneck?

Seems like anyone that wants one can have one and now maybe it's a matter of sattelite space?

For MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL I think we're mostly past the truck bottleneck. For college sports there is still a long way to go.

ahhh- forgot about that. thanks

Well, the Jets game was in glorious SD this weekend, so apparently there wasn't an HD truck ready for that game.

And that was the CBS (and therefore good quality HD) game.

Well, the Jets game was in glorious SD this weekend, so apparently there wasn't an HD truck ready for that game.

And that was the CBS (and therefore good quality HD) game.

Wrong. It has absolutely nothing to do with truck availability.

Well, the Jets game was in glorious SD this weekend, so apparently there wasn't an HD truck ready for that game.

And that was the CBS (and therefore good quality HD) game.


I am under the impression tha CBS specifically doesn't have the satellite space to do all their NFL games in HD and that's the reason we're always wathcing the jets in SD.

Fox can pull it off becasue of their "splicer" system where they compress the signal at the broadcast center to something akin to an ATSC feed and the affiliates pass it along as is rather then the 'old school' system the other nets use where they send a ~45Mbps ove rthe birds and each affiliate compresses it to the ATSC bit rate. Doing it that way allows fox to fit ~3 times as many HD feeds on thier trasnponders as compared to everyone else. So fox can pull it off where all the games are HD but CBS chokes on the sat bandwidth required.

That's my perception unless someone tells me otherwise.

Wrong. It has absolutely nothing to do with truck availability.


do you know- is it the sats?

do you know- is it the sats?

The answer is in the "NFL on CBS" or whatever it's titled thread - I can't find it right now due to searching being disabled.

It's either satellites or their master control facility - I believe it is the latter.

[Edit: Found it:

"CBS will most likely remain at 3 NFL games in HD per week in 2006, while rebuilding its HD infrastructure at its Broadcast Center in NY. At the same time they will be working on other HD projects as well, then begin ramping up NFL in 2007 by at least one game each Sunday each year until all are in HD in 2009."

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=663002&highlight=CBS

do you know- is it the sats?
Very little to do with satellite space. There's a whole lot of spectrum available that doesn't get used. Also, keep in mind that the vast majority of regional sports are transmitted over fiber.

It's MONEY. Some bean counter at the network decides whether the ad revenue for a particular game warrents the added cost of an HD truck.

Keep this in mind. There are some non-contract HD trucks out there that will actually go out and do an SD show[I] when an event you might want to see in HD is done by an SD truck.

Very little to do with satellite space. There's a whole lot of spectrum available that doesn't get used. Also, keep in mind that the vast majority of regional sports are transmitted over fiber.

It's MONEY. Some bean counter at the network decides whether the ad revenue for a particular game warrents the added cost of an HD truck.

Keep this in mind. There are some non-contract HD trucks out there that will actually go out and do an SD show[I] when an event you might want to see in HD is done by an SD truck.

If the US is anything like Europe - there are very few new trucks being built in SD, and haven't been for a number of years. If you are covering an event in SD of a decent size, with a reasonably modern truck, chances are you'll be using an HD truck running SD - though in many cases with SD cameras. (Most facilities providers with more than one truck will mix and match cameras and VTR/EVS equipment on a per-booking basis - rather than having a permanent load - unless the truck is permanently booked for a single client)

I worked on an SD show over the summer in an HD truck.

It is true that a lot of HD trucks are doing SD shows but there are still a fair amount of SD trucks out there. Unfortunately the costs of building HD trucks usually warrant a long term commitment from a client before they are built.

The HD mobile units I am familiar with all keep the HD cameras and use the SD outputs for doing and SD show. Most still have a few SD VTs and the disk recorders can be changed over to SD outputs as well. The other equipment in the truck also follows the change. There is very little need to exchange equipment.

Very little to do with satellite space. There's a whole lot of spectrum available that doesn't get used. Also, keep in mind that the vast majority of regional sports are transmitted over fiber.

