(New York) Bexel, a unit of the Vitec Group’s Services Division and a leading
worldwide provider of broadcast services and solutions, will once again be on-site
supporting live coverage of the iconic New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square
as it is broadcast around the world. Bexel’s team of expert engineers will coordinate
the complex wireless operations and establish a fiber infrastructure for all
feeds going to and from the production truck handling the coverage. For over
a decade, Bexel has provided equipment and services to support national and
international broadcasts of the Times Square celebration.
As this year’s event entails five zones of RF coverage—four outdoor
locations, spanning from the main outside stage at 43rd Street up to 46th Street
at the Nivea Stage, as well as inside Times Square Studios, including the green
rooms and production hallways—Bexel will deploy its RF Over Fiber Antenna
System. Designed to enhance the show’s wireless capabilities, the system is
scalable to any size building or location and offers a single point of interface
for wireless equipment to the production truck. Comprehensive coverage requirements
for the host network extend from 47th Street and Broadway to 43rd Street and
Broadway.
Full duplex, Bexel’s RF Over Fiber System offers the capabilities of
both transmit and receive carriers over RF fiber—accommodating wireless
microphones, IFB and wireless intercoms in one system. It also consolidates
the required RF equipment, which can save on the use of very limited and coveted
RF spectrum. In addition to Bexel-ASG’s RF Over Fiber Antenna System,
other RF equipment provided by Bexel includes 12 channels of wireless PL using
six Telex BTR800s, 24 belt packs, four Lectrosonics IFB transmitters and six
wireless microphones. Bexel will also staff the event with six on-site engineers
for audio and wireless setup and support.
"Seamless coverage of all zones through the RF Over Fiber System is a
tremendous challenge due to the sheer quantity of wireless devices in use, the
shrinking UHF spectrum and the density of people at the event," says Jim
Dugan, senior project engineer, Bexel. "Fortunately our expertise and solutions
will allow us to provide another memorable New Year’s Eve to those watching
on television."
Bexel will also provide the fiber infrastructure for all feeds going to and
from the production truck in Times Square. Installed during overnights by local
union workers prior to the event, there are about three miles of fiber set up
around Times Square. "These fiber solutions are the backbone of the show,"
says Perry Sanderson, technical sales specialist/fiber, Bexel. "Bexel
fiber essentially touches all feeds that are broadcast around the world."
Bexel will provide a custom rack built with fiber optic systems to accommodate
signal transport to various locations around Times Square, including Duffy Square
and Nivea Stage, to name a few. This infrastructure will then carry these signals
from surrounding events and the classic ball drop and distributed to domestic
and international broadcasters.
"Thanks to the relationships cultivated over a decade with the Times Square
Alliance, Bexel is uniquely positioned to provide fiber optic infrastructure
support," says Sanderson. "Our portfolio of rental equipment and technical
expertise allow us to create a fiber network that ultimately provides the opportunity
for everyone around the globe to experience the most iconic New Year’s celebration
in the world."
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