Olympics 2012: Live Coverage

It's only an .xml (or similar) string, it can be stuffed in a transparent data packet in the main programme feed stream.

Though distributing those can be tricky if you leave the HD-SDI domain. Are you suggesting using VANC or similar?

Yes. It's only likely to be used (or usable) from the venues, and within the IBC, and delivered to the broadcaster site there.

I agree, to provide an international feed of data and clean video, via third party telco circuits, to an overseas broadcaster with no IBC presence, would be full of hazards !!

One thing that is increasingly happening is that studios and feeds are co-ordinated at the IBC, but all fed back to home countries via telcos for production back at base. (Similar to the way the BBC does the Winter Olympics) SVT and NRK are apparently backhauling all their IBC studio cameras separately to Stockholm/Oslo, along with their multilateral feeds. Suspect co-ordinating graphics as well would be a step to far.

The other issue is that it would be a HUGE design job. Football is easy - there are only a few scenarios to design for. Can you imagine commissioning a full set of your own bespoke graphics for the number of events that the Olympics include?

Yes, Stockholm facilities company, 24/7 showed a system at IBC (the Amsterdam broadcast equipment show, not the place in East London at present ) last year, where several camera feeds could be sent back to base, with all the racking done there too. The latency was incredibly low, low enough to feel as if you were in the same room as the CCUs. Their demo had the OCPs at Amsterdam, the cameras and CCUs in Stockholm.



Surely it's only the font/colours/style that's being customised, the position of each element on the screen, would be the same ? It's a bit like different internet browsers rendering the same content ? You could try and get clever and write code to translate key words into the local language ?

If you go for XML feed route then it's a full design job surely - you're getting basic data, not layout information.

You then need to design a style, templates to populate, then probably your own flags / country rendering, event iconography etc. Otherwise what's the point in doing it? OBS may provide the basic templates for the host broadcast style - so that you can match your own graphics to the same style should you wish - but it's still a pretty big job.

Are all the graphics in English only or do they offer them in other languages too?

Think they are in English only - don't think there are multiple feeds of each event with different graphics. There may be alternative graphics sets for use online that have different languages - but the OBS feeds are English.

OBS operate the International feed that operates with English graphics but they do alternative feeds in Arabic & Oriental languages for Eastern & Middle East audiences but this is only available to selected broadcasters (e.g Korean Broadcasting System - KBS and CCTV/CNTV China and a few more)

I'm not sure how the agreements are made with these broadcasters but OBS are told to operate the graphics as agreed with broadcasters via IOC Rights holding contracts.

Presumably those feeds are made available within the IBC but not further afield?

So great stuff from the BBC - but pointless VT favoured over crowd welcoming an Olympic champion just waiting to be crowned.

Have the BBC got a graphics feed at the stadium? The footage of the final heats of the heptathlon had a very strong GB focus, and there were a couple of dodgy cuts between shots, looking like the BBC were putting their own shots in, but the clock stayed on throughout...