Presteigne Charter To Supply The IBC Facilities For America’s Cup

The International Broadcast Centre, custom built in eight 40ft containers, which will be fully equipped to provide the rights holders with the exact requirements to transmit a seamless 34th America’s Cup.Presteigne Charter, a leading broadcast dry hire and systems rental specialist has been awarded the contract to supply the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) facilities for the 34^th America’s Cup World Series, a global programme of regattas ahead of the America’s Cup itself. 

The America’s Cup World Series is a circuit of regattas, using a new class of boats that are faster than anything seen at the America’s Cup before. Cup racing will be held at top venues around the world, giving hundreds of thousands of people the opportunity to experience the action.

For the America’s Cup Finals in 2013, it will be the first time in almost 20 years that the competition for the oldest sporting trophy in international sport returns to American waters, and the first time San Francisco will host the America’s Cup.

Being the world’s oldest trophy in international sport presents its own set of broadcasting challenges, which will need viable technical solutions. Presteigne Charter in association with the America’s Cup Event Authority (ACEA) will construct the International Broadcast Centre, custom built in eight 40ft containers, which will be fully equipped to provide the rights holders with what they need to transmit a seamless 34^th America’s Cup.

Presteigne Charter will design, integrate and maintain the systems and operations for the IBC, while providing High Definition Digital Production Control Rooms, two of which will then provide continuous live feeds from each yacht to the Rights-holding broadcasters.

The first phase will be delivered at the beginning of June where engineers will start to kit these out. The IBC containers will be home to three of our recently purchased LAWO three mc²56 digital audio consoles and Nova29 router, three Avid Suites, a transmission area using the latest in EVS technology for which most will be tapeless and a specific area to transmit four live web streams, ready to be shipped to Portugal for the start of the America’s Cup World Series.

With a goal of creating the most dynamic America’s Cup in history for fans and entrants, changes have been introduced to the 34^th edition. Enhancements include the groundbreaking new 72’ wing-sailed catamarans capable of speeds in excess of 40 mile per hour, new race formats and rules, and a transformed broadcasting approach to enable an interactive viewer experience.