ES Broadcast is to supply dock10 with 15 Sony HDC-3500 4K cameras, as the UK’s leading television facility future-proofs its infrastructure for increased UHD output.
The strategic investment forms part of a £5 million technology investment plan to upgrade dock10 studios, post-production facilities, media storage platforms and the network that supports MediaCityUK in Salford.
dock10 has selected the 4K Live Production system as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in the UK’s very best television studios and helping content creators optimise emerging technologies such as UHD and HDR.
Head-to-head testing
The Sony cameras were chosen after a rigorous head-to-head assessment process, because of their superior picture quality, format flexibility and impressive imaging power. They will complement the existing suite of Sony BVM-HX310 series monitors used across the dock10 post-production and edit suites. They will also integrate seamlessly into the existing infrastructure to enable optimum workflow efficiency and unlock new possibilities in programme making through 4K/UHD and HDR output.
“We are delighted that dock10 are making this significant investment in UHD technology. ES Broadcast has worked closely with Sony and dock10 over the last 12 months or more to help them expand their UHD broadcast offering, so it is gratifying to see their diligence bear fruit,” said Benjamin Murphy, Managing Director of ES Broadcast – which is a Sony Specialist Dealer.
Innovative technology key to creative development
John O’Shaunessy, Head of Technology Operations at dock10, said of the investment: “In seven years since we opened dock10, we have grown into a thriving creative community and powerful regional cluster. Innovative technology has always been part of the fabric of our business and we continue to invest in solutions that will help our customers to explore new creative and commercial opportunities.
“We share with Sony a mutual commitment to empowering content creators to unleash their potential and our investment in cutting-edge UHD technologies will help our customers explore the latest possibilities in programme making.”
dock10 ready to support customers moving to UHD and HDR
“We’re continuing to see a significant uptick in demand for 4K/UHD, HDR and IP, as the production community looks to untap operational efficiency and ROI,” commented Norbert Paquet, Head of Product Development at Sony Professional. “dock10 sits at the epicentre of UK production and is a prime example of a company investing strategically in forward-proofed solutions that will help drive value for its clients, both today and in the future.
“With this further investment in our flagship system cameras, the company is sending a very powerful message that it is ready to support customers as they transition to UHD/HDR.”
dock10 is home to some of the nation’s best-loved productions, including The Voice, Blue Peter, Match of the Day and A Question of Sport. Based at the heart of MediaCityUK, its studios and specialist post-production services are used to make everything from popular prime time shows to outstanding commercials and corporate films for leading brands. It offers broadcasters, production companies and creative agencies the world-class facilities they need to produce award-winning content.
Launched at IBC 2018, the HDC-3500 supports HD, HDR and UHD live production, as well as IP capabilities, bringing new levels of image quality, portability and creative flexibility to production environments. With a 2/3-inch 4K CMOS sensor with global shutter technology, the cameras empower broadcast and production facilities to deliver image quality in 4K at low noise, high sensitivity and High Dynamic Range.
The HDC-3500 cameras are being installed in summer 2019.