First 3D live production in Germany using Sony equipment

On 14 March 2010, Sky Deutschland presented Germany's first ever 3D live transmission before a select audience in Munich. The technical service provider, TopVision, opted to use technology from Sony Professional and also became the first company in Germany to order 20 3D monitors straight off.

Alongside the standard HDTV production equipment seen at each and every Bundesliga game, a total of ten additional camera pairs were set up on the pitch for the 3D recording of the meeting between Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburger SV on 14 March 2010. Two Sony HDC-1000s were used as the lead camera – a first for a 3D transmission – while several Sony HDC-1550s captured the action from the sidelines and two pairs of Sony PMW-EX3 camcorders were used for the two 3D Steadycam systems. At the heart of the control room in the TopVision HD outside broadcast vehicle was a Sony MVS-8000G multi-format vision mixer. The 3D material was also recorded in Dual Stream mode on a Sony HDCAM SR SRW-5800. Sony LMD-940W monitors and a 24-inch LMD-2451TD 3D monitor served as the control screens. And the company responsible for choosing and providing the entire set of 3D equipment for the ambitious project, including all the lenses and various 3D camera rigs, was Berlin-based TV service provider TopVision.

Andreas Berghaus and Sebastian Leske, both Product Managers with Sony Professional, watched the game from the stadium and in the control room and they are more than happy: "The recordings produced in Leverkusen are fantastic. I can confidently say that the first live 3D transmission was a complete success", says Andreas Berghaus. "And, of course, it's all the more impressive because our equipment – from PMW-EX3s and HDC-1550s through to MVS-8000Gs and the monitors – was involved in every aspect of the 3D production, allowing Sony to play a key role in this success", adds Sebastian Leske.

"3D business is really taking off", says Eduard Palasan, Managing Director of TopVision Telekommunikation GmbH & Co. KG . "3D live productions are extremely challenging and require a great deal of experience and expertise, and our customers have very high expectations with regard to the technology and the results. Sony Professional already has many years of experience in the 3D industry and invests huge sums in research and development efforts surrounding the technology. Consequently, following our initial discussions in November 2009 with Sony, we were able to act very quickly in response to the request from Sky Deutschland, and the result has proved most satisfactory.

TopVision is delighted with the performance of Sony Professional products and is already investing in the future. The TV service provider has become the first company in Germany to order ten 24-inch LMD-2451TD 3D monitors and ten 42-inch LMD-4251TD 3D monitors as well as various other 3D HD cameras and additional 3D equipment from Sony Professional.