L I N K S:

LSVD HD/SD MULTICASTING

Abstract:

The requirement for mixed mode High Definition (HD) or Standard Definition (SD) multiple Large Screen Video Displays (LSVD) is addressed. The challenge of stadium end zone displays with very different aspect ratio is resolved. An integrated production switcher, routing switcher and monitor wall processor solution is developed.

SCREEN GEOMETRY & PLACEMENT

It is our understanding that each Stadium End Zone will be built with two 16x9 (1.77x1) Video Display Screens. One End Zone will have screens stacked; the other End Zone will have the screens side by side.

When screens operate in combined mode, the North End Zone has an effective width of 520" and height of 570" and the South End Zone has an effective width of 1000" and height of 288".

With a display pixel pitch of 15.7mm this translates to the following pixel density:

Combined North End Zone ~ 922 Pixels High

Combined South End Zone ~ 1618 Pixels Wide

UPCONVERTED SCREEN FEEDS

While each 16x9 screen element can be fed a standard definition wide screen digital signal (SD), the combined screens have a resolution that exceeds the 480x704 SD pixel resolution. Upconversion to 1080x1920 (HD) resolution will supply a video signal that exceeds the pixel density of both End Zones.

EQUIPMENT CAPABILITY
It is understood that the selected monitor wall processors each have SD HD switching and are capable of passing 2 SD signals to 2 SD screens. Additionally each processor is capable of splitting an HD signal to 2 SD screens.

It is further understood that the production switcher is capable of shotbox control of routing switcher salvos with simultaneous GPI-GPO functions.

The production system will be configured with router outputs to both upconverters and to all 4 screens.

INTEGRATED SOLUTION

Tight integration of the production switcher with the routing switcher plus resource management within the routing switcher allows for independent standard definition (SD) feeds to all 4 screens.

In double-high or double-wide mode one feed is provided to each upconverter. GPI-GPO interface between the switcher and monitor wall processors allows the resultant (HD) signal to feed either combined End Zone screen array.

With this signal topology a multi-layered show can be built in the switcher then distributed in the appropriate size and resolution to any screen.

The production switcher, routing switcher and monitor wall processor, act as one system providing direct or combined screen feeds under shotbox control.

The proper mix of Fiber-Optic equipment brings camera crews at multiple venues "next door" to the core production control room. 

Multiple sports can all be covered by the cost of one control room plus the incremental cost of fiber gear for additional venues. 

The total capital outlay is significantly lower than the cost of multiple dedicated control rooms at each facility. 

Major educational institutions have Fiber Optic right-of-way and "in house" resources that simplifies Fiber-Optic interconnectivity.

Recent technological advances have made possible campus wide fiber camera connections, and those same advances have driven down the cost of camera-over-fiber solutions.

Telecast Fiber Systems, Stadium Applications Note describes in more detail the Fiber Optic equipment used to link Camera, Video, Audio, and Intercom systems between facilities.

Digital in the control room is now affordable and frankly inevitable. Fiber optic connections to other venues and television broadcast trucks solve both distance and bandwidth problems. What was not possible 5 years ago and prohibitively expensive 3 years ago is commonplace & affordable today.

The broadcast industry is in the process of considerable change as it migrates to digital and high definition television. Those changes will inevitable affect the Large Screen Display community and how they do business. The FCC has mandated how and when television stations convert to digital operation. The networks are rolling out digital now, and all television markets have to be digital by 2006. Digital production trucks are pulling up to truck docks now and eventually will only be providing digital video to the screen control rooms.

What changes are appropriate for large screens and their control rooms is the core of the issue? While no one solution will work for all teams, a general trend is emerging: Screens and their control rooms are moving to wide screen and digital.

Planning for 16X9 wide screen installations goes a long way to "future proof" your facility.  As broadcast moves to wide screen in the home, the viewing public will expect wide screen presentations during the game, just as they have come to expect replays, highlights, statistics, close-ups and contests.

We have given careful consideration to the issue of conversion from the current screen aspect ratio of 4X3 to the wide screen ratio of 16X9. Our paper, Wide Screen Considerations for the Large Screen Display Industry, discusses the screen upgrade issues affecting the industry as a whole.

Many of the basic industry questions such as: "Do we need to upgrade to wide screen?", "When do I need to be up and running?" and "What are advantages and disadvantages of upgrading?" have already been answered.

The programming section introduces, "Polyscreen" Display and Shoot & Protect production solutions, necessary to create wide screen presentations. These program techniques work equally well right now, and in the future with any contemplated equipment installations.

Additional Tips and Hints can be found by viewing the presentation 

When Big Screens Go Wide.  (Power Point - 340K)

or the presentation 

When Big Screens Go Wide.  (Adobe Acrobat - 485K)