Enhancing Fan Experience and Event Production with Blackmagic Design
Prague’s O2 Arena undergoes an AV overhaul, transforming content delivery.
Blackmagic Design today announced that the O2 Arena in Prague, one of Europe’s largest multipurpose venues, has undergone a significant AV upgrade using Blackmagic Design technology. The modernization enhances event production capabilities, improves content delivery, and ensures future scalability for live broadcasts and digital platforms.
Home to HC Sparta Prague and operated by Bestsport, a.s., the O2 Arena has a capacity of 18,000 and hosts diverse events, including equestrian championships, MMA tournaments, and major concerts. However, the venue’s legacy 4:3 aspect ratio and SD only workflow were no longer fit for purpose.
“The original system was cutting edge when the arena was built nearly two decades ago,” said Pavel Matějíček, media technology lead at Bestsport. “However, with evolving standards, an overhaul was essential to continue delivering a high quality fan experience.”
The upgrades have delivered higher resolution output and streamlined workflows; the venue’s central display now runs at HD and, in some cases, Ultra HD when needs require. “This required a solution capable of handling current demands while remaining scalable for future needs,” said Matějíček.
A Blackmagic Design based solution was selected for performance, cost, and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Key to the upgrade was the Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 camera, selected because it allowed Bestsport to utilize existing B4 lenses and coaxial cable infrastructure.
“We looked at other options, but SDI won,” Matějíček said. “Blackmagic let us keep our lenses and use coax with optical converters for long runs. A LEMO hybrid rebuild wasn’t affordable.”
The new AV control spaces revolve around an ATEM Constellation 8K live production switcher, with an ATEM 2 M/E Advanced Panel 40 for vision mixing. Signal management and routing employs a Blackmagic Videohub 40×40 12G router, while two ATEM Camera Control Panels enable remote monitoring and shading.
This setup manages up to 18 input signals, based on a mixed package of cameras, including four URSA Broadcast G2s, four Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pros and a gimbal rigged Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro with wireless transmission.
“The entire chain operates at 1080p50,” Matějíček said. “For recording, we use HyperDeck Extreme 4K HDR and HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro, while SmartView 4K G2, SmartScope Duo 4K and the Audio Monitor 12G G2 support monitoring needs through the gallery.”
Teranex Mini converters, particularly the 12G SDI to Quad SDI model, play a crucial role in the workflow, working alongside DeckLink 8K Pro capture and playback cards to integrate graphics from ColosseoEAS.
“The biggest improvement is in picture quality,” Matějíček said. “Moving to progressive video with four times the resolution is a significant leap forward for us. While we’re currently work in HD predominantly, the entire chain is UHD ready. And with the ATEM Constellation 8K, we have room to expand our capabilities.”
The upgrade has transformed the O2 Arena’s production workflow, ensuring flexibility for a wide range of events and future proofing the venue’s broadcast infrastructure.
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