The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has chosen Host Broadcast Services (HBS) to serve as host broadcaster of the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, which will be held in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines from 18 to 22 February.
For the first time in the event’s history, its production will feature live onboard cameras.
HBS will operate more than 13 cameras at the event with a team of 72 staff. HBS has appointed Euro Media France to provide the technical platform.
The HDTV signal will be provided to broadcasters worldwide. The UCI and its exclusive media rights partner Infront Sports & Media have distributed the rights to more than 100 countries and territories. Over 300 media representatives are accredited onsite.
For the first time ever at a UCI Track Cycling World Championships, miniaturised cameras installed on the bicycles’ saddle tubes will transmit live images of the race to viewers worldwide, as well as to the Velodrome’s giant screen.
“The team and I are all delighted to be part of the 2015 Championships and excited by the enthusiasm and innovations HBS and the UCI have brought to the sport,” said Steve Docherty, event director at HBS. “It’s always a thrill to be able to do something unprecedented.”
The live on-board cameras will be used in various events over the five days of the competition. The cameras will be installed on competition bikes, feeding live images to the production truck located just outside the venue.
Radio frequency (RF) transmission experts Broadcast RF will supply the cameras, transmitters, specialised operators and bring their technical partner VideoSys Broadcast.
Following initial research and development focused on making the camera and RF transmitter as safe, compact and light as possible, HBS organised a number of tests served to establish the project’s viability.
The French National Team participated in the first of these tests, with a second one taking place at the UCI’s headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland. The combined weight of the camera and transmitter has been reduced from 300 grams to just 199 grams.
“The live on-board camera is the angle that has been missing from track cycling coverage, and it’s one that will delight both the hardcore fans and viewers new to the sport,” says HBS’ director or production Dan Miodownik.
“Getting to this point requires significant technical integration, but with the expertise from our technical partner Broadcast RF and the commitment and vision from UCI, we are ready to bring something completely new to track cycling coverage.”
HBS provided broadcast consultancy and on-site support for the last two editions of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, in Minsk, Belarus and Cali, Colombia.
A fully owned subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media, HBS works on many other events and has been host broadcaster of FIFA World Cup since 2002.
