FOUR HD CHROMA KEYERS FOR SPORTVISION'S VIRTUAL BILLBOARD ADVERTISING (June 2006)

Crystal Vision is delighted to have won a significant order from Sportvision in connection with the expansion of their High Definition virtual advert system. The fact that Crystal Vision's Safire HD High Definition chroma keyer is so affordable enabled Sportvision to purchase four complete systems, each containing one Safire HD board as well as an LKEY HD High Definition linear keyer and two High Definition distribution amplifiers.

Virtual advertising describes the process of adding virtual graphics to a video signal to display images on special billboards placed around the stadium. The adverts, visible only to the viewers of the programme broadcast and not to the players and spectators in the stadium, will appear to be on billboards located behind the players.

Using the same concept as in virtual studios, the main component of the virtual advertising system is the chroma keyer. Generating a key signal, the chroma keyer enables the virtual advert graphics to be keyed into the video signal and subsequently onto the dedicated green or blue billboards.

Based in the US, Sportvision has been applying virtual advertising technology to sporting broadcasts for several years including major events such as the Olympic Games, US Baseball league, Super Bowl and Wimbledon.

Previously they were using another manufacturer's product for the chroma keying but were keen to evaluate Crystal Vision's Safire HD. Offering cost-savings and a more flexible solution, Safire HD is ideal for multi-standard environments as it can be used with both High Definition and Standard Definition sources.

Sportvision's extensive testing of Safire HD commenced with their first demonstration in December 2005 with further in-situ tests being completed in February 2006. Sportvision was particularly impressed with the high chroma keying quality and ease of control offered by Safire HD as well as the fact that other Crystal Vision interface modules would fit into the same frame.

All the Crystal Vision boards purchased are housed in four Indigo 2U rack frames and controlled by the dedicated Safire Controller. Sportvision is very pleased with their new, compact system which is ideally suited to be moved to different stadiums within the USA every week.

Marv White, Chief Technology Officer at Sportvision, stated that he was "particularly impressed by the level of assistance received from Crystal Vision during the design and proof of concept of the system". Because the system is so easy to use, staff training has been completed quickly, while system set-up and changing the settings on air no longer poses the problems that may have been encountered in the past.