Racing Post: Getting into IPTV

When the Racing Post decided it was time to make the move from print to video and set up their own IPTV channel, our broadcast team helped them design a full studio, along with an outside broadcast solution that would let them shoot, edit and chromakey in the field.

Racing in realtime

The Racing Post is the UK's only racing daily. As well as being popular in print, the Post has a large online following. In order to offer visitors to their website a richer racing experience, the Post team decided to set up their own IPTV channel and provide coverage, analysis and tips on big events.

They had some pretty ambitious plans: not only did they want to convert a section of their Canary Wharf offices into a full scale TV studio, they wanted to shoot and edit in the field, and stream live footage on their website in realtime, complete with live chromakey.

Building the studio

As the Racing Post wanted to remodel a section of their office into a TV studio, our consultants got involved right at the start of the development process to ensure that the studio was designed (and kitted out) in a way that would support the Racing Post's production workflow to the fullest. One of the first things they suggested was building a permanent infinity curve into one of the studio walls, as this would make it easier for the Racing Post team to carry out high quality, shadow-free chromakey work.

We also provided equipment that would form the backbone of the studio, including a ceiling-mounted lighting rig with DMX controller, a wireless talkback system with discreet in-ear monitoring and a teleprompter.

Finding the right camera...

We consulted extensively with the Racing Post team in order to establish what they wanted from their cameras in the studio and in the field.  Sony's PMW-EX1 proved to be a favourite as it combined SDI connectivity, great quality optics and a robust solid state workflow, all of which would help the Racing Post's ENG crew deliver excellent quality clips in any situation.

As productions in the field may also require multi-camera setups, we recommended Sony's AWS G500 Anycast station. This briefcase-sized studio would enable the Racing Post team to switch between video streams, mix six channels of live audio, and then use AV inputs to add effects and titles to live streams. Our team configured the Anycast  to support multiple HD-SDIs and a combination of other video I/O, so that it would be easier for the Post's team to combine footage with chromakeyed footage, overlays and other inputs.

...and the perfect on-location support setup

One of the team's main concerns was staying co-ordinated during large events. We set up an on-location wireless talkback system which would let whoever was manning the Anycast communicate with camera operators and presenters, making it easier to ensure everyone was getting the footage they needed.

We also ensured that any equipment we provided supported a modular workflow, so the Racing Post always had the option of taking single cameras to events and using them independently, or uprooting the whole studio and taking it into the field to cover larger events such as the Gold Cup.

However, it was important that this modular approach didn't make the Racing Post's workflow overly complicated, so we also equipped them with a Sony PDW-F75 XDCAM recorder, which would allow them to upconvert, downconvert or record any input in realtime and keep all their footage within a single, project-wide XDCAM workflow. The recorder would also allow them to transfer any footage shot on location or in the studio directly to XDCAM disc, providing cost-effective archival grade storage.

And finally

We also helped the Racing Post team develop an ISDN-based radio studio that would let them add live and recorded audio content to their IPTV broadcasts and radio appearances, so viewers and listeners could be sure they always had the most up-to-date tips and information.

How did it go?

After a round of extensive operational training on the cameras, talkback system and more, the Racing Post team took their new equipment out for a test run. After some promising early results, their team has really taken to the system and now run a thriving IPTV channel, RPTV, with video content being integrated into news stories across their website.

"The advice and guidance from the experts at Jigsaw was invaluable as we embarked on the ambitious studio project. But looking back now some three years later it's difficult to know of anything we would have done differently. It wasn't just their on-the-spot expertise that helped us achieve our goal. The advice and feedback we continue to receive from them even this far down the line is exceptional."

- Rob Watson, head of AV, Racing Post.