TECHOLOGY FROM AEQ-KROMA AT THE FIRST EUROPEAN GAMES - BAKU 2015 13/07/2015
TECHOLOGY FROM AEQ-KROMA AT THE FIRST EUROPEAN GAMES HELD IN BAKU 2015, AZERBAIJAN
The 2015 European Games were held in Baku, Azerbaijan, between 12 and 28 June 2015. It was the inaugural edition of this multi-sport event for athletes from the European federations of athletics and with similar characteristics to the Games Pan American or Asian Games. These Games drew more than 6,000 athletes from 50 NOCs competing in 20 sports in 253 events held in their 15 respective venues and stadiums. The Spanish delegation finished in an outstanding tenth place ranking in the medal table with 8 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals.
International Sports Broadcasting - ISB – was appointed Host Broadcaster of the games and the producer of the multilateral signals for radio, television and internet and also the coordinator of all the broadcast unilateral services for the event. When appointed Host Broadcaster for the event, ISB selected AEQ and its engineering and consultancy company, Broad Services, as providers of numerous solutions for this major broadcast project.
AEQ contributed both with both audio and video equipment, with for example, digital audio mixing consoles AEQ CAPITOL as part of the commentary audio systems, communications with AEQ Phoenix VENUS and MOBILE deployed in most stadiums and venues. Also to be mentioned, AEQ provided a great quantity of broadcast monitors “KROMA by AEQ” used in the numerous technical operations centers. Further, AEQ provided consultancy, engineering and integration services for the broadcast telecommunications equipment in the technical operation centres at the venues. This equipment was housed in flight-cases designed to be ready for transport and allowing for the deployment and operation within minutes upon arrival at the venues.
The supply was completed with an AEQ DCS-10 Commentary System used for all “off-tube” booths at IBC. The system also rendered commentator service for the host organization for the news channels and direct feeds available during events for, for example, ASBU - Arab Broadcasting Union and English speaking Broadcasters.
For the broadcast telecommunications at the technical operation centers -"TOC’s”, that is, the equipment necessary for the transport and control of Multi- and Unilateral signals generated at the Venues, ISB trusted AEQ and its affiliate Broad Services with the task of the engineering, integration, installation, cabling and supply of 18 Fly-packs for these functions. Apart from the transmission and reception equipment using dark fiber for the HD Video and Audio signals, all systems were supplied with “KROMA by AEQ” 3G-capable Broadcast monitors in formats ranging between 9 "and 18.5".
AEQ also supplied a system capable of receiving signals from all the venues and distribute the signals both to the different production areas of ISB in the IBC, as well as to the different broadcasters at the IBC.
To optimize space and monitoring needs, the preferred and monitor deployed was the Quad-split QS7018. Apart from the functions of Quad-split, this monitor has a number of functions and measurement instrumentation that facilitates and simplifies an operation of this type.
Included in this equipment for the "TOC’s" and necessary for the communications, AEQ supplied ISB with 36 units of AEQ Phoenix VENUS dual channel IP audio codecs to create the circuits for technical coordination between the Venues and production control at the IBC. Another 5 units AEQ Phoenix VENUS were used to transport the program signal generated in mixed zones of the venues. The chapter of communications was completed with the AEQ Phoenix MOBILE, portable IP audio codec, as the commentary unit for each of the Venues fully equipped commentary positions.
The broadcast monitors “KROMA by AEQ” in formats from 9 "to 18.5" were present in all the studios, technical operation centers and production controls at the I Baku 2015 European Games.
Given the magnitude of the event, a technical team was sent to Baku by AEQ and was lead by the engineers Jennifer Suarez and Luis Hernandez, for all phases of installation, commissioning, training, operation supervision and technical assistance during the event.
