EMG / Gravity Media Italy reaffirms its leadership in live sports content production and distribution by taking on the role of Executive and Editorial Producer for the Winter Universiade Torino 2025.

The event, scheduled from 13 to 23 January, includes comprehensive coverage of all competitions, including the opening and closing ceremonies.

Live Production: A Multi-Faceted Commitment

Leveraging extensive experience in winter sports productions, EMG / Gravity Media Italy has deployed a high-level technical and organisational service, ensuring live coverage of all disciplines featured in the official programme of the Torino 2025 Universiade.

The disciplines covered include alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, slopestyle, moguls and aerials, figure skating, speed skating, curling, and ice hockey. Live productions have been concentrated in the competition venues selected by the WUG2025 Committee, with a significant commitment at Pragelato Rua for the biathlon, where the Orion 209 mobile unit has been deployed.

The Orion 209 from EMG / Gravity Media Italy is an advanced mobile unit dedicated to high-definition audiovisual production, designed to meet the demands of complex live events. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, it supports multi-camera production, IP connections, and UHD-HDR broadcasting. Thanks to its modular design and extensive operational capacity, Orion 209 ensures flexibility and quality for sports productions, concerts, and television broadcasts.

The unit stands out for integrating cutting-edge solutions that optimise the management of audio and video signals, both in traditional configurations and remote production (REMI) environments. Additionally, drones have been introduced to enhance footage of the biathlon and the closing ceremony, providing unprecedented and immersive angles.

The Operational Team

“The operational coordination,” explains Davide Furlan, Project Manager for EMG / Gravity Media Italy’s production of the event, “involves a high-profile team comprising six Unit Managers dedicated to the competition venues, coordinated by me at every stage of the project. The team is further strengthened by the involvement of around 220 freelancers, reflecting the logistical and production complexity of an event of this scale.”

“A key aspect of EMG / Gravity Media Italy’s commitment,” Furlan continues, “is the technical and editorial consultancy provided to FISU to optimise the live coverage of competitions. Thanks to our expertise in winter sports disciplines, we have successfully translated FISU’s specific competition requirements into effective and high-quality production solutions.”

International Distribution: A Global Network Supporting FISU TV

Beyond live production, EMG / Gravity Media Italy has also managed the international signal distribution from its MCR in Cologno Monzese, dedicated exclusively to FISU TV. This service, previously tested during the 2023 Winter Games in Lake Placid (USA) and the 2023 Summer Games in Chengdu (China), is a model of efficiency and scalability.

The MCR operates an advanced cloud-based platform capable of managing up to 8 Main + 8 Backup live input feeds, ensuring a potentially unlimited number of output streams. For the Torino 2025 Universiade, nine international broadcasters are involved as takers, highlighting the event’s global appeal.

EMG / Gravity Media Italy’s collaboration with FISU also extended to the management of its International Broadcast Centre (IBC), hosted at the EMG / Gravity Media Italy facility in Cologno. Here, an EVS operator, a technical manager, and a media manager have overseen the control and delivery of content to FISU’s Media Hub.

The FISU production area included:

• One coordination and production workstation for FISU’s Head of Production.
• Three editing rooms: two for editing and one dedicated to news.
• One taker coordinator for managing outgoing signals.

To ensure continuity and precision at every operational stage, the EMG / Gravity Media Italy team assigned to Cologno included a producer/general coordinator, supported by five MCR operators, an MCR supervisor, two technical supervisors, and three IT engineers.

An Innovative and Reliable Production Model

EMG’s integrated approach to the Torino 2025 Universiade highlights the company’s ability to manage complex projects, combining technical expertise, cutting-edge technological solutions, and structured organization. The synergy between live production and international distribution strengthens the relationship of trust with FISU and international partners.

© 2025 Presspool PressOffice RobertoLandini

More than 125 hours of live tv production planned for 11 days of competitions

Milan, 10 January 2025 – There are just three days to go until the opening ceremony in Turin, which will kick off the XXXII edition of the ‘FISU World University Winter Games’ (scheduled in Piedmont, Italy, from 13 to 23 January 2025).

The World University Winter Games, an event historically under the aegis of the FISU (International University Sports Federation), will be held in Piedmont, involving not only Piedmont’s capital city but also five other municipalities (Bardonecchia, Pinerolo, Pragelato, Sestriere and Torre Pellice). More than 2,000 student-athletes from 57 nations will compete in 9 different winter disciplines during the 11 days of competitions.

