Ace coverage at Wimbledon from BBC WiScape’s DRC

At this year’s Wimbledon tournament, BBC Outside Broadcasts will be using two BBC WiScape Digital Radio Cameras (DRCs) to provide intimate footage of the top matches.
Digital wireless technology is setting new standards in sports broadcasting, with the latest systems increasingly used in preference to older, analogue cameras. Analogue cable-free TV cameras have been used for sometime in sports, news and outside broadcast coverage, however, the transmission technology used in these cameras can sometimes result in picture break-up. In addition, analogue cameras need to have constant visibility with aerial transmitters at all times, reducing the camera’s flexibility and limiting its range of movement to isolated areas.
The new DRC on the other hand is a roving, wireless system that transmits robust, high-quality digital pictures, and has a fast set-up time, reducing the number of operators needed to control the system. There will be five unmanned receivers at Wimbledon, which will allow the DRC to deliver unparalleled, in-depth coverage of the matches to viewers around the world – from capturing the excitement and activity of the crowd, the tension of the now famous Henman Hill and the presentation ceremony coverage of the winners receiving their trophies.
Robin Shephard, General Manager for BBC WiScape, a business unit of BBC Vecta said: “These cameras are revolutionising the broadcasting of sports events and are giving the viewers at home access to more exciting shots of their favourite sports. BBC WiScape is enabling viewers around the world to have a more personal experience watching Wimbledon and we are hugely looking forward to the tournament.”
The flexibility and ease of movement provided by the cameras will enable the production team to quickly deploy them around various parts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club to relay court side interviews and to soak up the unique atmosphere.
Developed by the BBC’s R&D team, the DRC is now commercially available through BBC WiScape.
The ability to be racked remotely, allowing the picture on all cameras to be matched, coupled with the stability of its picture output, makes the DRC perfect for use in multi-camera environments. This enables the action to be switched between cameras, cabled and uncabled, without any impact on viewers’ enjoyment.
With more than 200 outside broadcasts under the new DRC’s belt, the deployment of the latest radio cameras will bring this year’s tournament event to life delivering footage that puts the viewer at the heart of the whole Wimbledon experience.
(SP)