It's MONEY. Some bean counter at the network decides whether the ad revenue for a particular game warrents the added cost of an HD truck.


The vast majority HOME games for RSNs may be sent via fiber, but away games are a different story. Here in Minnesota we are only getting home Wild and Wolves games in HD this year - no away games have been announced. This is due (like the CBS NFL situatution) to the lack of a master control facility that can handle all of the HD feeds from all of the Fox owned FSNs. FSN has a new master control facility under construction in Houston - see my post #196.

Do they use grounding techniques on production trucks, like cables and satellite antennas. I've got a ground block outside and a panamax behind my tv and was thinking with all sorts of glitches mentioned with HD like macroblocking etc... I'm curious how important grounding is to producing an HD broadcast. Just thinking what the signal has to go through before it gets to the end user, from truck to station to affiliate/headends, transmitted and received on so much different equipment it seems like plenty of opportunites for flaws to show up.

Broadcasting still amazes me.

If the US is anything like Europe - there are very few new trucks being built in SD, and haven't been for a number of years. If you are covering an event in SD of a decent size, with a reasonably modern truck, chances are you'll be using an HD truck running SD - though in many cases with SD cameras. (Most facilities providers with more than one truck will mix and match cameras and VTR/EVS equipment on a per-booking basis - rather than having a permanent load - unless the truck is permanently booked for a single client)

I worked on an SD show over the summer in an HD truck.

In the State, it's almost always a fixed load, with augmentation based on how much bigger the show is than the truck's base levels....

It is true that a lot of HD trucks are doing SD shows but there are still a fair amount of SD trucks out there. Unfortunately the costs of building HD trucks usually warrant a long term commitment from a client before they are built.

The HD mobile units I am familiar with all keep the HD cameras and use the SD outputs for doing and SD show. Most still have a few SD VTs and the disk recorders can be changed over to SD outputs as well. The other equipment in the truck also follows the change. There is very little need to exchange equipment.

Oh, the quickest way for me to have a REALLY bad day is to try and flip the truck from HD to SD!!! And to be perfectly honest, I CAN'T! The EVS's on my truck don't have the SD software, the switcher is a true HD Kalypso, not a Duo, etc, etc. When I do an "SD" show, it's an HD show and the final TX path is just a downconverted signal.

Oh, the quickest way for me to have a REALLY bad day is to try and flip the truck from HD to SD!!! And to be perfectly honest, I CAN'T! The EVS's on my truck don't have the SD software, the switcher is a true HD Kalypso, not a Duo, etc, etc. When I do an "SD" show, it's an HD show and the final TX path is just a downconverted signal.

That can't be much fun if you have to provide a lot of SD ISO recordings on DigiBeta. Presumably you have a LOT of up and downconverters.

In the State, it's almost always a fixed load, with augmentation based on how much bigger the show is than the truck's base levels....

That is usually only the case for smaller operations in the UK. Larger providers - like Visions, BBC OBs etc. often have bookable camera channels, EVS, VTR and graphics loads, rigging on a per-programme basis. (In commercial terms it makes sense - as you don't have to fully load every truck with the maximum load of cameras, CCUs and VTRs, and pay for them to sit in the garage when the truck isn't on the road. If you DO have all your trucks out fully loaded, you rent in the extra equipment you require for these periods)

It is becoming more usual to leave the HD cameras installed even when running SD - though the cameras are running with SD outputs.

However switching out VTRs is a fact of life when working in SD - as working in SD requires SD recordings to DigiBeta of ISOs, Clean (pre-graphics) and Dirty (post-graphics) PasBs (Programme as Broadcasts) and Backups etc.

The show I worked on had LDK200s (SD Philips now ThomsonGrassValley cameras) but the truck was HD/SD switchable in monitoring and routing terms, and had a Kalypso HD/SD switchable mixer.

