When Atalanta met Manchester United at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo earlier this month, it marked the first time in Italy that a UEFA Champions League match was produced entirely in native 4K HDR-HLG. It was available to Sky Q subscribers in the country.

“Everything stems from the desire to always do something better and to go beyond the competition for quality and production workflow,” says Ivan Pintabona, CTO of production company NVP.

“We must not forget our great maturity in terms of production in the field. We started experimenting with native HDR in 2017 with the first 4K OB van in Spain for La Liga, then the complex production of this year’s Olympics.”

NVP created a production workflow for Sky Italia that was able to meet UEFA’s requirement to deliver in HDR but at the same time also in SDR.

In partnership

Pintabona explains: “We deployed 20 4K HDR cameras and a production stream designed to natively handle extended dynamic range.

“For the first time we were able to produce an international live broadcast entirely in 4K HDR HLG in Italy, guaranteeing an exceptional result, created by the Sky Sport production team with our full technical support.

“In general, HDR productions in Italy to date have been viewed with some caution, given that past experiences were not always entirely perfect. 4K HDR has been considered a bit risky as it was thought the quality was not fully perceived by the viewer. Extensive skills and knowledge are also required.”

Pintabona continues: “The delicate moment is in image management and compatibility between SDR and HDR, and the real risk is in the down mapping and up mapping between REC709 technologies and the REC2020 wide colour gamut.

“In other words, we are faced with a pure photographic question of colour spectrum, which in the change of format can generate visible differences in the rendering of colours, as unfortunately has already been seen at times on air.

“In practice, the whole workflow must be taken care of in a certain way without neglecting any part of the internal production chain, even the part that is not native HDR, for example the VAR or the GLT [Goal Line Technology] which are provided by UEFA in SDR.”

In this case, NVP created special conversion LUTs, studied and optimised for this type of event and that have produced faithful results.

Two feeds were guaranteed and were produced in optimal quality, starting from the master feed in HDR: a 4K HDR 2020 feed for Sky and a 4K SDR 709 feed distributed to 80 countries that have acquired the rights of the match. The same was done for HD.

Pintabona continues: “Given the very high penalties at stake and the related problems in case of approximate results, I can say that it was a great responsibility but at the same time also a great opportunity that we have carried out with great dedication and to the satisfaction of all.

“We are proud to be able to give this guarantee thanks to our great research and experience in the field.”

A truly enhanced workflow

In addition to the 20 cameras in the field, the production of the match was also enriched by the use of Vizrt’s Viz Arena augmented reality graphics solution, applied directly on the pitch, the adoption of FanCam with EVS XtraMotion to offer super-slow-motion replays with the aid of cloud-based artificial intelligence, and the panoramic images captured by a drone that flew over the stadium.

For the first time at such an event, a FanCam, a cinema camera capable of photographing images with a documentary look and feel, was used. It featured in the pre-match coverage but was also used on the field and the crowd by director Federico Fazzini, the production team, including Ferruccio Zanotti, Giorgio Antoniol and Tommaso Martini, and all the Sky staff.

Also new, the cloud-based EVS XtraMotion replay system is based on artificial intelligence which allows users to push some clips at 50 frames per second which are returned with interpolated replay at 150fps with very high impact images.

A state-of-the-art drone, meanwhile, was used to show the teams arriving and in pre- and post-match coverage.

Pintabona emphasises: “Sky has created a very open team on the pitch that has worked very well, and the director has enhanced our technical suggestions, approving our ideas and integrating them in the best possible way into the strict UEFA running order, demonstrating the will to make the most of the product and our skill.”

Field experience

Two OB vans were used in the production, OB7 for the host feeds and OB4 for the customisation for Sky, with integration always in 4K HDR WCG pre- and post-game.

All the cameras in the field were Grass Valley LDX 86N natively set in HLG in full range 2020 to make the most of their potential.

The Vans used the GV Kahuna Full Fusion 4 video mixer and GV Sirius 850 router also from Grass Valley.

The points of complexity were the conversion LUTs and the integration of the graphics provided by UEFA and produced by Deltatre, and that therefore were not directly controlled by NVP.

The mobile vehicles are equipped with XT-Via technology, the new LSM-Via panels and the XHub-Via network from EVS.

All operators could send clips to the cloud thanks to a 100MB bidirectional connection provided by Sky in the field, with a minimum delay of 10/15 seconds.

