University of Pittsburgh Athletics worked with its long-term partner Grass Valley on a major upgrade of its production infrastructure, transitioning its facilities to full ST 2110 IP operation.
University of Pittsburgh Athletics (Pitt Athletics) supports 19 NCAA Division I programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and produces more than 150 live events annually for broadcast and streaming destinations, videoboards and internal distribution.
Aware that several critical components of its original 2018 SDI-based backend were approaching end-of-life, Pitt Athletics has recently completed a major upgrade of its production infrastructure that successfully transitioned the department’s broadcast facilities to a SMPTE ST 2110 IP backbone. The IP upgrade, carried out in partnership with integrator Tab M Solutions, has aimed to modernise and prepare Pitt’s live production infrastructure for the future.
IP and HDR-Ready Environment with K-Frame XP Architecture
“With over 150 events produced every year, our production demands continue to grow across content for both broadcast and in-venue platforms,” said Patrick O’Shea, Director of Operations and Strategy, “The original LDX 86 installation allowed us to operate in 1080p from day one, and this upgrade now positions us for IP, HDR and more sophisticated slow-motion capabilities.
“Working with Tab M Solutions and Grass Valley has allowed us to modernise in a way that protects our existing investments while giving us the flexibility to scale well into the future.”
The original 2018 installation included 14 Grass Valley LDX 86 cameras, including two wireless units, that were seamlessly integrated into the new ST 2110 IP backbone.
The upgrade replaced three V-Series K-Frame switcher frames and three Korona panels with two full-size K-Frame XP frames and three Kayenne panels. Now fully populated with SMPTE ST 2110 IP cards, the dual K-Frame XP architecture currently runs six switcher suites across five existing PCRs and one new control room, delivering expanded ME capacity, shared processing, simultaneous broadcast and videoboard workflows, and a more resilient system overall.
New Set of Specs
The most apparent advantages of the K-Frame XP frames are flexibility, connectivity and the new creative options for Pitt Athletics’ live production teams and TDs. But the specifications have also changed significantly. Connectivity encompasses full raster 4K UHD 2160p processing without resource loss, supporting 12G 4K UHD or 3G HD 1080p in uncompressed and JPEG-XS formats, and IP connectivity for 25GbE SFPs or 100GbE QSFPs.
The XP switchers are configurable with up to 9 M/Es, each featuring six keyers, to produce complex video production setups, and HDR capabilities are available through a software license.
8K productions can be accommodated via the EZ-8K Mode, which allows up to 48 inputs, 24 outputs and 4 M/Es, while keeping the workflows, E-MEMs and macros consistent with the existing HD and 4K UHD operations. Using the full raster 4K 2160p processing plus EZ-8K Mode, the K-Frame XP operates as an 8K switcher.
Centralised Resources for Increased Capacity
Despite coordinating more than a dozen vendors, Tab M Solutions completed the rip-and-replace without disrupting Pitt’s production schedule.
“Pitt needed a scalable production backbone that could support expansion across multiple control rooms while increasing flexibility and resilience,” said Kevin Tucker, Partner & CTO, Tab M Solutions. “By using Grass Valley’s K-Frame XP ecosystem within a full 2110 architecture, we centralised resources, increased capacity, and created a clear path toward HDR and expanded super slow-motion workflows.”
Tab M Solutions CEO, Joe Wire, remarked, “Our relationship with Pitt Athletics has always centred on long-term strategy. From the original 1080p deployment to this full IP transformation, the goal has been to keep Pitt fully updated regarding collegiate production technology. By building on a scalable Grass Valley ecosystem, we’re ensuring that their production capabilities continue to evolve alongside the demands of the ACC, national broadcasters, and emerging content platforms.”
Collegiate Involvement
Grass Valley has continued its involvement in collegiate and venue production, where smooth migration from SDI to IP, while preserving long-term camera investments, are important.
“We’re proud of our long-standing partnership with Pitt and Tab M and the innovations we’re bringing to the collegiate production market,” said Greg Doggett, VP of Sales, NAM Sports at Grass Valley. “This project highlights the longevity of the LDX 86 platform, direct migration from SDI to 2110 IP, scalability of the K-Frame XP architecture, and a clear path toward HDR and expanded Super SLOMO capabilities.” www.grassvalley.com