The VTRs were DigiBetas - as we needed to record in SD - and the EVS servers for play-in were SD. Because our VT requirements were relatively modest (3 VTRs and a single 6 Channel EVS) - there were a LOT of empty bays in VT!

Similarly - as different shows have different graphics requirements - it is not at all unusual for a truck not to have a core graphics load (or if it does it will be something like an Aston Motif or Ethos - good basic CG) - with stuff like VizRT, Still Stores etc. loaded on a per-show basis (and often hired from a third party along with the operator)

That can't be much fun if you have to provide a lot of SD ISO recordings on DigiBeta. Presumably you have a LOT of up and downconverters.

While I do have alot of up & downconverters, the fact is the truck does mostly sports so no iso records. And in sports EVS is king; tape machines are there just for feeding the EVSs' and melt records.

While I do have alot of up & downconverters, the fact is the truck does mostly sports so no iso records. And in sports EVS is king; tape machines are there just for feeding the EVSs' and melt records.

Ah - that's probably the other difference between the UK and the US. Whilst some UK trucks are used mainly for sports (particularly those contracted to Sky Sports for football) - most are used for a greater variety of shows.

A truck could be doing Songs of Praise (UK religious show usually incorporating a lot of multicamera congregational singing) or a pop concert one weekend - both with a load of ISOs, and a football or rugby match the next with a load of EVS. Similarly a truck could be parked by a film sound stage to do a sit com recording one day - again with lots of ISOs, but be covering the live State Opening of Parliament the next week.

Over here EVS is king for sports replays, and "VT" play-ins for live broadcasts, but tape is still king for taking stuff away on. (Though tapeless is increasingly happening - tape is still a good backup)

National Mobile Television is building a new truck - HD12.

"HD-12 will primarily cover golf and NFL for CBS Sports."


http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish2/New_Contracts_24/National_Mobile_Television_Loads_HD_Mobile_Trucks__8973.shtm l

New truck coming in 2007 for F&F Production - GTX-15.

http://www.sportsvideo.org/artman/publish/article_2831.shtml

CBC/Radio-Canada Mobile Division Announces the Newest Addition to its Fleet

The CBC/Radio-Canada Mobile Division, Canada’s largest mobile television service provider, will soon become even larger. In March 2007, just in time for the Stanley Cup Play-offs, the Mobile Division will debut its second mobile High Definition (HD) caravan, the “ENCORE”.

CBC/Radio-Canada engineers in Brampton, Ontario are currently hard at work installing the electronic components of the recently acquired 53-foot HD caravan. Once complete, the Encore will feature state of the art production equipment.

As the newest addition to the 12 caravan fleet, the Encore will enable the Mobile Division to continue providing service to both internal and external clients at a wide-range of events, including sports, arts & entertainment, news and special programming throughout Canada and the United States.

Oh, the quickest way for me to have a REALLY bad day is to try and flip the truck from HD to SD!!! And to be perfectly honest, I CAN'T! The EVS's on my truck don't have the SD software, the switcher is a true HD Kalypso, not a Duo, etc, etc. When I do an "SD" show, it's an HD show and the final TX path is just a downconverted signal.

I'll usually go native SD for an SD show. The change over is getting easier. The first time we were only on the truck for a week and suprise SD show. Well it's not a problem unless your still trying to figure out how the thing converts. What a mess. At least I know now ho so it's pretty simple.

Mobile Television's 16HDX rolls out 2-21-2007 (based in Atlanta).

--Trio Video has its third HD truck “Rhythm” under construction, set to join its two existing HD trucks, “Phoenix” and “Tango” this spring.

http://blog.digitalcontentproducer.com/briefingroom/2007/01/16/trio-video-deploys-fujinon-hd-lenses-in-new-hd-mobile-unit/

--Yes Productions (New Orleans, LA) recently added an HD truck, per here: http://www.yesproductions.org/Truck%20II.htm


--Italy’s SBP Deploys 20-Camera HD OB Vehicle; Leading Italian Broadcast Services Company Equips Second HDTV OB Truck, per here: http://hardware.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=123861


-- CCTV to Deploy Snell & Wilcox Kahuna for HD Production of 2008 Olympics

March 23, 2007

China Central Television has purchased two Snell & Wilcox Kahuna SD/HD multiformat production switchers to support live HD coverage of sports events including the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
CCTV is the principal broadcaster for the 2008 Olympic Summer Games, for which the company is integrating the Kahuna SD/HD multiformat switcher into its first Olympic A-level outside broadcast van in China.