The international event

More specifically, Turin’s Palavela will host the short track and figure skating competitions, while the women’s ice hockey tournament and the men’s semi-finals and finals will be held on rink 1 of the PalaTazzoli (also in the Piedmont capital), in addition to the men’s and women’s curling tournaments on rink 2. The men’s hockey preliminaries will be held in the arenas of Torre Pellice (municipality of the metropolitan city of Turin) and Pinerolo, while the municipality of Bardonecchia will host alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding. Pragelato will host biathlon, cross-country skiing, and ski-orienteering competitions, while the spectacular discipline of ski mountaineering will be staged on the slopes of Sestriere.

Then, for the first time in the history of the Universiade (starting with this XXXII edition), able-bodied student-athletes and para student-athletes will compete on the same slopes in the disciplines of alpine and cross-country skiing (Standing, Sitting and Visually Impaired categories).

A strategic collaboration

EMG Italy, part of the EMG / Gravity Media group, leader in broadcasting and media production services at national and international level, confirms its support to FISU. In this new edition of the Winter Games, it aims at guaranteeing a high level of production and quality of the final product, to attract the largest number of winter sports enthusiasts (replicating what was already a positive success at the last event held in Italy, the 2019 Naples Summer Games).

Also,  for Torino 2025, EMG / Gravity Media Italy will act as the service provider selected for the supply of the broadcast media, all the directors and assistants for the sports coverage of all disciplines, as well as the specialised personnel and logistics (for the entire coverage of the event). The EMG / Gravity Media team will also provide live graphics services, time keeping (in cooperation with its partner Microplus) and the production of the event’s official opening title sequence.

Part of the strategic success for this TV production, is the distribution of the international ‘feed’, intended for rights holders, based at the TOC held in EMG / Gravity Media’s Italy’s Broadcast Center in Cologno Monzese (Milan). Finally, the Lingotto in Turin will host the MOC (Media Operation Centre) facilities.

Production commitment

EMG / Gravity Media Italy, in conjunction with this international multi-sport event, will field 150 professionals in different crews covering all indoor and outdoor venues. Six Unit Managers and a Project Manager are expected to coordinate all the activities necessary for the various live television productions of the Winter Games.

In total, the production schedule will include  over 125 hours of live coverage, guaranteeing rich coverage across all the event phases.    Allowing audiences to fully immerse themselves into the action, the use of drones is planned for   events,  including the Biathlon races and the Closing Ceremony. EMG / Gravity Media will also provide FISU with strategic advisory services, given its many years of experience in winter sports production and distribution.

Claudio Cavallotti – Managing Director of EMG / Gravity Media  Italy says: ‘Working closely with FISU, we have been engaged for several months in organising the TV production of the Winter Games, i. After the positive experience gained during the summer edition of Naples 2019, an even more impressive technological effort is planned for Torino 2025. In addition to this, as with all sporting events, we want to guarantee a high level of production and high quality final product, with the support of a team of highly experienced professionals. We aim to confirm EMG / Gravity Media Italy as a reliable partner for FISU, with the help of the most advanced technologies currently in the market’.

Key industry players collaborate for top-tier Serie A coverage

The San Siro Stadium was chosen for a pivotal test on the feasibility and quality of 4K UHD in live sports production, using a new setup. For the first time in Serie A, the Milan-Udinese match on Saturday, 19th October featured two Hitachi UHD7000-S11 cameras, part of a full 4K UHD production chain in Rec. 709 standards. This innovation introduced new viewing angles compared to traditional shots, leveraging the Hitachi 4K UHD cameras.

The Team

This trial was achieved thanks to the collaboration of multiple companies, each playing a crucial role in coordinating efforts to reach the goal. Milan, as the producer of home matches, worked alongside Lega Serie A, which authorised and supervised the project, managing Serie A production from the IBC in Lissone.

EMG Italy, responsible for the match and several Serie A productions, deployed its flagship mobile unit, the Nova 128, along with a production team. CVE, importer of Hitachi and Domo Broadcast Systems products, contributed with camera equipment and an RF transmission kit from the two respective brands. This integration of technology and expertise allowed for a successful test of 4K UHD in a high-level sports environment.

