Gravity Media, a global leader in production and content and media services and facilities, has delivered broadcast and technology solutions for one of the Australian racing calendar’s marquee events, the TAB Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens, and now turns its focus to The Star Championships at Royal Randwick, both key highlights of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival features many of Australia’s most prestigious Group 1 races headlined with the TAB Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens on March 21, with attention now turned towards Royal Randwick for The Star Championships on April 4 & 11 featuring the celebrated Doncaster Mile, Asahi Super Dry TJ Smith Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Schweppes Sydney Cup.
Gravity Media is working in collaboration with the Sky Racing and the Australian Turf Club to deliver host broadcast services across the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, as well as with the Seven Network for Group 1 racing, while also supporting individual all-screens coverage requirements throughout the race days.
The production will see Gravity Media deliver a major broadcast operation across Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick, deploying combined 32 cameras positioned on and around the tracks, supported by state-of-the-art high-definition outside broadcast facilities, satellite and uplink services, along with cellular and cloud-based technologies.
Together, this infrastructure will capture every moment of the racing action for audiences across broadcast and digital platforms.
Sky Racing’s Senior Manager of Tech Services and OBs, Ryan Osinga, noted that the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival stands as one of the world’s premier racing series, deserving a world-class broadcast to match its prestige.
“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing collaboration with Gravity Media to deliver a comprehensive, all-screens experience for racing fans,” Mr Osinga said.
Australian Turf Club’s Head of Media and Broadcast, Brett de Vine, said the $46.1 million Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival is viewed around the world.
“Sydney racing is recognised as amongst the best and most colourful of anywhere in the world and Autumn sees some iconic events,’’ Mr de Vine commented.
“We are delighted to join with Gravity Media and all of our broadcast partners to present an exciting and dynamic coverage to many tens of millions of viewers around Australia and beyond.’’
Gravity Media’s Sales Director, Ben Madgwick, noted the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival is one of the standout moments on the Australian sporting calendar for Gravity Media.
“We are proud to collaborate with our partners on the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival to deliver thrilling, world-class racing to passionate audiences,” Mr Madgwick said.
Beyond the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, Gravity Media plays a significant role in the coverage of many of the world’s most recognised racing events across broadcast, subscription and streaming platforms. These include the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival including the TAB Epsom, Silver Eagle, TAB Everest, Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes, Golden Eagle and Chandon Ladies’ Day, along with The Big Dance, Howden Victorian Derby Day, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Crown Oaks Day and TAB Champions Stakes Day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup, Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas and Ladbrokes Cox Plate during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the TAB Gold Coast Magic Millions kicking off the year.
PRESS COVERAGE
Gravity Media, a world leading global provider of complex live creative production and media services, today detailed a significant partnership with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and the 9Network for the biggest-ever television production for the all-screen coverage of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Gravity Media has been appointed by the VRC and the 9Network to deliver the complex broadcast and technology solutions for the Australian and global television coverage across the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, encompassing Howden Victoria Derby Day, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Crown Oaks Day and TAB Champions Stake Day.
This will be Gravity Media’s 24th year in delivering host broadcast requirements for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
This is the second year of Gravity Media’s collaboration with Nine to deliver coverage of the Carnival beginning with live coverage of Howden Victoria Derby Day, Saturday 1 November on Channel 9 and 9Now, and continues through TAB Champions Stakes Day on 8 November.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival forms a key part of Gravity Media’s increasing commitment to innovation and technology and production delivery as a leading force in specialised broadcast services and facilitation.
Gravity Media’s production and facilities undertaking of all-screens coverage of major horse racing events in Australia sees the company pursuing new developments in broadcast technology and this year’s Cup will see Gravity Media take another significant step forward in its expanding broadcast partnership with Nine.
Gravity Media will deploy 56 television cameras covering Flemington Racecourse and around the track, in the mounting yard, the stewards’ and jockey rooms, and at the starting barriers.
The VRC will access three of Gravity Media’s high definition outside broadcast trucks coupled with cellular and cloud-based technologies and the broadcast and production capabilities at Gravity Media Production Centres in Sydney and Melbourne.
Beyond this host broadcast undertaking, Gravity Media is working closely with Nine to fulfil the specific and individual coverage requirements across each race day and will deploy the state-of-the-art UHD 11 outside broadcast truck, an additional 12 cameras, including four RF steadicams, and 4 EVS systems.
Gravity Media’s multi-faceted undertaking will involve a production and technology team of 75 for the Victoria Racing Club and 40 for Nine.
