ICE Kraków Chooses Ikegami Camera Systems for IP-Integrated Television Production Facility

Kraków, Poland [draft version August 9th, 2022]: Ikegami camera systems have been chosen by the ICE Kraków Congress Centre for integration into a new studio and IP-linked production control facility. This is equipped to allow high-grade television coverage of events ranging in from corporate presentations to large-scale conferences, exhibitions, concerts and spectator-sports. System design and installation were coordinated by Shadok AV Group which provides a wide range of broadcast-related services from its base in the southern Polish city of Zabrze.

"During the Covid-19 pandemic, we tested a hybrid TV studio that we arranged within the ICE Kraków building," says Izabela Błaszczyk, President of Kraków5020 which operates the congress centre on behalf of the city. "Talks with representatives of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry showed that this resource has great potential. With the help of the best technological solutions, it connects the offline and online worlds. Rental of the studio is now included in the proposals we send to potential customers of the congress centre. The studio is also being used to create content for the city's PLAY KRAKÓW video-on-demand platform which includes original, news, documentary and entertainment programmes."

"The studio is configured to allow recording anywhere in the ICE Krakow Congress Centre building via an Ethernet network spanning the entire site," adds Shadok AV Group President Grzegorz Piechuła. "Ikegami HD-73 camera systems were the logical choice for many reasons, not least because they allow easy interfacing of the camera control signals to the Ethernet standard. They also offer very high signal quality and versatile production capabilities as well as being attractively priced. We supplied five complete camera systems, each comprising an HDK-73 studio camera with Ikegami VFL-P700 viewfinder, a BSF-300 CCU base station, an OCP-300 control panel and a BSH-300 Ethernet / ICCP command converter."

Ikegami's HDK-73 is a dockable multi-role high-definition camera designed for standard-dynamic-range and high-dynamic-range broadcast production. It is available as a  complete system including CCU, connecting fibre, viewfinder and remote control. Image capture is to 2/3-inch 2.6 megapixel CMOS sensors, each capable of capturing full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution images with an extremely wide dynamic range of more than 600%, high sensitivity (F13 at 50 Hz) and low video noise level.

The HDK-73's sensors natively support 1080i/59.94 and 1080i/50, as well as 720p/59.94 and 720p/50 scan formats. Major features include full digital signal processing, advanced digital detail correction with independent horizontal and vertical correction of red, green and blue signals, and optionally-available anti-moiré filtering. HLG  processing is operator-selectable for HDR picture origination, enabling high-contrast scenes to be televised with full picture detail across the entire brightness range from highlights to shaded areas. Full digital signal handling is performed by a processor operating at up to 38 bit depth.

The HDK-73's dockable structure allows studio configuration with fibre base stations as well as self-contained operation with a camera adapter for wireless or onsite recording applications. A fibre adapter can be attached directly to the camera head without need for external cables. External devices such as wireless transmission or a solid state recorder can be attached for stand-alone operation, making the camera suitable for live sports, news gathering or field production. Three high performance viewfinders are available for the HDK-73: a 2 inch LCD monocular and choice of two 7 inch LCD viewfinders (VFL-P700 and VFL-701A).

ICE Kraków Congress Center (http://icekrakow.pl/) is a modern, multi-functional facility located in the heart of Kraków. Referred to as the business and cultural showpiece of the city, it has been operating continuously since 2014. The venue includes an auditorium, theatre, meeting chamber and conference hall as well as many supporting rooms, plus a glazed three-level foyer. ICE Kraków is adapted to the organisation of business meetings, congresses, conferences, corporate events and product presentations as well as cultural events such as festivals, concerts, exhibitions and the implementation of social projects.

Shadok (www.shadok.pl) is a team of professionals with many years of experience and passion. Founded in 1999, the company provides a wide range of services for leading TV broadcasters in Poland. These include broadcast systems design and integration as well as the production of television events both in stationary mode and on location. Shadok also supports live broadcast to online platforms.

Ikegami (www.ikegami.de) is a leading supplier of high-quality professional broadcast equipment. The Ikegami name is recognised globally for state-of-the-art television cameras, medical cameras and CCTV equipment. World-class CMOS imagery, 4K and 8K technology, multi-format flexibility and unparalleled customer support define the Ikegami experience for users in broadcast, sports venues, mobile production, houses of worship, education, corporate and many more applications.