NEP STRENGTHENS GLOBAL CENTRALISED PRODUCTION NETWORK WITH SECOND-GENERATION, ALL-4K ANDREWS HUB UPG

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- NEP Australia, a Broadcast Company of NEP Group, the leading media technology partner of content producers worldwide, announced the launch of its second-generation Andrews Hub, capable of supporting all-4K HDR broadcasts through the largest set of facilities worldwide built for Tier 1 live sports coverage.

According to a statement, first opened in 2017, the Andrews Hub is part of NEP’s growing network of centralised production centres and a global production ecosystem.

With its main facilities located in Sydney and Melbourne, and satellite locations, or ‘spokes’, in Adelaide and Brisbane, the Andrews Hub has supported numerous clients in producing shows across continents, often thousands of kilometres away from where the match or live event is taking place – even across the Pacific Ocean.

Demand for remote production began well before COVID-19 when broadcasters realised the benefits of a more efficient and environmentally sustainable approach in which technical producers and directors, replay operators, graphics teams, and on-air talent could all be in different places from where the action was captured.

“In 2017, when we launched the Andrews Hub, we went to the moon and back in every centralised IP broadcast each day,” said President of NEP Australia, New Zealand & Japan, Soames Treffry.

“Our second-generation Andrews Hub is a story of continued investment and innovation in how we’ve built the largest-scale, 4K, centralised production complex on the planet.

As part of its expansion, NEP will build four new control rooms and upgrade its Network Operations Centers to meet increased demand.

Work areas for shading and HDR grading of footage before it goes on air will be added, as well as new ‘mini’ studios and commentary suites for on-screen, off-tube commentary.

Other advancements include expanded state-of-the-art facilities using 100 per cent IP, scalable technology, designed to have the lowest possible impact on the environment; and, the introduction of the ‘hybrid grip’, a new, all-in-one-style tender/grip trailer with on-board streaming technology built in and ready to hit the road.

-- BERNAMA