The Setting

San Siro Stadium, recently upgraded with a fibre optic infrastructure by EMG Italy, provided the ideal setting for this trial. One of the two Hitachi cameras was shoulder-mounted, allowing extensive movement along the left touchline and offering goal-line shots in RF mode. An embedded Domo Broadcast system in the camera transmitted an HEVC 1080p signal, received by a set of antennas and then routed via fibre optic to the mobile unit. The second camera, using a standard SMPTE chain, recorded UHD footage and relayed it to the EMG Italy mobile unit’s CCU. Strategically positioned at 45° along the length of the field near the benches, this camera was mounted on a tripod for optimum coverage.

EMG Italy CTO

“The test yielded very positive results,” says Francesco Donato, CTO of EMG Italy, “both for image quality and fluidity, perfectly integrated into our OB Truck Nova 128 workflow.”

General Manager of CVE

“Hitachi,” emphasises Mauro Contursi, CVE’s General Manager, “has long offered a proven studio broadcasting technology, but this is the first time in Italy that we have been able to showcase the HD7000 cameras in the field during Serie A. The 4K UHD solutions proved perfect for live broadcast, with one camera, in particular, used wirelessly thanks to an integrated transmission board developed by Domo Broadcast Systems.”

Optics

“Both lenses selected were FUJINON,” comments Francesco Spisti, Head of Sales & Marketing at Fujifilm. “We opted for a UA107x8.4BESM-T45 box lens, balancing focal range and performance, mounted on the SMPTE camera. The shoulder camera used a UA22x8BERD-S8 ENG lens, ideal for realistic, high-quality 4K video production. Both lenses included full servo controls for precise zoom and focus.”

Head of production

“Using a shoulder camera in constant motion across the field,” says Giacomo Gatti, Head of Production at EMG Italy, “usually strains compression systems, producing artefacts. However, the Hitachi camera handled the stress well, delivering image quality without visual interference. Moreover, the RF section must ensure stable transmission in motion, which is not always the case. Here, the camera maintained signal stability, even within the tunnel, which other RF links have struggled with. The tunnel, symbolising the final moments before match kickoff, proved to be no issue for the embedded Domo Broadcast board in the Hitachi 7000, showcasing remarkable reliability. This gives directors greater operational confidence. Additionally, we managed colour control remotely via the panel, even for the radio camera, allowing video parameter adjustments directly over the radio link.”

Carlo Maria Di Tullio concludes: “As self-producer for our Campionato and Coppa Italia matches, AC Milan remains committed to advanced broadcasting technology to continually enhance the quality of content and viewing experiences for fans. In a competitive Serie A landscape, technological innovation is essential to deliver broadcast experiences that meet modern expectations with increasingly engaging, interactive content. The San Siro trial aligns perfectly with AC Milan’s vision of consistently exploring solutions from advanced cameras, immersive graphics, and real-time analytics to AI and machine learning to optimise production and workflows. These innovations aim to deliver a top-tier TV experience, aligning with the needs of today’s fans who expect highly interactive, customisable content accessible on multiple devices.”

© 2024 Presspool PressOffice RobertoLandini

The Australian Summer of Tennis is well underway with the Gravity Media crew across the ATP Cup, the Adelaide International Tournament, the ATP Summer Series and the Australian Open qualifiers all leading up to the Australian Open which begins next week!

Gravity Media has kick-started Australia’s summer of tennis by supplying outside broadcast trucks HD 5 and HD 6 at the ATP Cup in Sydney and HD 9 at the Adelaide International Tournament.

The ATP Cup brings together the sport’s best players competing as a team, hosted across two venues in the Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park and the Qudos Bank Arena. Adelaide is hosting two ATP 250 events during the 2022 Australian summer. The first was the Adelaide International 1, which was played Monday 3 to Sunday 9 January and the second is the Adelaide International 2, played from Monday 10 to Saturday 15 January.

The Gravity Media team then went on air for a week with the ATP Melbourne Summer Set Series. From Monday 3 to Sunday 9 January, the team covered matches at Melbourne Park across Rod Laver Arena and seven other courts, capturing the action from two WTA events and one ATP 250 event.

All eyes were then on the Australian Open qualifying matches which commenced on Monday 10 January. Gravity Media was across 12 courts as the team captured Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray amongst others as they compete for their spot in the Australian Open main draw!

The Grand Slam season starts off at the Australian Open, where fans come together for stellar tennis, as players from around the globe participate in the first of four Grand Slam events taking place this year, which Gravity Media will be delivering the coverage of.

