CCTV, the national television station in China, is the undisputed leader in the Chinese television industry. As part of their strategy to keep this number one position, they decided to update their video and audio devices to 4K or HD technology to better support 4K content and signal telecasts. Consequently, they offer the best viewing experience for breathtaking television shows and more audience engagement during live news broadcasts. Having a product lifetime of 10 years in mind, choosing the best technology is vital.
For this reason, CCTV chose to install no less than four big Barco UniSee LCD video walls. The bezel-less Barco UniSee tiles deliver an uninterrupted, no-gap viewing experience, with phenomenal color uniformity and exceptional brightness.
The uniformity of the entire Barco UniSee wall (in each panel and also from one panel to the next) is guaranteed at the time of installation and for its entire lifetime thanks to the automatic and real-time calibration done by Barco’s Sense X technology, which runs in the background.
The LCD panels themselves are kept in place by the patented UniSee Mount, designed to keep panels perfectly in position and aligned over time. These innovations ensure easy installation and low maintenance requirements—exactly what CCTV was looking for.
Then came the big challenge. Using Barco’s latest LCD technology was of big interest for CCTV’s sport channel CCTV-5. They wanted to immediately offer this exceptional viewing experience to the tens of millions of viewers expected to tune into the past FIFA World Cup RussiaTM broadcasts.
This global broadcast event was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate CCTV’s dedication to top-quality technology, thus confirming their position as the most-watched sport channel in the country. But this meant having the screens installed, tested and ready for use in an incredibly short period of time. Barco was up for the challenge. In just six days, they set up, configured, tested and signed off on the 5x4 and 5x3 Barco UniSee video walls in the studio. Ready in time for CCTV-5 to astound their enormous World Cup audience.
Check out the exclusive Time Lapse video on the set up of the 35 Barco UniSee panels in Studio E14.
https://youtu.be/DIKonktpQoc
Step two is now around the corner with the 2018 Asian Games taking place from 18 August to 2 September 2018. The installation of additional 5x4 and 3x2 Barco UniSee video walls in another CCTV-5 sport studio (Studio E15) will be completed before the opening ceremony. With 462 events in 40 disciplines—the second-largest programme in Asian Games history—yet another audience will be able to enjoy the 4K footage on two big Barco UniSee backdrops.
Barco UniSee, a revolution in LCD video walls for control rooms, corporate lobbies, experience centers and of course, broadcasting.
“Barco is thrilled to provide CCTV with the best in video-wall technology for their recent upgrades,” says Forrest Liu, General Manager, Barco CEC. “We’re working with them on further studio upgrades and are excited to bring top-quality 4K footage to more audiences.”