EVS Epsio Zoom Technology Paves Way for 4K Sports
The impact of technology today on sports and the fan experience is growing more and more each day. Fans in and out of the stadium want more access to in-game statistics, insights and the vantage points that they can receive from instant replay and slow motion. EVS, the pioneer of instant replay, just scored an Emmy Award for its Epsio Zoom technology.
FOX Sports used Epsio Zoom for first-time 4K coverage of key holes of this year's US Open (golf). The solution was integral to CBS' Super Bowl coverage this year and is in use by the Minnesota Vikings, at MetLife Stadium and by broadcasters, other stadiums and arenas around the world. Read our exclusive interview with James Stellpflug, Vice President of Product Marketing, EVS, about the technology, the impact of 4K, and more.
ProductionHUB: Is this zoom in system the first of its kind in 4K?
James Stellpflug: Epsio Zoom, coupled with an EVS XT3 production server, was one of the first systems available to provide the tools to record, highlight and manage UHD-4K replays for high-end sporting events, providing the ability to zoom into plays for closer looks at the 4K resolution.
PH: Is this technology something the NFL would be interested in using for replay?
James Stellpflug: While the NFL doesn’t currently use this technology directly, TV broadcasters are. So if a broadcaster is utilizing the system during an NFL game, then the officials use views created as part of the replay reviewing process.
PH: What was the decision making process to start with this technology? Did it start with last years' Super Bowl?
James Stellpflug: The decision to bring the technology to market resulted from a series of technical proof-of-concept applications with many of our partner broadcast clients, as we looked at inventive ways to utilize UHD-4K cameras for enhanced storytelling. During the summer leading up to 2013 the NFL season, we conducted a series of tests and workflow events with our clients at various sporting events. The success of these tests gave us what we needed to move forward and officially launch the technology.
PH: Can you give us a few examples of how this technology would be used for golf vs football or baseball. Are their other entertainment properties this technology would fit or is it just sports?
James Stellpflug: For various sporting events, a replay is normally performed with a static view on the frame of video that the live camera operator captured during the action. With Epsio Zoom, moments after recording the camera content, the operator can rewind, perform a replay within moments of the live action, and define a series of virtual camera actions to zoom closer and see extreme detail at various places on the field.
In baseball, it allows the user to capture key moments in incredible detail, when a fielder has caught a ball for example, or to determine whether or not a runner has touched the base. For golf, swing movements can be analyzed with precision and detail not previously possible.
It can also certainly be used for live entertainment events. For events like a red carpet show, for example, it allows a producer to zoom close into an actor’s wardrobe being discussed, and see much closer than the naked eye at a moment’s notice.
PH: Maybe NASCAR or Formula 1?
James Stellpflug: In NASCAR, Epsio Zoom has allowed officials to see up-close views of the pit crews performing their jobs in incredible detail. It’s even allowed the NASCAR staff to count the exact number of lug nuts that have rolled out onto the track or been missed by a pit crewmembers.
PH: Lets talk technology. So all live feeds (camera(s) are fed to the XT3 server using Epsio Zoom. Does the Director decide on playback to "zoom in" or is that "zooming" selection done by a separate operator then fed to the TD for playback?
James Stellpflug: The EVS live server (XT3 or XT4K series) performs all the live loop [non-stop] recording of every camera from the event. When the Epsio Zoom system is used in conjunction with a server, every camera that was recorded becomes available to the replay operator to review, select and position new customized content zooms. This function is typically performed by the replay operator, as one of his many editorial tasks during the production of live sports event.
PH: Who and why was the push done to include this in stadium systems?
Stadiums are competing for the eyes of fans in the venue, and they need to provide action content as good—and sometimes better—than fans at home can see. Epsio Zoom provides just that. In some cases, teams have even used Epsio Zoom to provide their coaching staffs with replay close-ups on actions faster than the broadcast can, to allow them a competitive advantage to request challenges to calls made on the field.
PH: What is the learning curve? Can people wrap their heads around it right away? Is this the only system of its kind? Do you have any competitors in the space?
James Stellpflug: Epsio Zoom is used alongside the industry standard, EVS’ LSM Remote, which performs almost 90% of every sporting replay worldwide. Once coupled, the user can easily perform live zooming actions to a specific point simply by touching on an action, or the operator can define a series of key frames to build a timeline of zooms to follow a player’s actions on the field. The simple touchscreen is designed for easy operation.
This is not the only system on the market performing this type of function, but it’s the only one sold as an add-on to every existing EVS XT series of replay server that has been purchased. And since EVS is the dominant player and industry standard for sports replays, it’s the leading solution of its kind.
