NFL shooting in 3D

[Zakaree Sandberg]

just heard NFL will be doing a test of 3D

[Steve Sherrick]

That should be an interesting test. It makes sense. If you have ever played football, you know that it can be pretty scary being in the middle of the action. When you have a 275 pounder running straight at you you see your life flash before you. And when you don't see it coming, you end up watching from the sidelines or on videotape the next day.

So, I think it would be a lot of fun to see some games in 3D. Look forward to hearing more details.

[Lucas Wilson]

just heard NFL will be doing a test of 3D

Not just any test...

This is being done through 3ality in Burbank for the Chargers/Raiders game next week. Those are two American professional football teams, for the international crowd. ;)

There will be 12 stereo camera rigs, stereo Chyron, stereo EVS, a well-known Color and PxP announcer, all going through a truck rigged for stereo with a full crew and producer calling the show, and being broadcast live to four private screenings in LA, NYC, Boston, and San Diego. The LA screening will be to an invite-only crowd at Mann's Chinese. This is the *first* live broadcast of this kind ever.

The NBA AllStars game was done in stereo last year, but it was nothing like this. There were very limited camera locations, audio was just borrowed from the main feed, there were no graphics, etc.

This is a major test for the live stereo market, and is being closely watched by a lot of people.

Best,

Lucas
------
ASSIMILATE, inc.
LA, CA, USA

[Martin Weiss]

Me want an invite (and a buisness class flight ticket)!

[Dominic Cochran]

This is fu@&!ng awesome.

[David Birdy]

We helped engineer the Live HD3D two-way for 3ality at the NAB content theater in 2008. It went over great and the footage that 3Ality did for the Super Bowl in Houston looks amazing.

3Ality & Pace are the leaders in 3DHD....this may lead to the 1st live Super Bowl broadcast in 3DHD this year!!!


Dave

[Marco Montenegro]

I can't wait to see NFL on RED!!!

[cinepost35]

Not just any test...

This is being done through 3ality in Burbank for the Chargers/Raiders game next week. Those are two American professional football teams, for the international crowd. ;)

There will be 12 stereo camera rigs, stereo Chyron, stereo EVS, a well-known Color and PxP announcer, all going through a truck rigged for stereo with a full crew and producer calling the show, and being broadcast live to four private screenings in LA, NYC, Boston, and San Diego. The LA screening will be to an invite-only crowd at Mann's Chinese. This is the *first* live broadcast of this kind ever.

The NBA AllStars game was done in stereo last year, but it was nothing like this. There were very limited camera locations, audio was just borrowed from the main feed, there were no graphics, etc.

This is a major test for the live stereo market, and is being closely watched by a lot of people.

Best,

Lucas
------
ASSIMILATE, inc.
LA, CA, USA


Sorry but your wrong. NBA did have stereo GFX and Playback with 3D Slomo and one of the top Sports directors in the industry brought in by NBA with a whole live 3D tv truck built up for the show. I saw the show I was there and it was Kick ass. I'm sure NFLwill be cool too.

[Lucas Wilson]

Sorry but your wrong. NBA did have stereo GFX and Playback with 3D Slomo and one of the top Sports directors in the industry brought in by NBA with a whole live 3D tv truck built up for the show. I saw the show I was there and it was Kick ass. I'm sure NFLwill be cool too.

Perhaps I should have been more specific. This is a very different thing for many reasons:

1) Last years' NBA game did not have stereo GFX. It had 2D graphics overlaid on a LE/RE image. Very different from actual stereo graphics that are able to be positioned explicitly in space. For instance, the NFL graphics will be able to go behind the announcers, but in front of the field... or circle a specific player, etc.

2) Yes, last years' game had a truck. But it was a custom truck. The NFL game is using an NFL truck. As a one-time event, using a custom truck is fine. As a business for an actual sports season, it is a non-starter.

3) NBA game was a point-to-point connection over leased fibre. This is a true broadcast - over standard satellite lines that the network always uses when a sat truck rolls up. It is going to commercial theatres for the game... the only reason it is not going to the home is becuase the TV sets just aren't yhere yet.

Bottom line, last years' All Stars game was very much a one-time event and was staged as such. This is a true broadcast test, using the same encoding and distribution methods that are used right now for 2D.

Lucas
-----
ASSIMILATE, inc.
LA, CA, USA

[David Birdy]

Lucas, Very accurate with one exception.

The Truck is NOT a NFL truck the NFL does not "own" any mobile units, it's a rental Mobile unit from a company called Cross Creek. The cameras will be 1500's and 1000's...seven 3D rigs total.
Most Sports and entertainment trucks are not owned by broadcasters but rented or contracted by a 3rd party. NEP/NMT/Game Creek/ are some of the major players in Mobile TV.

Dave

[Lucas Wilson]

Lucas, Very accurate with one exception.

The Truck is NOT a NFL truck the NFL does not "own" any mobile units, it's a rental Mobile unit from a company called Cross Creek. The cameras will be 1500's and 1000's...seven 3D rigs total.
Most Sports and entertainment trucks are not owned by broadcasters but rented or contracted by a 3rd party. NEP/NMT/Game Creek/ are some of the major players in Mobile TV.

Dave

Thanks David... you are correct. By an "NFL Truck," I meant a truck normally used for NFL games. Also, just fyi - I was at 3ality today for awhile. Looks like it will be 9 rigs total.

In a previous lifetime, I was an A1 and A2 for primarily SEC games for ESPN. I'm pretty familiar with the trucks. :)

Best,

Lucas

[David Birdy]

Hey Lucas,

Great stuff.. we may have worked together on a few ESPN shows.

In my Past life I was a Truck EIC, then Technical Producer / Project Manager for many sports & entertainment shows.

The 3ality guys are great, I hope you were able to see a screening of the U23D concert & football footage from the Super Bowl In Houston.

I enjoy your posts and of course the involvement Scratch has with Red Digital Cinema.


Dave

[Austin Glass]

Sorry, the idea of a Chyron for 3D is awesome....

I'm not even a big sports fan, but I would love to see a broadcast like that.

[Joseph Ward]

Is there any standards for TV Stereoscopic broadcasting?