Kahuna offers simultaneous SD and HD operations in the same mainframe with the same control panel, so the Beijing-based broadcaster can offer its audiences HD content while continuing to use its existing SD equipment. During CCTV's live sports broadcasts, the Kahuna allows operators to mix existing SD camera feeds, graphics, handheld shots, and archive footage directly into an HD production. The Kahuna also offers keying power and the IMPAKT DVE option, which combines eight channels of 3D DVE with straightforward operational logic and premade effects without the need for an outboard DVE unit.

Xue Jun Hong, director of the CCTV transmission center said, "It provides the outstanding performance we require along with the benefit of low delay through the system, small size, low weight, and low power use--all of which are critical in mobile production applications. These features, and our positive experience with Kahuna during the World Cup, made Kahuna the ideal choice for the OB trucks we are building for the 2008 Summer Games." per here: http://www.tvtechnology.com/pages/s.0017/t.3678.html

I'll usually go native SD for an SD show. The change over is getting easier. The first time we were only on the truck for a week and suprise SD show. Well it's not a problem unless your still trying to figure out how the thing converts. What a mess. At least I know now ho so it's pretty simple.

Unless you're running a truck with an HD Kalypso (not a Duo or Classic) and all your EVS' have the HD codecs and no SD software. About the only thing that I can switch into SD is the cameras (LDK6000s) and the DVEous MX. We do a few SD shows and as I tell everyone "this is going to be the BEST looking 'SD' truck you've worked on!!

It's actually much simpler this way; the only changeover I need to worry about is between 720p and 1080i and even THAT is a 3 to 4 hour process!

Unless you're running a truck with an HD Kalypso (not a Duo or Classic) and all your EVS' have the HD codecs and no SD software. About the only thing that I can switch into SD is the cameras (LDK6000s) and the DVEous MX. We do a few SD shows and as I tell everyone "this is going to be the BEST looking 'SD' truck you've worked on!!

It's actually much simpler this way; the only changeover I need to worry about is between 720p and 1080i and even THAT is a 3 to 4 hour process!

Does this mean you don't do many SD shows in your HD truck? Or if you do do a reasonable number of SD shows - do you have a shedload of downconverters for SD VT recordings (ISOs, Mains, Cleans etc.) - or is your work more live based?

I suspect one benefit of running a truck SD is if you are mixing SD and HD sources - as most mixers want (though the Kahuna is an exception) want all HD or all SD inputs, so you have to upconvert SD sources like microcams, radiocams etc. (with a delay) if you are running HD for an SD show?

The HD trucks I've worked in on SD shows have always switched to SD mode - Grass Valley mixers, LDK or Sony cameras etc. (One of these shows had 3 external SD SNGs feeding it daily and quite a lot of SD VizRT graphics)

It's actually much simpler this way; the only changeover I need to worry about is between 720p and 1080i and even THAT is a 3 to 4 hour process!

Not trying to be a smart butt... What takes so long? We can change over the truck in less than a half hour if even that once the gear is all powered up. The EVS's are a simple config change, the cameras once up is a menu item, and the sync gens are a preset. The switcher follows suit and the GVEous is just another menu setting. The UP and Down Conv are changed over as needed.

BTW NEP SS21HD rolled out to Daytona this week for ESPN's coverage of Busch Nascar.

Does this mean you don't do many SD shows in your HD truck? Or if you do do a reasonable number of SD shows - do you have a shedload of downconverters for SD VT recordings (ISOs, Mains, Cleans etc.) - or is your work more live based?

