Grass Valley HD Centre Goes Live In 3D

A Grass Valley Kalyps high-definition Video Production Centre was used recently by mobile production company Game Creek Video to produce a live 3D multi-camera telecast of an NHL Hockey game.
It was broadcast from New York's Madison Square Garden, and for the first time, the signal of the game between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders was distributed to Cablevision subscribers throughout the New York metropolitan area with 3D television sets in their homes.
Fans in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden were also able to watch the production on a large 3D screen, which was provided by RealD using its 3D stereoscopic Cinema Processing System. Several other 3D sporting events have been distributed to large screens in specially equipped theatres have been produced with Kalypso HD switchers in the past, but consumers couldn't receive the signal.
With the advent of the new generation of 3D-capable HD sets, and frame compatible 3D distribution, this long-time goal has become a technical reality.
The 90 input/48 output Grass Valley Kalypso HD switcher was operated on board Game Creek's Yankee Clipper 53-foot HD production truck.
This truck was linked to a second Game Creek 'B' unit that housed all of the 3D processing equipment, supplied by 3D specialists 3Ality Digital (Burbank, Calif.). The company also provided its special camera rigs for the production.
The Kalypso HD is switchable between HD (1080i, 720p, and several 1080pSF formats) and SD (525-line and 625-line) formats, making it the perfect choice for production companies like Game Creek that work with a variety of clients with different SD and HD production needs.
The Kalypso HD includes a number of sophisticated technology advancements ideally suited to 3D production, such as Doubletake and bus linking.
Simultaneous to the historic hockey telecast, Game Creek also supplied a second HD production truck 'Legends' for the standard 2D MSG Network live broadcast.
The Legends mobile unit was launched in August of 2009 and is primarily assigned for the HD production of New York Knicks and New York Ranger games and carries a Kalypso HD Video Production Centre.
(BMcC/GK)