Denver-based Mobile TV Group (MTVG) has successfully produced a number of events in 4K/UHD with its new 53-foot 39 Flex double-expando mobile production truck. Built around a 4K-capable Kayenne K-Frame switcher (192 inputs/96 outputs HD, 48 inputs/24 outputs 4K) with 7 M/Es from Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, MTVG’s 39 Flex was deployed to provide 4K coverage of the Masters and PGA Championship and several concerts including one by Garth Brooks at Yankee Stadium in the past few months.
Designed to support a variety of sports or entertainment productions, 39 Flex is purpose built to easily switch from HD to UHD and back again or provide parallel feeds as production needs dictate. With this capability, the company is able to maximize the use of the truck and meet the needs of its clients for any event.
“We are well along in streamlining the 4K production process and are also focused on 4K HDR which will take more work,” noted Phil Garvin, general manager and founder of MTVG. “39 Flex is a state-of-the-art truck which was built from the ground up to handle any 4K/UHD needs while also providing HD feeds with super slo-mo. The key for us was to equip the truck with the right solutions to handle the growing 4K demand and ensure we are ready for HDR when that time comes.”
In April, MTVG worked with CBS and DirecTV to deliver live 4K/UHD coverage from the Masters tournament of all four rounds from Amen Corner (holes 11, 12 and 13) at Augusta National Golf Club. In July, the groups teamed up again to provide 4K/UHD coverage of Baltusrol Golf Club’s signature par-three hole 4 during the PGA Championship. Also in July, MTVG and another production company provided complete 4K/UHD production services for two Garth Brooks concerts in New York.
Kayenne K-Frame offers the highest level of performance available to live productions with a range of innovative features and easy upgradability to ensure its performance for the future. Kayenne also provides full multiformat support, including 1080p and 4K, as well as up to 192 inputs, 96 outputs and up to 9 M/Es with six keyers in every full M/E. In addition, Kayenne K-Frame switchers are now available with IP I/O for SMPTE 2022-6 connectivity.
“The Kayenne switcher is the best and most powerful switcher on the market, and its ability to easily handle 4K makes it the best investment for us today,” added Garvin. “Also, the fact that all of our staff have experience with it and are comfortable with it means that there is no learning curve. As the center of our production workflow, it has to be dependable, flexible and powerful. Kayenne gives us exactly what we need to grow our business.”
“MTVG has always been a market leader and early adopter of new capabilities,” noted Greg Huttie, vice president, switcher product line, Grass Valley. “They have been using our solutions for many years and count on us to provide them with technology that keeps them ahead of the curve. We are on the cusp of a 4K explosion, and MTVG is ready to capture the exciting new business opportunities that come along with it.”