I suspect one benefit of running a truck SD is if you are mixing SD and HD sources - as most mixers want (though the Kahuna is an exception) want all HD or all SD inputs, so you have to upconvert SD sources like microcams, radiocams etc. (with a delay) if you are running HD for an SD show?

The HD trucks I've worked in on SD shows have always switched to SD mode - Grass Valley mixers, LDK or Sony cameras etc. (One of these shows had 3 external SD SNGs feeding it daily and quite a lot of SD VizRT graphics)

Like I've said, I CAN'T switch to SD mode since I have equipment that is HD native only. I rarely run out of upconverters.

And yes, I think I've done one taped show in the last year; everything else is live.

Not trying to be a smart butt... What takes so long? We can change over the truck in less than a half hour if even that once the gear is all powered up. The EVS's are a simple config change, the cameras once up is a menu item, and the sync gens are a preset. The switcher follows suit and the GVEous is just another menu setting. The UP and Down Conv are changed over as needed.

I say four hours to clients so they don't get the idea that when I'm coming off a 720p show that they can walk in right after I flip the breakers and immediately go to work. If I'm not interrupted I could do it in 90 minutes.

Once we load the presets into both sync generators (and remembering to tell them that THAT's their new preset, since you'd hate for them to come up in the wrong flavor if you lost power!!) yes the Kalypso autoselects. Then we set the DVEous and reboot it for good measure, the Duets, all six EVS, make sure that the HDCAM and DVCPro machines are behaving (typically the older Panasonic machines need to be slapped and I always forget where the menus are). We CAN'T switch the cameras until after they have a head on them (LDK's), and I go thru and reset ALL the up and down converters simply because I've been burned far too many times by trying to do them on an as needed basis. That's 18 upconverters (a mixture of Sony and GVG - the menu system on the Sony's is mind-numbingly slow and the GVG are web based so they take awhile too) then go thru all the down converters (another 6 web based devices) then 8 frame sync/color correctors (yet again web based) and finally a MUX or two. Yes I have the Newton for all the GVG stuff but I find that if you start trying to do things too fast they crash so I just stick with the browser. Then as we bring the cameras up I have to go back and look at timing since the darn things shift ever so slightly between the two flavors. While we're at it we usually look at ALL timing since you never know how any particular silicon based device is going to wake up.

If I try and do all that while also playing IT God so that everyone can see if there's a new remark on their MySpace page or checking all their emails, troubleshooting why the TD's preset isn't talking CPL, setting up the DSS so that we can watch all the games we're not doing, explain the audio console, making sure that the EVS guys don't pave over the X-File drives that they either didn't pay for or I forgot to take out, programing the router, ADAM, tally-UMD system et al and patching the SHOW, I'd be more nuts than I already am!!!

And of course I have to take a couple of coffee breaks too!!

If I try and do all that while also playing IT God so that everyone can see if there's a new remark on their MySpace page or checking all their emails,

LOL! Man don't I know it. That's funny. We get the same thing. The truck could be going down in flames and they'd still complain if the internets down.

setting up the DSS so that we can watch all the games we're not doing,
And another thing too! I'm glad I'm not alone!

OK so with all that I agree. But the basic chage over seems like it's routine for you too!

PS Good thing the internets up right now or I would have missed your post! :D
Take care and have technically clean shows!

One thing that should be mentioned here is that while all these New Production trucks are being built there aren't as many HD satellite truck out yet. The Production trucks produce the show but if it is live it has to be beamed somewhere. I operate a satellite truck on a local station level and notice alot of the new hd camera gear crews are shooting with is being pushed back to SD level and sent out and restretched on the receiving end. Lots of money to reoutfit a perfectly good truck with all new encoders and switcher.

