Live extends its outside broadcast capabilities with Grass Valley super slo-mo cameras

The cameras will be integrated into the fleet of four outside broadcast trucks supplied to Live by Grass Valley in 2008.

The LDK 8300 super slo-mo camera is the only native switchable, multi-format HD camera capable of shooting at three times and two times normal frame rates for smooth slow motion replays, as well as at normal speed when super slo-mo is not required (3X/2X/1X).

The LDK 8300 is based on the popular LDK 8000 HD camera, which ensures that pictures precisely match, rich production values are available and technical quality is not compromised.

Abu Dhabi Media Company commissioned Grass Valley to build a fleet of four world-class HD outside broadcast trucks which comprised of two articulated trailers and two smaller units in fixed trucks. The delivery of the trucks enabled Live to launch and immediately lead the market in the Gulf for top-class remote production capabilities to broadcast the increasing number of local and international events in the region. The UAE professional football league involves Live covering up to six games each weekend.

The original build of the trucks included 34 LDK 8000 cameras. Delivery of the new order takes that total to 44 LDK 8000s, in addition to the four LDK 8300 super slo-mo cameras which are the first specialist slow motion cameras to be sold to the Gulf region.

Abdul Hadi Al Sheik, Managing Director and CEO of Live said, "We are leading innovation in HD production in the region and the super slo-mo cameras are perfect for capturing every nuance of the region's biggest sporting and cultural events in crystal clear detail. We are committed to elevating the standards of production in the region and that means investing in the most advanced equipment in the world. Grass Valley's high quality camera technology has allowed us to be the first production company in the region to offer remote HD production."

"Television, and particularly entertainment and sports, is a global business, and producers want to achieve the same production values and technical quality wherever they are," said Jeff Rosica, Senior Price President of Grass Valley. "We are proud that those production values and technical quality comes from Grass Valley equipment, and we are particularly pleased that our technical partnership with Live and ADMC is continuing to develop with these extensions to their capabilities."

The order, worth €2.9m, was placed in December 2008 and delivered by February 2009. As well as 10 Grass Valley LDK 8000 Elite cameras and four LDK 8300 super slo-mo cameras, the turnkey supply contract included six channel slow-motion servers for each of the four trucks, a selection of Canon zoom lenses (including 100X lenses), and pedestals and supports from Vinten.