Tag Archive: television broadcast support

1. White Light Helps Deliver Early Kick Off for BT Sport

   15 April 2020 08:38 Leave a Comment

   

   On Saturday 28th March, Jake Humphrey presented BT Sport’s Early Kick Off show from his home in Norfolk. With nationwide restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the show was broadcast by a fully remote production team using 4G technology. White Light was part of the minimal crew who worked in isolation onsite and followed a strictly structured rig schedule which allowed for timed kit deliveries and installation of the various technical elements. 

   Working closely alongside WL was the show’s Lighting Director Chris Hollier, who comments: “The producers (Sunset + Vine) approached us with a brief that the Early Kick Off broadcast was going ahead as normal and would feature interviews with regular pundits such as Peter Crouch and Rio Ferdinand, contributing remotely from their own homes. They wanted the main studio location to be a temporary install in a small cottage at Jake’s Norfolk home, with rigging and operational crew reduced to a bare minimum. In order to maintain the advised social distancing measures, the lighting equipment was transported and installed by one WL Gaffer, with Jake being the only person present in the studio.” 

   Chris specified Velvet Power 2s – 2×1 LED Panels, Velvet Mini 2s – 2ft Panoramic panels, an ETC ColorSource 20AV Lighting Console and the associated accessories. He explains: “I had to change the initial design when it became apparent that stricter government guidelines could come into play and crew may not be allowed onsite going forward. We therefore ensured the set up would be extremely easy to use and that Jake could control the lights himself using a simple lighting desk”. 

   Early Kick Off is an example of BT Sport’s commitment to continue producing innovative, engaging content for its viewers during these unprecedented times. It is also an example of how WL has been able to adapt and support broadcasters; helping to facilitate high-profile productions in accordance with the latest health and safety guidelines. Having delivered all of BT Sport’s Premier League outside broadcast lighting packages this season, WL’s long standing relationship with the broadcaster meant it could react quickly and was the obvious choice to work on this unique broadcast. 

   

   The show will be broadcast again this coming Saturday. Only the Technical Director will be needed on site with BT and Sunset + Vines’s entire production crew, including the Director, Producers, PA, Vision mixer, EVS, Sound and Graphics operators all working remotely from their respective homes. 

   Jamie Hindhaugh, Chief Operating Officer comments: “We at BT Sport are really proud of how our wider family have come together to enable us to deliver live topical programming but in a manner that respects the government’s guidelines with regards to isolation and social distancing. WL has been a fantastic partner in enabling us to realise our aspirations for our audiences.”

   WL’s Broadcast Senior Account Manager Ian Charlampowicz concludes: “What was great about Early Kick Off was the fact that we were able to work with a long-term client, fulfil an existing contract, yet do so with minimal travel, minimal crew and completely adhere to all of the new health and safety measures. As we move forward over the next few weeks, we are expecting to see more and more broadcasters and production companies adopt this way of working as they try to push out content in an ever-changing world. Thankfully, as a company, we have both the resources and expertise to help deliver this”. 

   The weekly broadcast of Early Kick Off is shown on Saturdays on BT Sport at midday.

   For more information about how WL can support your broadcast needs during this time then please click here.
   

2. Chris Hollier and Andy Cottey Win at Knight of Illumination Awards

   20 September 2017 15:33 Comments Off on Chris Hollier and Andy Cottey Win at Knight of Illumination Awards

   The Knight of Illumination Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of experts in Lighting Design, Video and Graphic Display along with Projection Design. Now in its tenth year, this year’s ceremony took place on Sunday 17th September at the Eventim Apollo in London. Among the 24 designers ‘knighted’ on the evening were Chris Hollier and Andy Cottey who won The Altman Lighting Television Award for Small Production for their work on ITV Sport’s coverage of Euro 2016.

   Last year, Chris and Andy were commissioned by ITV as Lighting Designers for the interior and exterior sets used on the broadcaster’s coverage of the Euro 2016 tournament. Working closely with the sets, designed by Paul Sudlow and Paul McNamara, Chris and Andy had to create a lighting design which would replicate these as well as be practical for on-site use, with the coverage being broadcast live from the Arab World Institute in Paris. White Light’s role on the project was to provide the consultation for the technical design of the studio sets, which included providing the lighting, video, power distribution and crew.

   Chris comments: “For both sets, it was essential that they had a consistent theme and could be enhanced by the city lights twinkling in the background. The equipment choice was essential to deliver this look throughout the tournament, day and night; whether it was the vintage tungsten bulbs festooned around the outdoor set, the MAC Auras that enabled us to match the colour temperature and levels as the weather changed or the waterproof SGM G-Spots that could be left outside for the duration and used to illuminate the trees”.

   The indoor studio used moving head lights, which were a mixture of Martin Professional MAC Auras and ROBE 800 LEDWashes. One of the key features was an 8K resolution video screen, created by mapping two Christie Boxer 30K projectors onto the curved studio set. This was all driven by a d3 4x4pro server.

   Bryan Raven, WL’s Managing Director, comments: “We are absolutely delighted that Chris and Andy have been recognised for their brilliant work on the Euro 2016 coverage. It truly did look stunning when broadcast and, as a company, we are delighted to have played a technical role in helping bring their design to life”.

   More than 500 entertainment technology industry professionals gathered together to celebrate the achievements of the many international lighting and video designers at this year’s KOI Awards. As is now tradition, the final Award of the evening was the Enrico Caironi Lifetime Recognition Award, which was presented to Rick Fisher – the prolific and talented lighting designer who has won multiple awards and critical acclaim in the West End, Broadway and around the world.

   Rick was recognised not only for his achievements in lighting design, but also for his altruistic contributions to industry charities, from his help starting Light Relief to his current work with the technical entertainment charity known as Backup, for which WL Chairman John Simpson is Chair. Rick has also helped guide the Association of Lighting Designers to its current position as the largest body of lighting designers ever assembled. You can read an exclusive interview with Rick here as part of our Leading Light series.

   Photos courtesy of Knight of Illumination Awards.