When it comes to audio, the match was broadcast in 5.1 surround, but enhancements are in the pipeline here too. Pintabona says: “For the audio, still under UEFA directives, we did not start with immersive audio, but it is promised for a date not too far in the future.

“Another point much appreciated by insiders in this adventure is that Sky worked in classic mode, that is, managing a product in HDR, which usually imposes all its typical problems of complexity, without any limits in operation.

“In fact, all the typical normal possibilities of Serie A or Champions League football productions have been exploited: this too is part of that already expressed concept of studying a workflow aimed at giving a new type of experience also at a production level.”

Pintabona concludes: “We have focused and invested a lot on these technologies and the market has found us ready.This event was the official launch and in the near future we will also implement some other innovative solutions in terms of augmented reality and for cameras.”

Source: svgeurope.org

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Thanks to all the crew for working hard and with enthusiasm to deliver a spectacular show! See you in 2022 for next competitions

#nvp #ferrariraces #xtramotion #virtualadvertising #ferrarichallenge

NEW YORK, NY, September 27, 2021 – Helbiz Inc. (NASDAQ: HLBZ), a global leader in micro-mobility and the first in its industry to be publicly listed on Nasdaq, today announced a multi-year partnership between Helbiz Media, the Company’s media arm and exclusive distributor of the Italian Serie B media rights worldwide, and HiWay Media, an innovative digital entertainment company. Through this agreement, HiWay Media will provide Helbiz with customized technology to deliver a seamless streaming experience of the Italian Serie B League to global audiences.

HiWay Media offers key connectivity technologies through its proprietary web application infrastructure and solutions. Through its strategic partnerships with leading international operators and providers, HiWay Media ensures unparalleled stability and security for live streaming distribution. The agreement with Helbiz Media marks another great achievement for the League, as it will bring the Italian B Championship to new markets, advancing international growth.

“This collaboration with Helbiz Media and HiWay Media will provide fans around the world with seamless streaming of all Serie B matches,” said Mauro Balata, President of B League. “We are proud of the work we are carrying out with both partners to continue expanding the League’s audience reach.”

“As the exclusive distributor of the Serie B media rights worldwide, Helbiz Media continues to experience rapid growth,” said Matteo Mammì, CEO of HELBIZ MEDIA. “Partnering with HiWay provides us with all technical and infrastructural needs to stream Serie B matches for seasons to come, ensuring it reaches a global audience.”

“At HiWay, we believe in a truly customer-centric approach and due to our scalable encoding and distribution technology, we are able to provide Helbiz Media with the opportunity to optimize their content delivery process to all the international Serie B licensees,” said Giuseppe Sampino, CEO of HiWay Media. “We are delighted to partner with Helbiz Media to distribute Serie B to millions of fans across the globe.”

ABOUT HELBIZ & HELBIZ MEDIA

Helbiz (Nasdaq: HLBZ) is a global leader in micro-mobility services. Launched in 2015 and headquartered in New York City, the company offers a diverse fleet of vehicles including e-scooters, e-bicycles and e-mopeds all on one convenient, user-friendly platform in 45 cities around the world. Helbiz utilizes a customized, proprietary fleet management platform, artificial intelligence and environmental mapping to optimize operations and business sustainability. Helbiz is expanding its urban lifestyle products and services to include live streaming services, food delivery, financial services and more, all accessible within its mobile app. Helbiz Media is an entity of Helbiz Inc. that was created with the dual mission of developing, managing and offering consumers audio-visual entertainment content, while serving as an advertising hub for the entire Helbiz group and its investors. Helbiz Media has acquired the OTT rights of the Serie B Championship for Italy for the next 3 seasons including 2021-2024. The content service, Helbiz Live, links the world of soccer and entertainment to micro-mobility thanks to Subscription + Cashback for mobility.

ABOUT HIWAY MEDIA

HiWay Media is an innovative and award-winning digital company founded in Milan, Italy, with the mission of helping media rights owners unlock the power of streaming. The company finalized a joint venture with leading production house NVP, combining efforts to offer end-to-end and cutting-edge solutions that simplify every step of the video life cycle: from streaming production to transcoding, digital assets management, content delivery, and OTT development. For more information visit https://hiway.media

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “plan”, “outlook”, and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements reflect the current analysis of existing information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations or projections. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: (i) the failure to meet projected development and production targets; (ii) changes in applicable laws or regulations;(iii) the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company and its current or intended markets; and (iv) other risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in other reports and other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Company. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the Company’s expectations and projections can be found in its periodic filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and amended on May 21, 2021. The Company’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to  Helbiz and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Helbiz undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Interview with Ivan Pintabona and Marco Micciché, NVP Italy

As the first service provider in Europe to embrace EVS’ new XtraMotion super slow-motion service, NVP is consolidating its position as a leading innovator in the market. We’ve caught up with Ivan Pintabona, NVP’s CTO, and Marco Micciché, NVP’s Head Content Manager, who give us some insight into their XtraMotion experience and explain how the cloud-based service is enhancing its offering. 

