Not every Olympic hero is an athlete. Much of the heavy lifting in PyeongChang is being done behind the scenes by the tech companies supporting the video production and distribution for the Winter Games.
NBC Olympics, a division of the NBC Sports Group, is using the services of a number of technology companies, including Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO), FOR-A, Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC), Calrec Audio, Harmonic (NASDAQ:HLIT), AT&T (NYSE:T) and Tektronix.
Cisco is providing IP video contribution and distribution solutions, along with networking and security solutions for the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. Cisco is also providing data center network security solutions, as well as mobile collaboration solutions to connect remote and onsite production teams.
Several FOR-A 4K-supported solutions are being used for production of the Winter Games, including the company's FRC-9000 frame rate converter, HVS-490 and HVS-2000 video switchers, USF-1044UDC 4K up/down/cross converter, MFR-8000 routing switcher and MV-4210 multi viewer, ESG-8000 8K/4K/HD test signal generator and DSK-400 4K/HD keyer.
Ericsson is providing video contribution solutions, including encoding and satellite receiver technologies. Ericsson's specialist engineers are assisting with the equipment and system set up, and are also on site 24/7 to provide multi-site support throughout the event. The Ericsson solution includes its AVP 2000 contribution encoders and its RX8200 Advanced Modular Receivers.
NBC Olympics is using Calrec Audio's Summa, Artemis Ray, and Brio digital audio consoles to provide audio mixing for the Winter Games. Calrec is also providing its RP1 remote production system.
Harmonic is providing its MediaGrid shared storage systems and Spectrum MediaDeck integrated media servers. NBC Olympics is using Harmonic solutions for a variety of production applications, including broadcast, on-demand, digital, news operations and long-term archive.
NBC Olympics is using AT&T Networking Services, including AT&T Global Video Services to deliver HD coverage.
NBC Olympics is using Tektronix' WFM7200, WVR7200, WFM5200, and WVR5200 Waveform Monitors, SPG8000A Master Sync and Master Clock Reference Generators to support its coverage of the games. The equipment is being used to monitor and test the quality of video and audio content in production, post production, transmission and distribution workflows in NBC facilities. For HDR/4K applications, NBC is using WFM8300 Waveform Monitors. NBC is also using Tektronix Sentry products for monitoring of video transport streams.