CEO of the VRC, Kylie Rogers said; “The Melbourne Cup Carnival is Australia’s most spectacular week of world class racing and entertainment, and it deserves world class broadcast coverage to match. We’re thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Gravity Media and work with our broadcast partner Nine Network for a second year. Together they bring unparalleled expertise, innovation and passion to showcase the excitement, colour and emotion of Flemington to millions of viewers across Australia and the world.”
Account Executive – Media Services & Facilities at Gravity Media, Marcus Doherty, commented; “We take great pride in partnering with the Victoria Racing Club and 9Network for this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival. Gravity Media is committed to delivering world-class production solutions that help bring this iconic event to audiences through exceptional broadcast coverage.”
PRESS COVERAGE
EMG / Gravity Media, a world leading provider of complex live creative and production and media services, today confirmed EMG / Gravity Media Australia’s broadcast and technology partnerships for the all-screens coverage of the next big events on the Australian horse racing calendar including the upcoming Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens and The Championships at Royal Randwick as part of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival across the coming six weeks encompasses many of Australia’s most celebrated Group 1 races, including the Golden Slipper, Doncaster Handicap, TJ Smith Stakes, the Sydney Cup and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
EMG / Gravity Media Australia, in a collaboration with Sky Racing and the Seven Network, has been appointed to deliver the host broadcast requirements for the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
EMG / Gravity Media Australia has also been signed by Sky Racing and the Seven Network to fulfil their specific and individual all-screens coverage requirements across each race day.
In a major undertaking deploying 35 cameras on and around the tracks at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick, and accessing state of the art high definition outside broadcast facilities, satellite and uplink facilities coupled with cellular and cloud-based technologies, EMG / Gravity Media Australia will capture every moment of every race day across the Carnival.
Ben Madgwick, Sales Director for EMG / Gravity Media Australia, said: “We take great pride in EMG / Gravity Media’s delivery of broadcast outcomes for the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and more broadly our strong partnerships with broadcasters and jockey clubs in delivering the greatest moments in horse racing each year.”
EMG / Gravity Media Australia’s undertaking for this year’s Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival further confirms its leadership in the delivery of broadcast outcomes for major horse racing events in Australia.
Beyond the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, EMG / Gravity Media Australia delivers many of the world’s best horse racing events across multiple broadcast, subscription and streaming platforms, including Derby Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day across the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Caulfield Cup, Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, and across the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival: the Epsom, Silver Eagle, Everest, Spring Champion, Golden Eagle and Ladies’ Day along with The Big Dance. EMG / Gravity Media Australia’s involvement in horse racing commences each year with delivery of the broadcast and technology requirements for the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.
Beyond its extensive commitment to major horse racing events coverage, EMG / Gravity Media Australia’s broadcast technology and production partnerships across major sports in Australia include the Australian Open and the Summer of Tennis, the A-Leagues, the Bathurst 1000 and Repco Supercars Championship, Cricket Australia, Tour Down Under, Cadel Evans Road Race, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Stawell Gift and Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
PRESS COVERAGE
EMG / Gravity Media Italy for tv production for three years in a row
The Palio of Siena is much more than a simple horse race. It is a unique event and a celebration of Sienese identity and historical tradition, an occasion for the city’s Contrade to display their pride and rivalry, and a way to honour the protectors of Siena, the Madonna of Provenzano and Mary of the Assumption.
The Palio is held twice a year, on July 2nd (Palio of Provenzano) and August 16th (Palio of the Assumption), in the Piazza del Campo of Siena, Italy. It is one of the oldest and most famous events, with a history dating back to the Middle Ages, with the first equestrian jousts already recorded around 1200 and with precise public registration of Palio races starting from 1633. Today, the race consists of three laps around the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, with 10 Contrade of Siena participating, each represented by a jockey and a horse with their own colours, emblem, and motto, competing in an exciting race.
Tickets for the Palio are in high demand and must be purchased well in advance. The event attracts almost 50,000 spectators to the city, considering the capacity of the nine sections of the square, the 53 stages set up for the occasion, and the terraces, balconies, and windows overlooking Piazza del Campo.
From Medieval History to Technological Innovation
EMG Italy has been covering the live broadcast of the two races for the Consorzio per la Tutela del Palio di Siena for three years. The event is broadcast live on La7, Canale 3, and Siena TV, two channels based in Siena, and streamed live on Gazzetta dello Sport, via website and app. During the days leading up to the race, Siena comes alive with presentation ceremonies to the city, the setting up of the square, and various test runs with the horses.
