THE CUSTOMER
The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha is the first renovated venue to be ready for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Our customer was Midmac, one of the largest Qatari contracting organisations, and one of the delivery partners helping the Aspire Zone Foundation to get the facilities in the Aspire Zone sports complex up to scratch in time for kick-off.
THE PROJECT
Midmac commissioned Gravity Media – then branded Gearhouse Broadcast – to install an in-stadium broadcast system, enabling broadcasters to plug into the permanent on-site infrastructure from multiple positions to enable a variety of live productions.
Our team was tasked with the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the system, which had to be completed in time for the 2017 Emir Cup final that the 40,000-seat arena was scheduled to host.
THE APPROACH
Our solution comprised 51 wall boxes installed at various locations around the ground. Each of these boxes is connected to a central OB patch room – a solution that required some 131,200 metres of cable, including Triax, SMPTE, audio and single-mode fibre connection.
The location of the boxes needed careful planning to allow productions to be as flexible as possible, as the stadium is a multi-purpose venue used for both football and athletics.
Within the OB patch room, Gravity Media installed an Imagine Communications-based audio and video distribution infrastructure, as well as conversion equipment.
The work was carried out by our own team of skilled cable installation experts, and managed through our local office in Doha.
THE OUTCOME
The Khalifa International Stadium re-opened on schedule in May 2017, with a spectacular opening ceremony immediately before the final of the Emir Cup (Al-Sadd beat rivals Al Rayyan 2–1 on the night).
As well as the broadcast infrastructure, the stadium’s renovation also included the installation of a new roof that covers all seats, and innovative cooling technology to keep both players and spectators comfortable throughout the year.
The high-tech new stadium will host 2022 FIFA World Cup matches up to the quarter-final stage, as well as the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships.
THE CUSTOMER
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is the administrative body representing the national football associations of Europe, although several member states are based in Asia. Consisting of 55 national association members, it is one of six geographical confederations of world football’s governing body, FIFA.
UEFA organises and controls media rights to: the UEFA European Championship, UEFA Nations League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Super Cup.
THE PROJECT
In 2012, UEFA selected experienced broadcast solutions provider Gravity Media – then branded Gearhouse Broadcast – to undertake major work in preparation for its EURO 2012 tournament.
Gravity Media’s Project Solutions Division was tasked with the provision of 8 high definition technical facilities, based at each of the Technical Operation Centres (TOCs) located at 8 stadia utilised for UEFA EURO 2012™.
The project involved supplying the entire technical infrastructure at each TOC. Four stadia were situated in Poland; Gdansk, Warsaw, Poznan and Wroclaw and four stadia in the Ukraine; Kiev, Kharkiv, Lviv and Donetsk.
THE APPROACH
For such a popular, high-profile event, it was vital UEFA provided broadcasters at every venue with the latest in high-end technological advancements. The solutions provided had to be reliable and flexible, featuring fast interconnection and, for each broadcaster, the smoothest set-up process possible.
Gravity Media’s overall solution comprised of a total of fifty-six equipment racks across the eight venues – seven at each TOC.
Each of the 8 TOC facilities contained 128×128 Snell router, Harris glue products, Sony monitors, Tektronix waveform monitors, Evertz SPG’s and multiviewer and Riedel communications matrix.
The TOC racks were all built and tested at Gravity Media’s UK Headquarters prior to shipment to Poland and the Ukraine.
Commentary and Information Systems RF Distribution:
At each stadium, Gravity Media provided a ten-channel RF modulator system, amplifiers, mixers and RF splitters. This was to create commentary areas allowing for 80-100 commentators to broadcast live at the same time without interference.
In addition, Gravity Media provided RF feeds for the printed press positions for international media.
Cable Installation:
Gravity Media also provided the multilateral and unilateral cable installation for the entire UEFA EURO 2012™ tournament. The broadcast contract involved installing over 880 kilometres of cable across the eight venues in the host nations of Poland and Ukraine.
OUTCOME
Commenting on the project, Andre Nel, Broadcast Engineering and Technical Manager for UEFA TV Production said it was vital to provide broadcasters at each venue with the latest technological solutions to fit their production and technical operational needs.
“Moving between venues and fast reliable interconnection and set up is of the utmost importance to Broadcasters and Gearhouse Broadcast delivered these services to a very high standard and quality.”
THE CUSTOMER
The Qatar National Olympic Committee (QOC) is the national Olympic Committee representing the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar. Formed in 1979, the QOC was granted full recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1980.
THE PROJECT
Gravity Media – then branded Gearhouse Broadcast – in association with AV Tech – won the contract to upgrade technical infrastructure at four football stadia in Qatar. All four venues – Al Gharaffa, Al Rayyan, Al Sadd Sports Club and the Qatar Sports Club – are located in the capital city of Doha.