Officially launched in May 2021, EVS’ XtraMotion has already been making waves within the industry, due to its ability to create smooth super slow-motion images from any camera angle on a production using the power of artificial intelligence. Leading broadcast services company NVP has embraced the innovative service, as a way to enhance storytelling through a new approach to production. “What’s great about XtraMotion is that it gives you the opportunity to convert any point of view – according and proportionally to the camera speed – in a high-speed replay, and this, without any need for a specific hardware” Ivan Pintabona explains. “And because it is cloud-based, XtraMotion can be deployed on-demand, meaning no heavy upfront investments are required.”

“XtraMotion is a great storytelling tool that inspires broadcasters and boosts their creativity, and we are proud to be one of the first users”

MARCO MICCICHÉ, HEAD CONTENT MANAGER DI NVP

Along with US network FOX Sports, NVP was one of the first to see XtraMotion’s potential. “We conducted tests in March 2021 during the Ferrari Challenge for the finals in Misano, which produced amazing results. We are now using it for all Ferrari Challenge races and will do the same for the upcoming 2021 Canoe Slalom World Cup as well. XtraMotion is a great storytelling tool that inspires broadcasters and boosts their creativity, and we are proud to be one of the first users” says Marco Micciché.

NVP has also begun testing XtraMotion on football (soccer) productions and is eager to use it on many other future productions. “The demand for XtraMotion is increasing, as the service really has a clear impact on the final outcome. XtraMotion is ideal for the coverage of events on racetracks and other productions that require the use of specialty cameras, as it gives us the ability to create high-speed replays from angles you’ve never seen before” adds Ivan.

“The demand for XtraMotion is increasing, as the service really has a clear impact on the final outcome”

IVAN PINTABONA, CTO DI NVP

When asked if they plan to add more services like XtraMotion to their offering in the future, Ivan replies: “There’s real potential for cloud technologies in OB environments as they allow for the highest level of flexibility. Looking forward, it’s likely we’ll see more custom-built technical infrastructures that no longer require the installation of a dedicated position within the truck.”

“Our company has been working for a long time on cloud-based services and on interconnected infrastructures (both local and remote) in order to offer our customers the possibility to deploy remote workflows, reducing resources on site without compromising on the quality of the production”, he adds.

XtraMotion is one of several other innovative services that NVP is working on. When it comes to creating compelling content with the flexibility required in todays and tomorrow’s productions, the cloud-based service is proving to be a great asset: “This is an innovative and amazing project that will enhance the TV production with Supermotion and Hypermotion replays from different shooting angles. The images it delivers are truly spectacular!” Marco concludes.

Source: EVS.com

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Innovation and hi-tech solutions always at our clients’ fingertips.

Thanks to the Director Tommaso Rotolo and the Director assistant Fabrizio Iori for being so professional. Thanks to our highly qualified Content Area Manager Marco Micciché and to the Post Production Director Giuseppe Celi for their great work.

The inaugural SVG Europe Sound Talks event of 2021, Mixing Broadcast Sound, was a spectacular success, with nearly 100 participants present for the panels and Q&A sessions. In all respects, the calibre and number of participants, and the range of topics and debate, surpassed SVG Europe expectations.

In the first session, Thought Leaders Perspectives, Roger Charlesworth spoke with Henry Goodman, director of product development at broadcast console manufacturer Calrec Audio, and Rob Oldfield, co-founder and CEO at Salsa Sound, developers of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven automatic audio mixing tools for sports broadcast. The trio addressed the challenges of console virtualisation and remote working in live sports broadcasting from the toolmaker’s point of view.

Catalysts for change

An early part of this discussion was centred around catalysts for change in technologies and the idea that this was not a simple matter of COVID causing a move to remote working. It was agreed that the causes were more complicated and had actually been in play since well before the pandemic, with IP connectivity being a big factor, along with both logistic and creative motivations. However, it was also clear that the pandemic had been an ‘accelerating’ feature.

