Live event specialist AMS has implemented a multicamera outside broadcast (OB) system featuring Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 and Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pro cameras for broadcasting the Serie A1 Women's volleyball championship. The setup is designed to handle up to three simultaneous broadcasts of matches involving four Piedmont teams: Chieri, Cuneo, Pinerolo, and Novara.
Efficient Production Workflow
The production team uses a four-camera configuration for each game, with ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K switchers handling vision mixing. The cameras are transported in flight cases tailored for quick setup and teardown between matches. AMS Head of Sport Events Business Unit Gabriele Lusco emphasizes the importance of flexibility and ease of use: “Each broadcast requires us to build a temporary broadcast gallery in the stands ahead of the match, so the workflow's physical footprint and how we move it between jobs were critical considerations.”
Camera Deployment and Signal Path
The production setup includes two Blackmagic Studio Cameras 4K Pro positioned on a gantry. One camera provides long shots, while the other captures ‘color’ footage. A third gantry-mounted camera offers wide views of the court and close-ups of the net, also used for replays. A fourth shoulder-mounted URSA Broadcast G2 is employed for courtside action, utilizing a radio link for wireless transmission.
The OB truck integrates an SDI signal path with the ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K switcher at its core. Lusco notes, “It fits our needs perfectly with the all-in-one design, combining switching and control hardware.” The system handles eight sources typically: four cameras, two key and fill signals, a replay system, and the referee's video referral feed.
Recording and Distribution
Cameras record ISO feeds directly onto SSD hard drives via USB-C. AMS also employs software for action replays. The setup includes Blackmagic Video Assist 7” 12G HDR units for monitoring and recording, with vectorscopes and histograms used to test and monitor signal pathways during setup.
The final program mix is output in 1080i format and distributed to broadcasters for local television highlights. An encoder collects these signals, deinterlaces them, and streams the content online in 1080p25 resolution.
Lusco concludes by highlighting the system's practicality: “Given the logistical challenges our crews face, flexibility was an absolute priority for us, as was the ability to get in and out quickly. The practicality of the flight case design, coupled with the plug-and-play nature of Blackmagic’s hardware, means we can be set up and packed away in less than two hours.”