NEP Group, the leading media technology partner for content creators around the globe, is building on its 30-year relationship with Calrec with the purchase of four IP ImPulse systems across 2022 to further expand its AoIP and remote production capabilities. NEP is using the technology with its range of Apollo surfaces and has already installed ImPulse systems in mobile units Supershooter 6, Supershooter 17 and Supershooter 25. An additional system is being installed in the company’s next-gen IP truck, Supershooter 7, that’s slated to roll out in 2023.

Mediaproxy, the global standard for software-based IP compliance solutions, has continued its working relationship with outside broadcast and playout facilities group NEP by supplying its LogServer software for SMPTE ST 2110 recording at its Norwegian operation.

Supershooter 6, the newest member of NEP Group’s U.S. Mobile Units fleet, has hit the road with twelve frames of Cobalt Digital’s signal processing, conversion and distribution gear onboard. The IP-powered, 3G, 1080p, HDR, 4K-ready next-gen NEP mobile unit is equipped with the technology required to support the demanding and evolving requirements of today’s live sports and entertainment content creators.

As the demand for high-definition coverage of live sports continues, NEP UK has worked with Imagine Communications to deliver this increased level of quality to their viewers.

Imagine Communications has supplied multiple Selenio™ Network Processor (SNP) appliances to NEP UK, the UK division of the media technology partner for content creators around the globe. NEP UK installed the SNPs in four of their largest outside broadcast trucks, in order to provide a seamless, automated workflow for delivering 4K and UHD, HD, standard (SDR) and high dynamic range (HDR) signals.

Signiant Inc., a market leader in intelligent file transfer software, is excited to announce a global business relationship with NEP Group, the world’s leading technical production partner for premier content producers of live sports and entertainment. NEP has selected Signiant Media Shuttle to enable accelerated file-based operations across its fleet of OB trucks, Studios and Flypacks. With Media Shuttle, NEP clients can easily and quickly move media assets and associated metadata to and from the venue. The flexibility of Media Shuttle allows NEP to offer fast, secure content exchange globally to any-size production working over any IP network without requiring additional hardware on the truck.

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is responding to the increasing flexibility needs of content producers and distributors, offering customers greater choice when it comes to cloud providers, advanced remote editing and archive options with expanded support for Adobe® Premiere® Pro, Microsoft® Azure, and Spectra® BlackPearl RioBroker.

Producing the Formula 1 for TV is, besides the production challenges as such, a logistical tour de force. Production equipment needs to travel around the world preceding the racing circus and must always be on-site and ready for use at the right time.

Net Insight’s remote production workflow solution allows full production capabilities with multi-stream alignment of video and audio feeds from 30 HD cameras, alongside UHD 4K and slow-motion cameras to transport multiple streams back to the centralized production centre. NEP Connect’s Anylive® contribution network leverages Net Insight’s scalable Nimbra technology with upgradeable MAM Boards and JPEG 2000 to support 3G 1080p.

Hitomi Broadcast, manufacturer of MatchBox, the industry’s premier audio video alignment toolbox, has announced that NEP Connect has purchased a 4K MatchBox system use in NEP Connect’s MediaCity Network Operations Centre in Salford, UK.

Creative Technology, part of the NEP Group, have utilised Quicklink’s ST500 (Studio-in-a-box) for multiple professional contributions to deliver virtual events for their clients.

Throughout 2020 we have seen more and more live events being moved online to keep audiences, contributors, and crew safe. Creative Technology have utilised the Quicklink ST500 to deliver high-quality virtual events for their clients, which include consistent and low latency video and audio feeds from numerous remote contributors in a variety of locations.

Nevion, a Sony Group Company and award-winning provider of virtualized media production solutions, announced today that it has provided equipment and services to NEP to update the headend and regionalization for the Norwegian DTT network, which it provides as a service.

Densitron, the global leader in innovative Human Machine Interaction (HMI) and display technology, has announced that NEP The Netherlands is now using the Intelligent Display System (IDS) solution for a wide variety of production tasks at its broadcast centre in Hilversum.