Anna Pasculli, Sales Manager of EMG Italy, says: “Given the layout of the city and the narrow streets of the historic centre around Piazza del Campo, we do not operate with a mobile unit on site but with a control room housed in flight cases, set up inside the foyer of the Teatro dei Rinnovati, with double access from Piazza del Campo. The general setup also includes two stand-up positions for the LA7 journalists who, on the edge of the track, traditionally called the ‘career’, comment on the final moments before the race begins.”
The square was recently wired with fibre optics, making the setup of all pre-production, television filming, and subsequent dismantling much easier and more efficient. Given the new arrangement, EMG Italy today only needs to make the connections from the TOC, the operational centre of the broadcasts where signals are monitored and distributed, to the control room and from the fibre points to the cameras, then maximising the directorial and spectacular value of the entire event.
Anna Pasculli continues: “With ten cameras, we cover the entire track, including two in special positions: one mounted in the Sala del Mappamondo and a Jimmy Jib on the terrace of Palazzo Sansedoni, headquarters of the Fondazione Monte dei Paschi di Siena. The crew we deployed to enhance this great event made of tradition, technology, and emotion is composed of 20 people.”
Sienese Celebration and Television Excellence
The Municipality of Siena and the Consorzio per la Tutela del Palio collaborated to wire Piazza del Campo with fibre optics to simplify any type of production aimed at audio-video transmission during the Palio or other events. Following an intelligent and non-invasive plan, the administration had already installed corrugated pipes for future use near the public lighting power points and the typical video positions for the Palio filming. This allowed, in a subsequent phase completed a few weeks before the July 2nd edition, to implement the project.
The non-invasive intervention involved the installation of 500 metres of micro cable with 48 single-mode optical fibres, 200 metres of micro cable with 24 single-mode optical fibres, six extraction and termination sockets with 12 optical fibres each, and the termination of the two cables in Piazza del Mercato. The new infrastructure has restored the aesthetic of the square, eliminating the unsightly cables that until last year were temporarily fixed to the terrace railings for a total length of about six kilometres. It also made the laying and removal procedures of these same cables obsolete, ensuring better decorum and greater safety during the setup of any future event.
The Consorzio per la Tutela del Palio
Fulvio Bruni, CEO of the Consorzio per la Tutela del Palio di Siena, states: “The idea of wiring Piazza del Campo had been conceived a long time ago to solve a problem that was raised every year, namely the laying of about six kilometres of visible cables that connected the control room to the camera positions following the races. Today, the passage through underground ducts has totally solved these problems and brilliantly respected historical, urban planning, and aesthetic constraints, integrating useful technology in an important historical context and in complete safety. This has allowed EMG Italy, chosen for the third consecutive time as the TV producer of the Palio di Siena, to arrive on site this year with the equipment only four days before the event and to connect everything very quickly.”
“As a Consorzio,” continues Fulvio Bruni, “we can boast an excellent collaboration with the television production structure of EMG Italy. Thanks to their competence and knowledge of our sometimes-stringent needs, we manage to improve the overall result of the product every year. We are very satisfied not only as a Consorzio but also as citizens because the Sienese see the images of the city, as well as the Palio itself, enhanced to the best possible extent.”
© 2024 Presspool PressOffice RobertoLandini
racing.com, Australia’s premier racing destination for live racing and news coverage, and Gravity Media, the world leading global provider of complex live creative production and media services, today detailed the broadcast technology and television production partnership that sees racing.com and Gravity Media Australia collaborate to create and deliver racing.com’s Australian coverage of this year’s Royal Ascot.
All five days of Royal Ascot are available on the racing.com broadcast and subscription television channels and for streaming to home televisions or on-the-go on devices through the racing.com app.
racing.com is undertaking the production and delivery of more than 20 hours of live coverage of the carnival from 10:30pm AEST across 20 – 24 June.
Building on an all-encompassing partnership for racing.com’s coverage of horse racing in Australia, Gravity Media Australia has been appointed by racing.com as its broadcast technology and facilities partner for Royal Ascot coverage and will access internationally acknowledged broadcast and production technologies designed and developed by Gravity Media.
The undertaking involves Gravity Media Australia and Gravity Media in London working in collaboration on the delivery of racing.com’s on the ground production requirements at Royal Ascot coupled with the complete overall production and delivery of racing.com’s coverage in Australia, accessing Gravity Media’s state-of-the-art production centres in Sydney and Melbourne.
