Continuing our insights into Olympics coverage, this third article in our series examines the ABC’s broadcasting setup at the International Broadcasting Centre. ABC Technical Operations Manager Scott Whyte has told radioinfo the setup is more efficient than in any past games.
Broadband connections and WiFi have now replaced satellite lines to bring the feed to Australia when broadcasts begin next week, making it all more efficient. “All up we shipped 510kg of equipment this time, while for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi we shipped 900kg,” says Whyte.
For ABC Grandstand’s coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games the team will be using a VPN tunnel over a 10MB/s connection to the internet for all audio, phone, data and intercom connections to the ABC Ultimo Centre, Sydney.
The interview point in the Village will be delivered via Wi-Fi using VOIP codec. As a backup the team have an ISDN codec.
All audio for the coverage will be delivered using MADI over optic fibre to and from the host broadcaster and within our suite at the IBC, Whyte has told radioinfo. He says, “basically we are living in the future!”
There will be the ability to broadcast 12 sports simultaneously from 6 venues and 3 Off Tube Booths within the IBC.
The 6 ABC broadcasting venues are:
Rowing (Eton Dorney)
Track and Field (Olympic stadium)
Basketball (North Greenwich Arena)
Aquatics (Olympic park Stratford)
Cycling (Olympic park Stratford)
Hockey (Olympic park Stratford)
Scott Whyte (L) and his colleague Cameron McCauley (R), are pictured outside the Australian Team Headquarters, Olympic Athletes Village, complete with Aussie mascots.
ABC Radio will broadcast Grandstand coverage live and commercial free of the 2012 Olympics in London, beginning next week. Twelve commentators will be travelling to London to provide more than 200 hours of radio coverage across the 16 days.
Coverage will be heard on ABC Local Radio, plus a dedicated special events digital radio station ABC London 2012 – available in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne. It can also be heard online at abc.net.au/digitalradio and on the website www.abc.net.au/Olympics
Meanwhile, Austereo is also in the Olympics spirit, announcing the winner of its Hit London competition (see our other story).
