LIVE bolsters its OB capacity with latest high-end HD equipment from Alfacam

LIVE, Abu Dhabi Media Company’s wholly-owned outside broadcast (OB) and production subsidiary, continues to advance its fleet of state-of-the-art production OB vans with a significant acquisition of latest high-definition (HD) technology and equipment from Alfacam, one of the world’s leading providers of TV facilities and services to the broadcast and media production industry.

The acquisition includes 16 GV HD cameras (a mix of portable and studio types); 4 GV HD high-speed cameras for super slow motion (SSM); 6 EVS hard disc broadcast servers (each server comprising 6 channels) which enables high-quality recording, SSM and editing of video signals; 6 HD Sony VTRs for the recording of HD video signals; a HD Canon lens with a wide range of focal lengths and zooming powers, which allows for versatility and creativity in applications; and VINTEN tripods for all types of cameras. These and several other features and capabilities make the new equipment ideal for the HD broadcasting of a variety of programming, from live entertainment to sports events, where extremely fast, frame-accurate operation is critical.

“Our sustained investment in HD technology clearly shows our commitment to be at the forefront of HD TV production in the Middle East and become the partner of choice for the broadcast of international events. It is essential that we offer our partners and customers a complete HD production facility that delivers the best production the region has ever seen and that we pursue the highest-quality standards for HD TV broadcast, both of which will ensure we are well-positioned for growth in the future”, said Abdul Hadi Al Sheikh, CEO of LIVE.

“We are very pleased with the outstanding relationship we have established with our partners Alfacam. The equipment and services we have acquired fulfill our needs and protect our investment for many years to come,” concluded Al Sheikh.

Since launching in August 2008, LIVE has brought the most exciting sporting and cultural events in the region to millions of viewers globally and has been recognized as a pioneer in HD broadcasting and production, with unmatched technological capabilities in the Middle East. As the only company with a fleet of full HD OB vans in the region, and a team of well-trained and passionate professionals, LIVE looks set to become the largest company of its kind in the region.

“Our mandate is to provide the best tools to our industry peers so that they continue to employ the most advanced solutions in the market. LIVE’s ability to anticipate industry developments and market demands clearly sets them apart. We are proud to have been able to facilitate the acquisition of their new equipment and to confirm the HD broadcasting standards in the Middle East”, said Gabriel Fehervari, CEO Alfacam.

Alfacam is a Belgium-based company and a well-known provider of TV facilities and services to broadcasters and production houses around the globe. Its fleet is being deployed all over the world and its OB trucks have operated overseas in diverse locations such as China (Olympic Games Bejing, 2008), Ghana (Africa Cup of Nations, 2008), Brazil (Pan American Games Rio, 2007), and Austria (Salzburger Festspiele, 2006).