Gravity Media Production Centre Sydney and Gravity Media Production Centre Melbourne – coupled with Gravity Media in London providing racing.com’s unilateral broadcast requirements at Royal Ascot – are combining to coordinate and integrate these elements with the global Royal Ascot broadcast feed, racing.com’s presence at Royal Ascot with renowned racing broadcasters Jason Richardson and Matt Hill, and also the delivery of the overall production of the complete broadcast at racing.com’s Royal Ascot HQ based at Gravity Media Australia in Melbourne.
Gravity Media Australia’s broadcast and technology for racing.com’s coverage of Royal Ascot accesses bespoke and proprietary Gravity Media cloud-based broadcast technologies to deliver and integrate racing.com’s presentation and commentary teams at Royal Ascot with live hostings and complete remote broadcast production in Melbourne. This complete production is then managed by Gravity Media’s Production Centre in Sydney for delivery across racing.com’s broadcast and subscription television channels and online and streaming platforms.
“We’re delighted to be able to join forces with Gravity Media to work on such an exciting project,” said Executive General Manager – Broadcast at Racing.com, Grant Hicks. “To be able to work with such a professional and talented team is a privilege and ensures we give ourselves every opportunity of producing the highest possible quality coverage of one of the great weeks on the racing calendar.”
Gravity Media Australia’s appointment as the broadcast technology and facilities partner for racing.com’s coverage of Royal Ascot builds on Gravity Media’s long partnership with racing.com.
Gravity Media is the broadcast and technology partner for racing.com with Gravity Media’s Production Centre Melbourne linked with Gravity Media’s Production Centre Sydney as the production hub for racing.com’s coverage of horse racing across Australia.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2022 was Gravity Media’s 21st in the delivery of broadcast and technology solutions across Derby Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day.
Gravity Media is also engaged for the coverage of the Caulfield Cup, Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate. Across the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, Gravity Media is entrusted with the Epsom, Silver Eagle, Everest, Spring Champion, Golden Eagle and Ladies’ Day along with The Big Dance. Gravity Media is also the broadcast and technology partner for the Magic Millions.
Gravity Media Australia
Gravity Media Australia’s acknowledged broadcast technology and production partnerships across major sports in Australia include the Australian Open and the Summer of Tennis, the Melbourne Cup and all major horse racing events in Australia, the Bathurst 1000 and the Repco Supercars Championship, the Bathurst 12 Hour, the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, the Tour Down Under, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Stawell Gift, the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Melbourne, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Crankworx Cairns, the FIM World Supercross Championship at Marvel Stadium, a partnership with Cricket Australia for the coverage of multiple cricket competitions in Australia and the delivery of broadcast and production technology requirements for coverage of the rapidly expanding and developing AFLW.
Through its studios, production, post-production, outside broadcast facilities and specialist camera technologies, Gravity Media Australia is currently involved with major production companies, television networks and pay television and streaming platforms in Australia across projects including The Voice, Australian Idol, Dancing with the Stars, The Masked Singer, Australia’s Got Talent, Would I Lie to You?, The 1% Club, Millionaire Hot Seat and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Gravity Media Australia’s post-production centre, Gravity House, plays a key role in the production of major international television productions across broadcast, subscription and streaming platforms, as well as movies from the Marvel Universe and projects from multiple US and international studios, and many of Australia’s leading independent film productions.
PRESS COVERAGE
The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous annual Thoroughbred horse race. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The event is held the first Tuesday of November and is known locally as “the race that stops the nation”!
This year, Gravity Media took the reins on the broadcast solution for Network TEN by providing outside broadcast trucks HD6, HD8, and HD9 for the massive event.
Gravity Media had an extensive crew working on location and provided equipment to accommodate the Racing Studio, Mounting Yard Studio, Front Lawn Studio, POV cameras, JockeyCams, and Jockey Interviews for the live coverage.
To find out how Gravity Media can help you with your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com
Gravity Media Australia (GMA) has a globally award-winning suite of wearable, miniature transmission devices that are helping revolutionise coverage of live sport. The speciality unit, Globecam™, allows creation of new ways of fan engagement and live action experiences with breathtaking footage captured using tiny wearable cameras. The smallest and lightest devices of their kind, Globecam™ uses the very latest in low latency digital mini-link technology, integrated with bespoke designed devices to deliver amazing pictures from the heart of the action.
The added unique features include everything from mechanical stabilisation to remote colour correction to help you keep your footage crisp, clear and vibrant – to mount them on players, referees, umpires, jockeys, bikes or race cars to capture incredible live action footage that will have viewers on the edge of their seats and coming back for more. Adaptable to sporting code guidelines and the requirements of any event, Globecam™ has already been used at major events including the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Spring & Autumn Racing Carnivals, all Grand Slam tennis tournaments, Supercars, Indian Premier League cricket, UK T20, The Hundred, BBL and many more.
