Spanish TV's UHD Upgrade Reaches Olympic Heights
Picture a roaring stadium teeming with tens of thousands of fervent supporters, swaying with the highs and lows of a decisive football match. Two proud nations competing for Olympic glory and millions of viewers around the globe eager to be part of the show.
Tucked away on the edge of the heaving stadium, an unnoticeable lorry parks quietly. Step inside, and you will be transported into a cockpit buzzing with people and technology, tightly lined with flickering screens, noisy intercoms, monitors, the director giving rapid instructions such as “Camera 2 ready, take camera 2…” to ensure that every moment of the event outside is captured, mixed and broadcast in real time.
This is the world of an OB van, where cutting-edge technology meets split-second decision-making, where space is optimized for equipment, not comfort, and live television is delivered to millions in real time with the precision of a Swiss watch.
RTVE (the Spanish public broadcasting corporation responsible for national television and radio services in Spain) had been working hard in a fast-paced technological triathlon to complete the upgrade of the entire SD territorial infrastructure to ultra-high definition. It also aimed to have a mobile unit capable of producing content in the UHD standard. Everything had to be ready in time for the Paris Olympic Games.
The technical and operational staff, along with the engineering team at RTVE, and their suppliers and integrators, worked hard to deliver the 2024 Olympics in high definition, broadcasting free-to-air across Spain via DTT (digital terrestrial television) from Paris.
The coverage of the Paris Games was to be the premiere of the new UHD mobile RTVE unit as well. It was decided to implement the system using the 12G-SDI video standard with specific coaxial cable and a new family of 75 Ohm connectors. LEMO’s 1S.275 S Series product range, this first Push-Pull 12G-SDI connector, offered the required connection, with a cable retention force of 250 N and a fast and reliable Push-Pull latching system. The small connector diameter enabled patch-panels with a high connection density, essential for the compact and crowded OB van.
We interviewed Francisco Jose Collado, Deputy Director of Engineering Studios and OB Vans at RTVE.
Can you tell us a few words about RTVE’s past and present?
Francisco Jose Collado: In the past, RTVE have been working in PAL and SDI technology, in the last few years we have been working in HD resolution, and we are changing to UHD resolution. The future, for us, is in UHD, HDR and IP 2110.
What were the main drivers behind RTVE’s decision to renew its entire broadcast infrastructure in 2024?
Mainly the possibility of producing natively in UHD and, to continue developing IP 2110 installations, adopting this cutting-edge technology as the basis for future installations.
Was this update part of a broader digital transformation strategy, or a response to specific challenges?
In this case, it responds to a specific need for UHD production, but is included in our future strategy.
How has the modernization impacted your workflows in production, post-production, and playout?
Having different systems interconnected, automating processes, and, above all, transferring information between all systems, greatly streamlines workflows and operations, making us more efficient.
What are the main improvements or capabilities introduced with the new infrastructure compared to the legacy system?
The improvements have included the flexibility of the new structures, allowing for the production of different programmes with diverse requirements using the same equipment, enabling dynamic and agile switching between them. This previously required considerable time to make the necessary changes.
What has been the overall budget for this infrastructure overhaul?
The budget for a medium-sized OB VAN, operating in 12G-SDI, includes bodywork, air conditioning, and audiovisual installation. The budget is estimated at around €4.5 million.
Why did RTVE choose 12G-SDI as the new standard for its OB vans, as opposed to transitioning directly to IP or NDI workflows?
It's not that 12G-SDI was chosen as the new standard. The decision was made to implement it in SDI instead of IP 2110, due to its compatibility with RTVE's other OB VANs, with a distributed SDI matrix, which allows for the interconnection of several OB VANs and the implementation of larger productions.
How does 12G-SDI benefit RTVE in terms of live production quality, latency, or operational efficiency?
12G-SDI in terms of quality offers UHD and HDR quality. In terms of operation, there are usually no differences with IP 2110, since both technologies are intended to be transparent for operators. However, for Technique and Maintenance, there are major changes, since with SDI the detection of incidents and signal tracking is much more agile, but in IP it is necessary to carry out maintenance by means of frame tracking and with IP techniques.
Were there any specific challenges in retrofitting or replacing the OB vans with 12G-SDI-compatible hardware?
SDI technology is well-known, and the challenges were more on the side of equipment configuration and operation, which was done using a Broadcast Controller.
How are signal integrity and cable length limitations being managed in the new 12G-SDI environment?
Obviously, distances for 12G signals in SDI are a limitation, more significant than in HD or 3G. But in OB VAN environments, this hasn't been a problem, as the unit's internal distances aren't very big. When considering longer distances, for outdoor use, the use of optical fibre is necessary to ensure signal quality.
What kind of ROI or qualitative benefits (e.g., viewer satisfaction, efficiency gains) does RTVE expect from this infrastructure renewal?
Primarily the image quality, without forgetting the improved sound quality, thanks to the use of immersive audio. Producing in Multichannel UHD-HDR provides an increase in quality, which viewers can receive through our 4K-UHD DTT broadcast channel.
How does this infrastructure renewal support RTVE’s digital or multi-platform content distribution strategy?
We have interconnected the different production systems so that we serve content for the different platforms in a targeted manner. With future IP 2110 installations, we will improve this aspect and be able to work in a more personalized way.
Were there any particular technologies or vendors that played a key role in the upgrade?
Leading manufacturers and suppliers in broadcast environments, with a great reputation and solvency, to achieve the high quality we always demand.
LEMO X RTVE
LEMO supplied its new S series of Push-Pull 12G-SDI 75 Ohm connectors for refurbishing the first full UHD OB vans in Spain (126 patch panels with 1S.275 connectors, patch cords and bridges). Can you tell us about your LEMO experience?
We've practically always used LEMO interconnection systems. They provide us with a robust, reliable, and easy-to-use system. The new connectors, specifically for UHD, offer the necessary quality while maintaining the usual versatility and ease of operation.
Are there other LEMO connectors currently used by RTVE?
We are using virtually all types of LEMO connectors, for audio, AES, HD video, UHD video, with SMPTE camera cables, etc.
Article by Judit Hollos Spoerli, Corporate Communications Manager at LEMO