The session looked at several hub models that were in play for various broadcasters and varying tiers of sports production, including remote full audio transport or monitoring only with remote DSP, and even the possibility of distributed processing power from single DSP cores and how that feeds into the notion of processing becoming a cloud-based software service in the future.

Indeed, it was put forward that a move to cloud in the future was inevitable, though the challenges to audio manufacturers are substantial. However, the potential for streamlining services with multiple feeds in many formats, languages, viewer perspectives and so on is huge.

Trend towards remote working

The second session, Audio Insider Perspectives, was chaired by Alex Judd, technical specialist at Sky Sports, with contributions from A1 sound supervisor and audio guarantee Pete Mercer, A1 sound supervisor Emma Penny from Sky Sports, A1 broadcast sound engineer Alessandro Sdrigotti from NVP, deputy head of sound from NEP UK, Neville Hooper, and A1 sound supervisor Ian Rosam.

Up for discussion was today’s workflows for live football, and again this centred particularly around the trend towards remote working and the challenges that had been presented by the COVID pandemic.

The idea that remote working was already being rolled out across many sports and projects before any COVID influence was reiterated by the group, with several examples, such as Sky Sports’ Formula E and European Football League coverage. In fact, coverage of the broadcaster’s latest addition – Extreme E, the international off-road racing series – was a ground-up remote production from NEP UK based at a new purpose-built remote production facility in central London.

Audio transport solution

A number of new working practices for remote operations were discussed, including audio transport solutions and increased complexity in off-site connection, such as the need for many new additional comms lines and transport of individual pre-fade channels from site, which in turn required new managed media transport solutions. Other ‘adjustments’ including managing comms and IFB, particularly when it comes to onsite talent, who may well be feeling a lot more isolated with vastly reduced crew on site.

The challenges of virtual crowd noise were discussed, with interesting differences noted in approach by broadcasters and varying levels of acceptance in domestic markets, with some preferring no crowd noise, which brings new field-of-play mixing challenges, and others building their mixes from virtual crowd upwards.

In general, the participants felt that many of the adjustments and new working practices that had been accelerated by the pandemic would stay around even post-COVID. That fact many had already made the move to immersive content, with much of that mixed remotely anyway, and given other benefits such as environment gains, transport costs, time efficiencies and more, it was certain that remote production was a new fact of modern sports broadcasting and that maybe the remaining days for large onsite trucks and logistics were already being counted down.

The session ended with a Q&A segment with all panel members taking part. Questions ranged from the problems of mic positioning and confidence for remote operators, network audio transport protocols and efforts to standardise control protocols through the NMOS standard.

SVG Europe audio editor Paul Mac concluded the session, noting that creativity seemed to be at the heart of what broadcasters were up to at the moment, whether that was in pushing craft, or finding technological solutions, and that much that was pioneered to see us through the recent world health crisis would undoubtedly be shaping the future of broadcasting.

Many thanks to all participants, hosts and SVG Europe sponsors Telos Alliance and TSL Products, for making the event such a fantastic success.

SVG Europe

This has been a challenging year and we worked harder than before to achieve our goals, with passion and dedication.

We would thank you our staff, our clients and even our competitors to inspire us to do always more and better.

We are cheery with shining spirits and ambitions for the future.

May the 2021 bring you to achieve your dreams and aspirations.

Let’s cheers together to health, happiness, and prosperity in 2021.

• Golden Gala Women High Jump from the Olympic Stadium in Rome, last September
• Streaming Conference Call during the UEFA matches of Champions and Europa Leauge
• Serie C championship following the Ternana Team
• Winter Tour: on the road studio following the Skiing World Cup until the Finals in Cortina on the 21th March 2021, an unmissable date for skiing lovers
• Milano Boxing Night for Dazn from the Allianz Cloud in Milano last 17th December 2020
• The Serie A SuperLega volley 2020-2021

NVP will provide a third OBvan to OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services) for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2021 to enhance the equestrian competitions.

As OB 4 and OB 6, the third OBvan will provide productions in 4K HDR, as required by OBS to assure the highest resolution to a global audience.

The third OBvan is committed from the 24th July to the 8th August 2021 to broadcast the Equestrian competitions of Dressage and Jumping. Both take place at the Baji Koen park owned by the Japan Racing Authority. This beautiful park hosted the Olympic Games in 1964

Massimo Pintabona, CEO of NVP: “We can meet our customers needs thanks to high tech resources and to an ongoing expansion of the OBvan fleet. Producing the Olympic Games 2021, reinforces our leading position in the international broadcasting market.”