Globecam™ was a 2013 IBC Innovation Award finalist in Amsterdam. In 2014 it won the Sportel Innovation Award and the Australia Subscription TV award for innovation. The same year, it ranked 19th in the Business Review Weekly Innovation Awards for R&D for these customised, wearable miniature camera transmission solutions. Premium global brands such as Fox Sports in both Australia and the United States and Sky Sports in New Zealand and the UK, as well as all the commercial television networks in Australia, have used our award-winning technology to wow their audience and deepen fan engagement.
To snapshot recent events, Live JockeyCam has been used in action for horse racing on Seven Network for the Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday 30th October, and will be used again at the Golden Gift at Rosehill on Saturday 6th November.
The Live JockeyCam was also for the Network TEN coverage for the start of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington – Derby Day on Saturday 30th October and for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 2nd November. It will be back in action again for Oaks Day on Thursday 4th November and Saturday 6th November.
To find out how we can support your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com
On Saturday 09 October, Gravity Media provided outside broadcast facilities for the CH7 Sport coverage of the Spring Champion Stakes 2021.
The Spring Champion Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of 2000 meters at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia with a total prize money of $1 million AUD.
Gravity Media provided our outside broadcast truck HD 1, multiple cameras on-site, studio and location audio solutions, and crew for the event. HD 1 is a custom built, double expanding semi-trailer that supports 24 HD cameras, with up to seven vision operators, eight Replay operators, and an OB supervisor position. It can accommodate 27 staff in high tech, climate-controlled comfort.
To find out how we can help with your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com
Over the weekend of Saturday 09 October, Gravity Media provided CH7 Sports with a broadcast solution for the Caulfield Guineas 2021 horseracing event at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.
The Caulfield Guineas is an enormous event on the racing calendar, held annually as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The race is run over 1600 meters for three-year-old horses and is considered one of the pre-eminent three-year-old races in Australia, with a total prize money of $2 million AUD.
For the event, Gravity Media provided our Outside Broadcast truck HD 10, complete with multiple camera coverage, studio and on-the-ground audio, along with EVS and crew. HD 10 is our purpose built, ergonomically designed, single expanding semi-trailer. It supports 24 HD cameras, with up to seven vision operators, eight Replay operators and an OB supervisor.
To find out how we can help with your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com
Over the weekend of Friday 01 October, the Gravity Media team from France was on site at the Hippodrome Saint-Cloud Racecourse and the Hippodrome de Longchamp to mark the biggest horse race of the year and the 100th anniversary of the world’s greatest horseracing competition – the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The team worked alongside Alkass TV Sports Channel from Qatar as they supplied them with production equipment including Gravity Media’s production pods, cameras, audio, and commentary solutions.
Gravity Media’s Production Pods are designed for teams looking for a robust, self-contained, rapid-response HD production solution, we’ve developed a unique suite of interconnected and pre-integrated broadcast and production pods. With designated units for Audio, Production and MCR, these pods offer all the features of an OB vehicle in uniform, portable containers that can easily be transported by plane.
To find out how Gravity Media can help with your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com
Over the weekend, Gravity Media’s satellite uplink fleet in Australia beamed Racing live from far flung locations, from the east to the west of the wide continent that is Australia.
On the east coast, the harness racing took place at Wedderburn in country Victoria and thoroughbred racing at Donald. Three thousand kilometres away, on the west coast thoroughbred racing occurred at York and further towards the Nullarbor, thoroughbred racing at Kellerberrin.
Gravity Media’s state of the art DSNG (digital satellite) HD uplink fleet is constantly traversing the country, covering live sports, entertainment, and events. The largest fleet of its kind in Australasia, the state-of-the-art vehicles are built to travel long distances in rugged conditions, for our skilled broadcast engineers to beam live audio and vision from remote locations for premium customers.
To find out how we can help with your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com
The Seven Sport Pointsbet Autumn Wagering records for horse racing has wrapped for the season at Gravity Media’s Production Centre in Sydney.
Hosted by Brett Finch, Pointsbet provide the fixed odds markets for the Autumn Racing Carnival in Sydney & Melbourne. Comprising of 32 Group One races, the Autumn Racing Carnival consists of some of the best thoroughbred racing in the world between February and April each year.
Gravity Media provides studio facilities complete with green screen, technical support, autocue and makeup for the hostings each Saturday. Our MCR team on-pass the program directly to the Seven Sport Network.
For more information on how Gravity Media can help you with your next production, please email enquiries@gravitymedia.com.