As the preferred supplier to the Qatar National Olympic Committee, Gearhouse Broadcast & AV Tech had previously completed a number of broadcast cabling and audio visual contracts at various sports arenas in Qatar. These included: the Aspire Tower and Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre, Qatar Sports Club, Al Arabi Sports Club, Al Khor Sports Club and the Al Wakrah Sports Club.
THE APPROACH
Along with the technical expertise and considerable local experience of the Gravity Media team, detailed logistical planning was key to ensuring successful project outcomes.
The stadia were all being upgraded from SD to HD – thus, the work required new cabling, wall boxes and technical equipment.
The upgrades involved installation of a total of 115 wall boxes across the four stadia, which were utilised with SMPTE hybrid fibre, HD video and audio and network cable.
Crucially, the equipment racks used for the upgrade were assembled in the UK prior to the installation phase and shipped to site pre-wired to all local termination panels. This meant only the wall box connectivity needed to be terminated on-site, which helped markedly speed up the installation process.
Harris distribution and conversion equipment was used, along with Tektronix video test equipment, Bel audio test equipment and Belden and Draka audio and network cable.
Gravity Media provided a supervisory management team of 12 Wireman, 16 riggers, a Project Engineer and a Project Manager. Each venue was assigned a dedicated installation team headed up by a Site Supervisor, who oversaw the pulling in of all cables from the TV Rooms to the correct locations.
OUTCOME
The HD upgrade across the four stadia took two months to complete. As planned, the four stadia were HD-ready in time for the start of the Asian Football Cup, hosted by Qatar in January 2011.
THE CUSTOMER
Dubai Sports City (DSC) is a multi-venue sports complex which also provides residential, retail, and recreational facilities. Developed by UAE businessmen Abdul Rahim Al Zarooni and Abdulrahman Falaknaz, the DSC community is built around five major sports venues in Dubai and is home to several sporting academies. Sporting venues at DSC include a rugby stadium and golf course, as well as the Dubai International Stadium, a 25,000-seat cricket stadium popularly known as the ‘Ring of Fire’.
THE PROJECT
Dubai Sports City relied on broadcast solutions specialists Gravity Media – then branded Gearhouse Broadcast – to devise, supply and install a high-performance, integrated broadcast system for its new, state-of-the-art cricket stadium.
Designed in association with the International Cricket Council (ICC) – now based in Dubai – the stadium is the jewel in DSC’s crown, and is known as one of the most high-tech of its kind in the world.
THE APPROACH
Gravity Media’s expert systems integrators ensured the installation design covered every area of the club, including the field areas, commentator rooms, the stand areas and press rooms.
The high-tech broadcasting network included a total of 37 wall boxes, along with 33 triax camera positions, 27 fibre camera positions, 53 video tie lines, 92 data tie lines and 136 audio tie lines, all of which use Belden or Draka cable.
Wall boxes were set up with triax camera positions and HD fibre camera positions so as to cater for High Definition productions.
To complete the installation, Gravity Media provided a crew of five Riggers, three Wireman, a Project Engineer and a Project Manager, as well as using some local labour.
OUTCOME
The HD broadcast cable and control room installation at Dubai International Stadium – known at the time as Dubai Sports City Stadium – was completed by Gravity Media’s expert team on time and within budget.
The entire broadcast infrastructure was built in just four weeks, which for a stadium that size, is an incredibly fast turnaround. Gravity Media’s accomplished team ensured it was all-systems-go in time for the stadium’s opening, on April 22, 2009.
THE CUSTOMER
M-Net is a South African pay-TV satellite broadcaster. Founded in 1986, M-Net currently operates nine channels, broadcasting both local and international programming. Genres include general entertainment, children’s series, sports and movies.
THE PROJECT
M-Net needed a reliable, flexible broadcast solution that would allow for faultless, high-quality coverage of sub-Saharan football matches. After a fully competitive tendering process, leading broadcast solutions provider Gravity Media – then branded Gearhouse Broadcast – won the contract to provide the South African network with three, eight-camera flyaway systems.
THE APPROACH
Known for providing tailored broadcast solutions specifically designed to meet individual client needs, the Gravity Media team focused on providing M-Net with flyaways that were flexible, reliable, and cost-effective.
Each kit consisted of Sony E30 cameras, a mixture of Canon lenses, a Sony DVS9000 production switcher, 2 EVS’s, inscriber graphics, a Pro-Bel router and RTS communications system.
Due to extensive lead times on Canon lenses, M-Net took the option to buy quality used box lenses from Gravity Media’s ex-rental stock.
Portability is key for flyaways, so the systems were designed to be robust and easy to rig and operate.
OUTCOME
Gravity Media’s vast prior experience and unrivalled technical expertise meant it was able to successfully deliver three state-of-the-art flyaway systems to M-NET – on time, and within budget.
The flyaways featured the most advanced equipment available at the time and allowed for easy transportation.
