Liberty turned to Digital Video Group (DVG) in Mechanicsville, Va., to design, build and complete a full HD upgrade to its existing analog-only sports broadcast switching center housed in the university’s Vines Center, home of the university’s basketball team and other campus events. The university wanted a system that would provide high-capacity HD services, establish fiber optic connectivity, and centralize broadcast production and control for all the university’s multiple on-campus sports facilities.
“This was the perfect opportunity to establish Liberty’s HD production capabilities and vastly extend its on-campus reach, while simultaneously decreasing operational complexity, said DVG’s CEO Alex Martin. “Liberty University wanted a system that was robust, reliable, and, most of all, flexible. and we provided the best solution for all of those requirements.”
The project consisted of a design build as well as removal of the existing SD system and installation of the new HD system. The state of the art control room is housed in the Vines Center Arena on campus and also serves as the production control room for Williams Stadium for Football and other events as well. The system consisted of a Grass Valley 3.5ME K-Frame Production switcher and Dyno Replay System, Miranda Router and Multi Viewer, RTS Adam Intercom system, Chyron Mosaic XL character generator, Calrec Artemis audio console, Genelec SE 5.1 audio monitoring, AJA terminal gear, Harris and Tektronix Test and Measurement equipment, and DNF Tally management.
Sony HSC-300 HD Cameras were used through the project for both the Vines Center and Williams Stadium. Vinten Vector heads and tripods were used to support the cameras. An array of Fujinon optics including 66x and 88x box lenses were installed on the cameras. Video signals between stadium and the arena were carried over fiber utilizing Miranda/Telecast Cobra systems. Additionally Digital Video Group also included Sony HXCD70 cameras with Fujinon lenses at the LaHaye Ice Center for Hockey.
More information about this project can be found in this article from Government Video Magazine