One thing that should be mentioned here is that while all these New Production trucks are being built there aren't as many HD satellite truck out yet. The Production trucks produce the show but if it is live it has to be beamed somewhere. I operate a satellite truck on a local station level and notice alot of the new hd camera gear crews are shooting with is being pushed back to SD level and sent out and restretched on the receiving end. Lots of money to reoutfit a perfectly good truck with all new encoders and switcher.

Yep - though in the UK fibre is replacing satellite for a lot of HD backhaul. Certainly football (aka soccer) coverage in HD is almost universally fibre back-haul, as are HD shows from the more popular venues.

You are right that HD uplinks for the less popular venues and new locations are needed - though in Europe they are becoming more widespread - though not at the News SNG end of the market. (The BBC and Alfacam both have HD uplinks, and the Beeb also have HD digital microwave stuff for terrestrial point-to-point stuff as well I believe)

Yep - though in the UK fibre is replacing satellite for a lot of HD backhaul. Certainly football (aka soccer) coverage in HD is almost universally fibre back-haul, as are HD shows from the more popular venues.

You are right that HD uplinks for the less popular venues and new locations are needed - though in Europe they are becoming more widespread - though not at the News SNG end of the market. (The BBC and Alfacam both have HD uplinks, and the Beeb also have HD digital microwave stuff for terrestrial point-to-point stuff as well I believe)

At least 80% of backhaul feeds in US use fiber. HD is probably in 95% range. Fiber is more reliable, has very little delay and is cheaper than satellite.

At least 80% of backhaul feeds in US use fiber. HD is probably in 95% range. Fiber is more reliable, has very little delay and is cheaper than satellite.

Yep - indeedy. The BBC use fibre for their main Washington/New York -> London news vision circuits these days - and the lack of delay is a major advantage on shows where one presenter/anchor is in the US and the other in London. (AIUI many US SNG lives are downlinked but kept in the MPEG2 domain in ASI format - piped in ASI to the BBC in London and then decoded and standards converted this end - to avoid decode/recode concatenation) All SD currently.

NEP ND4 scheduled to go online in June.

NEP ND4 scheduled to go online in June.

Given that it's got the ND in the truck name, I guess it's being used primarily for NBC?

From what I have heard it will pick up events that ND3 (NEP's primary NBC truck) cannot do because of NFL. That would mean Golf from August on and some other conflicting events that ND3 is unable to cover. It will also do NEP events when not used for NBC. So from the sounds of it the truck will do just about anything that it is needed for. It will be ND3s twin for the most part with a few exceptions.

Lyon Video now has 2 trucks (MU-6 and ME-7) - and they are building a 3rd (I'm assuming MU-8).

http://www.lyonvideo.com/main.html

http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/lyon-video-qustream-hd-truck-0608/

Mountain Mobile has three new HD trucks - 17 HDX-S, 18 HDX-S, and 19 HDX-S.

Their primary work will be for the Big Ten Network.

QVC has rolled out a new HD broadcast truck.

Eek.

Arctek Satellite in Minneapolis www.arcteksat.com has rolled out three new HD uplink trucks.

http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/hd-truck-small-productions-0409/

QVC has rolled out a new HD broadcast truck.

Eek.

Great this is the best post of the whole thread :rolleyes:

Crosscreek Television Productions, in Alabaster, AL, has selected a Calrec Sigma with Bluefin audio console for Voyager 8, its new HD production truck.

The company’s clients include ESPN, FOX Sports, Speed Channel and TBS Baseball. The new truck will be used primarily to cover National Hot Rod Association drag racing, but also for major league and college sports and live musical performances.

Source: http://broadcastengineering.com/news/crosscreek-tv-calrec-hd-truck20070810/

Mobile Television Group will roll out 20HDX - a new HD truck based in Houston, TX in late December 2007. It will be used primarily for Fox Sports Net Southwest.

I'm not sure if anyone included NEP SS11HD (http://guardian.nepinc.com/packages/ss11/index.php) in the count.....

TWO new HD trucks being built for Mobile TV Group - 21HDX and 22HDX.

They roll out early summer.