Fremont, CA, USA - Blackmagic Design today announced that J SPORTS Corporation has adopted a Blackmagic Design workflow for its on demand streaming division, utilizing it for daily content streaming and sports broadcasting. The workflow includes a number of Blackmagic Design products, such as ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K live production switcher, Smart Videohub routers, Teranex AV converters, and more.
J SPORTS operates as sports television network in Japan, managing four sports channels. In addition to television broadcasts of domestic and international sporting events, the company engages in various sports related businesses, such as streaming through “J SPORTS On Demand” and the sale of sporting goods in its online shop.
“In 2022, we built our streaming system in conjunction with an office relocation. Previously, we used a combined system for television broadcasting and on demand streaming. However, due to changes in viewers’ lifestyles, we currently deliver about 90% of our television broadcasting content through streaming. As the number of streaming only content has increased, we decided it would be better to separate the divisions. Besides the television broadcasting subsystem, we constructed a dedicated subsystem for streaming,” explained Yuichiro Waki, head of production technology, technical department for J SPORTS.
Waki continued, “In the previous workflow, we also used Teranex AV and HyperDeck recorders. Particularly, the HyperDeck was continuously operational 24 hours a day as a VTR playback device for commercial replacement when simultaneously broadcasting content without distribution rights, where non licensed commercial segments were substituted with filler footage. We were able to operate it smoothly without any issues. Based on this experience, we decided to build the new streaming subsystem primarily using Blackmagic products.”
Currently, the streaming subsystem utilizes the ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K and the ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel 10 for control. Additionally, an ATEM Television Studio HD live production switcher is installed as a backup. “As an example of redundant system construction in our broadcasting subsystem, the backup system was built by directly switching the matrix switcher so that you could swap signals before they go to the video switcher. However, due to the affordability of Blackmagic Design products, we were able to introduce backup switchers within budget. Additionally, we use SmartScope Duo 4K mainly for CG Fill/Key monitoring,” Waki added.
To accommodate a vast amount of streaming content, J SPORTS uses three units of the ATEM switchers paired with an ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel 10 and a SmartScope Duo 4K monitor. “All three units have exactly the same setup, so we use whichever is available based on the situation. As a matrix router to bundle these three setups, we use the Smart Videohub 40x40 and Videohub Smart Control Pro, and we flexibly change routing depending on the content,” said Waki.
Additionally, the streaming subsystem is equipped with SmartView 4K monitor, Blackmagic MultiView 16 monitor to display each subsystem’s assigned inputs on a large monitor, four Teranex AVs, and HyperDeck Studios for recording, two HyperDeck Studio Minis for playback, and many Micro Converters SDI to HDMI 3G.
He concluded, “For simple streaming, a one person operation is possible. In cases where constant updates of titles like match scores are necessary, a CG staff would join and operations are conducted with a two person team. While the operation of the subsystem is mainly outsourced to external staff, they quickly mastered its operation. It has become easy to use workflow.”
