NHK Super Hi-Vision at Olympics

This year, the 2012 London Summer Olympics (starting next week) will be the focus of the world. However, it will also be looked upon as a technical achievement too. NHK out of Tokyo will have a few broadcast sites across the world. The marvel is found in Super Hi-Vision, an 8K broadcast signal. This is significantly larger and has more resolution than HD movie theaters.

I’ve seen tests of this on a huge 100”+ TVs that has the capability of producing such a high end signal. It appears that Washington DCwill have the United States’ feed of this broadcast and will have a demo site set up.  The other sites seem to be in Tokyo and the United Kingdom. It’s likely that these viewing sites will have some sort of hi-res monitors. It’s been reported that a 520-inch screen will be made available as well as a 360-inch one as well.  I’ve never seen anything close to those sizes except the American Idol Experience at Disney Hollywood Studios. Even then, I’ve only seen high definition. This Super Hi-Vision makes HD look like a second step cousin.

This sort of technology won’t really be available for consumer use for many years, if ever. However, it explores the possibilities out there. This 8K resolution will require a tremendous amount of bandwidth. This issue really seems to be the limiting one. There is a finite amount of space, and it can’t be exceeded. Therein lies the challenge, compress it more. However, with compression, you bring upon more nasty looking images. So, the challenge is then, how do you compress a very high-end signal, then uncompress it so it looks like perfect. This is always the dilemma. Since we’ve gotten far with TV, we can really only imagine the possibilities of the future.

Canon EOS c300

The other day I had the opportunity to check out the Canon c300! This cinema camera packs a huge 4K punch. It seems heavy at 3 plus pounds, but still very easy to hold. I handled 2 configurations. The first was a simple setup in sticks with a feed going to a monitor. The second was a handheld ENG style unit with a basic lens and pistol grip attached. I must say that I'd like to see some of the accessories available, as going handheld would not be an option as is.

The beauty of the camera was in it's simplicity. Acquisition can be done in log format, which is very nice. The Suer35mm chip is amazing! The recording is 8-bit MPEG, which is OK, but I'd really like to see 10-bit. We were told though that 10-bit tests showed the camera got so hot, parts started to melt. So, until those issues get resolved, 8-bit it is. Also, the MXF option is terrific! It would be so easy to ingest this footage into an Avid system and begin the edit right away.

Another feature I like is the 2 card slot setup. They can be used as one, or separate, doubling record time.  I'd prefer to use my second slot as a safety though. We all know how temperamental computer gear can be. I certainly don't want to be the one to lose footage because of a simple failure.

The camera can be purchased as a PL mount or a EF one. This way, whatever lenses you have, your camera can use them. Just make sure you buy the right one. At about $20,000, you want to make sure you're buying the right body.

Check out these videos that were shot with the c300. These shorts are from Jameson Whiskey. The adult beverage company sponsored these short films, all of which star Kevin Spacey. Below is my favorite one. However, I'd have to say "The Ventriloquist" is a very close second!

Ad generating revenue?

Check out this video about logo usage and how they can be used. It's not family friendly at all, so don't watch this with your kids. This short film won many awards including an Academy Award.

Although this is not a real campaign, I thought it relevant when sponsorship opportunities arise. Now, when I think of marketing possibilities and corporate partnerships, I think of how often a logo is seen by the intended audience and how it's portrayed. This example was likely not welcomed by the companies here, but it' free marketing in a sense.

When a relationship is formed, there are many considerations. One such team I think about is the Orlando Solar Bears. They are a reborn franchise and are just about to kick off the new season. They have been seeking corporate partners that can get some good exposure right out if the gate. One tactic I noticed was more interaction with players and management. Season ticket holders will potentially be able to visit with them. I know this has worked for the Magic as a friend of mine has 6 floor seat season tickets. She meets with the team regularly and is exposed to many other "treats" as a top tier client.

This sort of fan interaction and activity is exactly what is needed. There has to be some amount of "buy-in" by the every day fan, especially the season ticket holders. This is where the right sponsors come in. Part of the whole experience is these sponsorships. When I go to an event, I need to be intrigued, or at least able to identify who is sponsoring the event. This is not so much for the product itself, but the consumer sees the brands identified together. Nike NFL jerseys or Spaceship Earth presented by Seimans; partners.

Marketing Disaster for Horse Racing

For starters, I’m not a horse-racing fan. The closest I’ve ever been to that is watching Seabiscuit on DVD. However, like many Americans, I became greatly intrigued again this year when the same horse, “I’ll Have Another” was scratched from the final leg of the Triple Crown. This ends his chance to be the first to win the 3 races since the late 70’s. I wonder how ratings and last minute ad revenue will suffer from this horses sudden retirement? I likely would have watched the race today, but now I will not. I believe this is where most people are with this sort of situation.

