Panasonic HDR Broadcast Cameras Support Large Video Board Display At NJ’s Prudential Center

In addition to capturing game action, the four Panasonic AK-HC5000s and an AW-UE150 4K/HD 60p pan/tilt/zoom camera are helping to enhance the fan experience, including showing fan shots, player warm-ups and timeout features during games. Prudential Center’s Content Production Department is also using Panasonic’s VariCam LT 4K and AU-EVA1 5.75K cinema cameras for large-and smaller-scale production assignments.

Prudential Center has been a Panasonic house since it opened in 2007, according to Joe Kuchie, Senior Manager, Scoreboard and Live Production, Prudential Center and New Jersey Devils.

“Our video board is used for various live events, including New Jersey Devils hockey, Seton Hall University basketball, multiple graduations and select concerts and family shows,” he said. “As a top ten venue in the world, we need top-of-the-line and reliable equipment and that is what we have found with our partner Panasonic.”

They had previously used three DVCPRO HD tape-based cameras for the video board feeds. They have replaced those with the HC5000 and they “could not be happier with the product.”

In terms of camera placement, two stationary AK-HC5000s are situated on tripods across from each other on either side of the rink, behind the lower section of seats. These cameras are placed on raised platforms that afford a good view of the ice action. Two roaming AK-HC5000s are used during timeouts in the action as fan cams or for in-game contests or presentations.

Prudential Center is also using the AW-UE150 PTZ camera mounted in the catwalk to afford a permanent live shot of the DJ and Organist for in-game features.

“We go to our DJ each game and our organist at least 20 times a season, and the UE150 gives us the flexibility to free up our other camera operators to roam the building and not be locked down on a specific location for an extended period of time,” Kuchie said. “We went with this 4K model because we want to provide the best possible picture quality for our scoreboard and our fans.”

Along with the new cameras, Kuchie said they’ve purchased two Canon HJ24EX7.5B IASE 2/3-inch 4K/HD lenses for the two RF HC5000s that roam the building, and two Fujinon XA55x9.5BESM HD lenses with Semi Servo Control for the two stationary cameras.

Sergio Camacho, Director, Content Production, for the New Jersey Devils Studios, said they produce content that is seen nationally and regionally on the NHL and MSG networks.

His department handles productions ranging from in-game capture of Devils games to in-bowl audience reactions, to special projects in-studio, small- and large-scale post productions ranging from social media vignettes to national broadcast TV episodes, and global brand TV commercials. They are using the Panasonic EVA1 for in-bowl captures, Devils’ game action and smaller-scale productions, and deploying the VariCam LT for large national broadcast documentaries, TV commercials, and web episodic in 4K HDR. The Broadcast Bridge