With Imagine’s SNP, EMG developed the diPloy modular IP system to bring flexibility and sustainability to live sports production.
Shaping the future of live sports production
EMG is a leading global provider of broadcast services and media solutions for live sports, entertainment and events.
Constantly proposing state-of-the-art technologies through highly experienced teams, EMG is a valued partner for major international events, including sport (e.g., Tour de France, Football World Cup, Formula One), live events (e.g., Eurovision, Royal Weddings, Concerts), and entertainment (e.g., The Voice, Masterchef, the X-Factor).
30 years experience
Active in 10 countries
15K events per year
As live sports viewers demand more of everything ― camera angles, replays, graphics, and new resolutions like 4K and HDR UHD ― outside broadcast trucks are at the limit of size and weight to make it onto public roads, yet still present a cramped operating environment for production teams working under great pressure.
One of the ways forward-thinking companies like EMG stay ahead of the curve in such a technology-intensive business is by using IP connectivity to centralize control and increase remote access.
With sustainability top of mind, EMG took a completely fresh approach to live production in the development of diPloy ― a unique, modular IP fly-pack system that enables the company to build advanced, highly reliable facilities for the largest sports productions with considerably reduced engineering time.
diPloy is a completely modular IP production system built into racks of varying sizes in dedicated 40-foot containers, which allows EMG to plug together the specific functionality needed for each job. By creating modules at the flight case level, EMG can physically place them where they are required: some close to the action, some at any distance.
Critical to the diPloy architecture is Imagine’s Selenio™ Network Processor (SNP). A single, 1RU SNP has four independent processors, each with eight 3G processing paths with software “personalities” readily changed to do what is needed at any moment. That includes SDI to IP conversion; up-, down- and cross-conversion and color space transforms; video processing and audio shuffling; point multiviewers, and much more.
EMG CTO Bevan Gibson says,
“We can change what each processor path in each SNP can do with the click of a mouse. It is an excellent combination of power and flexibility, and we regard it as the great workhorse of diPloy.”
SNP also provides EMG with an interface to high-speed IP connectivity between units: up to 400 gigabit ethernet over fibre in the current version. And as the industry moves toward higher resolutions ― European broadcasters looking to 4K and HDR, American channels wanting 1080p HD with high dynamic range color ― the SNP incorporates these conversions, enabling EMG to offer different outputs to different feeds simply and transparently.
tpc now has a future-proof OB truck that will remain on the cutting edge of mobile production for many years to come. The flexible IP architecture is agnostic to video formats and resolutions and able to seamlessly integrate the latest compression schemes and picture-quality enhancements.
The SMPTE ST 2110 specification enables tpc to break out video, audio and auxiliary data into separate, discrete streams — boosting efficiency and flexibility over SDI-based solutions. In addition, the pure-IP approach lessens the cabling and power consumption requirements of an SDI or hybrid SDI-IP environment.
UHD1 is IP at its core and optimized for UHD — using standard or high dynamic range — but is also still capable of handling SDI-based signals. By working with uncompressed and standards-based UHD signals, tpc is able to process video signals to meet all client preferences without requiring a mezzanine compression scheme, while at the same time maximizing video quality and minimizing latency.
Most importantly, the tpc crew was able to get up to speed quickly with the next-generation technology, as it delivers the same performance characteristics and operational look and feel as a traditional SDI system, but with all the benefits of IP connectivity and software flexibility.
“We can adapt to whatever our clients want to do.
The SNP platform is key to making that happen.”
Go back to the beginnings of diPloy, as the EMG team shares insight on why they made the move to IP, as well as the lessons they learned and benefits they achieved from deploying SMPTE ST 2110 infrastructure.
At Imagine, we’re ready whenever you are. Tell us your vision, and together, we can map your path to a thriving future.