It goes with most sports really.  How many people watch a regular season of a given sport? Only big fans do this, and the rest of us only watch the big games. This is where I think marketing changes. Take for example the Super Bowl. Now you have the casual fan watching some games during the regular season and playoffs but certainly viewing the Super Bowl. Then, you have the die-hard fan like me. You watch the NFL Network all the time, watch the Chicago news and read blogs on training camp then watch every preseason, regular season and post season game out there.  Then you have the TV viewer that really only watch the Super Bowl, but nothing else.  I think the marketing for the Super Bowl is geared to the first and last people I mentioned.  It only makes sense. If you look at ratings for this show, you’ll see a huge spike in viewership. The difference between the every day fan and the Super Bowl watcher is so great, it becomes the majority. They can’t be ignored. They must be catered to. I don’t see how it works any other way, but it’s my best guess.

Media Credentials for the Super Bowl

When thinking about media credentials, I remember hearing stories about how many in the media request passes for various events. I specifically recall seeing how big the media section of the NBA 2012 Orlando All-Star game was. The media took up a huge chunk of the lower bowl. Then, I thought of how many people are around the sidelines of a Super Bowl game. It astounds me that it takes that many members of the “press” to report a game seen by hundreds of millions on live broadcast.

To me, there are two sides to this. First, we have the various leagues and their desire to have as much press discuss this as possible. Filling 10 rows of seats with paying fans is greatly outweighed by the need to have the press give the event tons of attention. Secondly, we have the year 2012 and although there are many more people “reporting” the event, it’s not needed. The reason I say this is because with so much communication capacity now, we don’t need thousands of reporters retelling the same story.

I’ve worked many press events, so I know how it is. Walt Disney World has hired me many times to shoot video at these press events. When a new ride, show or event happens, they invite media from all over the world to cover it. They treat the media very well and have people like me go with the producer so they can get video for their network or station. The biggest network I was sent with was the BBC. We had to shoot a bunch of material at Epcot and I quickly understood how many people would see the footage I was shooting.

Biggest Issue in Sports Today

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE.)  What is it and why would this be in a sports blog? CTE is a disease that occurs after multiple concussions and it diagnosed after death. There has been a rash of former football and hockey players committing suicide in the last few years due to this.  The most recent was Junior Seau, a perennial NFL Pro-Bowler. Like another NFL player before him, he shot himself in the chest. Dave Duerson killed himself this way and wished for his brain to be studied, as he could no longer deal with his affliction.

The legal aspect of this case is a number of former players are suing the NFL on the basis of a prior knowledge of the potential brain issues and resulting conditions. There are over 1500 former players in the suit and the number keeps growing.


One very interesting part of this argument hasn’t been talked about very much. Follow me here. Gregg Williams, former Defensive Coordinator for the Saints and somewhat current DC for the Rams was suspended recently fir his bounty programs used in the past. While he was in New Orleans, he ran a program that rewarded players for certain types of play. This breaks a big rule in the NFL. There have been more suspensions, but Gregg’s is the longest, indefinite. Now, listen to this clip, which is NOT safe for work, and hear how Gregg Williams clearly calls for hurting players, but more so than just a hard hit. Why does this tape exist? Well, a filmmaker is documenting the very physical nature of football and exploring a former Saints player that now has ALS, Lou Gehrig’s syndrome. He had permission to be there and made this audio available for the public and the NFL. The connection is that the type of play Williams advocates for is what causes some brain diseases. The clip now really comes full circle because it was used to implicate Williams and help get himself suspended, hopefully forever.

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-05-03/worldsport/sport_nfl-lawsuit_1_concussions-deceased-nfl-players-player-safety?_s=PM:WORLDSPORT

http://theusof.com/2012/04/tru-dat-gregg-williams-saints-audio-bountygate-pay-for-pain/

http://www.bu.edu/cste/about/what-is-cte/

Hart v. Electronic Arts

While my business plan incorporates many aspects of production, intellectual property rights aren’t really that much of a concern. We have to cover our basics like logo, motto/slogan, any software or stock footage/music rights and such. However, we don’t need to worry about performance clearances, as the production is responsible for it. However, the story I encountered interests me greatly as it can have a large effect on sports and entertainment industries.

What I found is a recent United States District Court decision to dismiss a claim by a former Rutgers football player. Ryan Hart sued EA Sports claiming that they illegally used his name and likeness in production of a video game. EA Sports said the First Amendment protects them. The judge ruled with EA Sports and the “transformative work” done by EA fulfilled the definition of the term. They changed enough of his likeness to qualify for this exemption. To me, it would be like taking someone’s song they wrote, changing only some of it, then not giving the original artist credit or payment.

As players of professional sports are usually protected by collective bargaining agreements, collegiate athletes are prohibited from earning money from their sports. Therein lies the issue for me. I understand EA walk a line, but they also take advantage of the NCAA rules. They only do this to the students because they can. Just because the law may be on their side doesn’t make it right.

The thing that burns me the most though is the game is made locally. I know people that worked on it, and they have no say is this sort of thing.