Last week, our OB team headed to Newcastle for Misfits Boxing, supporting the production from fight week through to the main event on fight night.
Live boxing is one of those productions where there is very little room for error. The pace is relentless, the action can change in an instant, and the production needs to be able to capture every moment from multiple perspectives while keeping everyone connected and informed throughout.
For this production, we deployed a comprehensive outside broadcast setup designed to give the production team the coverage and flexibility they needed across the venue.
A camera setup built for live boxing
A key part of the production was the deployment of a large number of Sony HDC-4300 cameras. With their ability to deliver high-quality pictures and the flexibility required for live sports, they formed a major part of the camera complement for the event.
Alongside the HDC-4300s, we also supplied RF cameras to give the production team greater freedom to move around the venue and capture shots that wouldn’t be possible from fixed positions.
The Steadi cam and Jib added another dynamic element to the coverage, providing smooth, moving shots and helping to bring the scale and atmosphere of the event into the broadcast.
Together, the combination of studio-style cameras, RF, Steadi and Jib gave the production a broad range of creative options — from the wider atmosphere of the arena through to the close-up detail that makes live boxing such an engaging broadcast.
Keeping the team connected
Communication is critical on any live OB, but particularly so on a production as fast-moving as boxing.
For fight night, we used Bolero wireless comms, providing the crew with reliable communication while allowing team members to move freely around the venue.
With camera operators, production staff, engineering teams and other departments all working across different areas of the production, having a flexible wireless communications system helped keep everyone connected and able to react quickly as the night unfolded.
Replay at the heart of the action
Replay is another crucial part of any major boxing production.
With multiple EVS systems in use, the production had the replay capability required to review and repackage the action as it happened.
From key moments in the ring to reactions from fighters and the atmosphere around the venue, the replay operation plays a huge role in helping viewers see the moments that can happen in a fraction of a second.
Having multiple EVS operators and systems working as part of the wider production allowed the team to manage the volume of material coming from the cameras while maintaining the pace expected of a live fight night.
Another busy week for the OB team
Productions like Misfits Boxing are a great example of the combination of technology, planning and teamwork required to deliver a successful live broadcast.
From the camera systems and RF equipment to communications and replay, every part of the setup has to work together seamlessly — and, ultimately, disappear into the background so the audience can focus on the action.
A huge thank you to our crews, engineers and everyone involved in delivering the production in Newcastle.
Another successful fight night in the books — and another reminder of just how much goes on behind the scenes to bring live sport to the screen.
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