There is a team of over 150 people employed by Gravity Media across the Australian Open who continue to work in difficult COVID circumstances making this project all the more commendable. We’re immensely proud of our team on the ground and the sacrifices they’ve had to make.

At Gravity Media, tennis is in our DNA. We’ve been active in the market for over three decades, and we’re fans of the game as much as broadcast and production partners. To find out how we can help with your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com

John Williams, Director of Media Services & Facilities and Hamish Harris, Technical Project Manager at Gravity Media, caught up with Sports Video Group to discuss Gravity Media’s responsibilities at this year’s US Open.

John and Hamish talk on the challenges of this year’s tournament with an international production team due to COVID-19.

The SVG article is available to read in full here and to find out more about Gravity Media can help you with your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com 

Kevin Moorhouse, our Project Manager and Hamish Harris, our Engineer in Charge of the Australian Open and Technical Project Manager at Gravity Media caught up with SVG Europe to discuss Gravity Media’s responsibilities at this year’s Australian Open.

They discussed the enduring quarantine, rights holders working remotely, adapting to new times to rising airfreight costs hitting budgets hard due to the global pandemic!

International crew began arriving in Australia from early December in order to complete a tough 14-day quarantine, which was a challenge in itself.

Gravity Media’s staff worked split shifts throughout the tournament, and beforehand. The tennis started daily around 10am with the first short of workers coming in at around 8am to prepare. However, for those on the late shift, while work officially ended at 1am to 2am, highlights packages that need to be created often meant that work ended around 4am.

By the time the event is derigged, Gravity Media’s crew will have completed 3,300 total days working on site for the Australian Open!

The SVG article is available to read in full here and to find out more about Gravity Media can help you with your next production, email enquiries@gravitymedia.com   

A joint UK/Australia team from Gravity Media is currently hard at work in Melbourne, Victoria, helping to deliver this year’s Australian Open (AO) tennis. The first Grand Slam of the year has been pushed back from its traditional mid-January start date to allow hundreds of players and organisers to complete 14 days of quarantine before their role in the tournament begins.

Among them has been a combined Gravity Media team of 26 full-time staff and additional freelancers, many of whom have been in Australia since November 2020. The country has one of the most rigorous quarantine systems globally, which has affected all overseas crew making their way to the venue – some of our people have spent 80 days away from home, working seven days a week after their quarantine fortnight to get Melbourne Park ready for broadcast.

This year, it’s as big an operation as ever, if not bigger, with large numbers of crew from multiple organisations coming together for the job. The stats are impressive: 

• 14 staff from Gravity Media in the UK
• 12 staff from Gravity Media in Australia
• 75 crew working for the tournament organisers
• 27 crew working for the AO’s key broadcast partners
• 2,562 total days worked on the Host project alone
• 322 quarantine days completed by overseas staff. 

In total, there are nearly 100 people onsite employed by Gravity Media, and over 3,000 total days worked. When we add in quarantine, it’s over 3,300 days. We’ll be broadcasting hundreds of hours of play over the 22 days of transmission, and we’re doing it while a global pandemic still has the world in its grasp. 

What’s more, the team has actually been on-air since 31 January, providing coverage for the first of the AO warm-up tournaments also being held at Melbourne Park. It’s the biggest ever lead-in to the Aus Open, comprising the Melbourne Summer Series (three WTA 500 events; two ATP 250s) and the ATP Cup, so it’s been a busy few days for the team already. 

The Australian Open is one of the biggest projects Gravity Media takes on in any given year, and to deliver it in these difficult circumstances is all the more commendable. Although we’re immeasurably proud of our team on the ground and the sacrifices they’ve had to make, we’re equally proud to say it’s not uncommon. Commitment like this is demonstrated week in, week out by our people, helping cement Gravity Media’s reputation for remarkable client service and flawless delivery. We hope this year’s Australian Open is a belter.

Following the huge success of Round 3, outside broadcast truck Pictor was on the road again this weekend, this time at Millwall Football Club for the host broadcast of Millwall vs Bristol City and then at Fulham for the host broadcast of Fulham vs Burnley in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. 

These matches were two of 16 world feeds Gravity Media produced for The FA across the round, managed by the Gravity Media team at The Production Centre, London. 

In total, the team produced four outside broadcasts, 16 world feeds for rights holding broadcasters along with highlights shows, and digital clips for huge worldwide audiences.