When Guns N’ Roses’ successful ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour switched to disguise for its North American leg, it opened up new creative possibilities to enhance the already visually spectacular rock show.

The tour wrapped last November with two shows at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. The three-year world tour played 158 concerts selling more than 5 million tickets and grossing $584 million. The ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour that started in 2016 marked the first time that Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan played together since 1993. Screenworks-NEP Live Events was the disguise rental partner for the tour.

Jeremy Leeor, Managing Director and Dan Potter, Creative Director, at disguise studio Creative Works London, coordinated the creation, execution and delivery of the Ghostrain and traditional show walk-in opening sequence using the new disguise and Unreal integration, currently going through Beta testing.

"A lot of what we created for the Guns’ tour visuals was built similarly to the way triple-A game assets are made using highly creative and flexible 3D tools like Cinema 4D, ZBrush, 3Ds Max and Substance Painter to create high-quality assets that can then be moved into real-time render engines like Unreal Engine,” explains Dan. “This is how we’ve always done it, and it makes a lot of our content stand out for its depth, texture and richness."

He points out that, “the rendering process on any project, in a conventional sense, presents many render engine and creative compositing options, and is central to how we achieve the diverse range of visual styles in our work. With the introduction of real-time render engines, you’re shifting the focal points of stages when you are developing a look to different points in the project timeline. This can be quite liberating if you’re working on something that plays to the strengths of the look you want to achieve and using the right tools to do it."

NEP Norway announced today that Morten Aass has joined its organization, based in Oslo, as managing director, effective immediately. NEP Norway is a division of NEP Group, the leading worldwide outsourced technical production partner supporting premier content producers of live sports and entertainment.

Aass, an industry veteran, will oversee all of NEP’s Norwegian operations, client relationships, broadcast production facilities and a team of more than 100. His primary focus will be to ensure the position, continued growth and success of the Norwegian company. Aass

takes the helm at NEP Norway as Lise Heidal, former managing director, transitions to a new role as NEP’s SVP of Global Media Solutions. In addition to being the managing director of NEP Norway, Aass will also be part of NEP’s European management team.

Gearing up for a bumper year of premier live sporting events, NEP Europe has bolstered its production capability with a host of Grass Valley live IP production solutions. NEP is growing its capabilities across its OB and flypacks fleet, strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading outsourced technical production partners to premier producers of live sports and entertainment.

At the core of the expansion are nearly 60 new Grass Valley LDX 86^N cameras. The new cameras feature Grass Valley’s built-in DirectIP capability which was developed in conjunction with NEP. This unique technology allows NEP to send only the camera heads to the given location, while all other control for the cameras and the production can take place at an off-site location. With this latest purchase, NEP Europe now has over 500 native 4K Grass Valley LDX 86^N cameras in its portfolio.

Paul Henriksen, NEP Europe’s president, said: “2020 is set to be a huge year for live sporting and entertainment events around the world. We’re excited about the opportunity to help clients deliver innovative live productions that bring consumers closer to the action, wherever they are and on any device. Drawing on our long-established relationship with Grass Valley, and the close collaboration with its R&D team, allows us to leverage best-in-class solutions that are a perfect fit. Grass Valley understands our business model and is unrivaled when it comes to delivering the support that we, and our clients, demand.”

NEP Europe also purchased 30 RefleX SuperXpander Kit lens adapters, which convert handheld cameras into a studio/field production system, plus a number of LDX C86^N compact cameras and several grass valley switchers including the 6 M/E Kahuna 9600 with Maverik control panel and the Kula 3 M/E switcher. The switchers feature FormatFusion technology, innovative, built-in format conversion that seamlessly handles multiformat operations. The wider rollout of Grass Valley’s K-Frame, Kahuna and Kula switchers across NEP’s fleet allows for standardized workflows that ensure greater efficiency across the group.

Mark Hilton, Grass Valley’s vice president of live production, commented: “We’re delighted to be working with NEP once again and proud to be the clear choice when it comes to supplying live IP production solutions. As NEP readies itself for a demanding year of exciting sports and live content, we very much look forward to working alongside the company in the thick of the action.”